A Photo Tour of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Museum>>>>>>>>>

[JBHII]

A PHOTO TOUR OF THE NAWCC MUSEUM
By: John B. Holbrook, II
10/30/09

The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Museum (a kind sponsor of WATCH TALK FORUMS) extended a gracious invitation to me to fly out to the museum in Columbia, PA and do a photo tour. As WTF Admin Team Member Dennis "Ulackfocus" is only a couple of hours drive time from the museum, Dennis joined me on the tour.

Here's a few shots of the exterior of the museum on an overcast Fall day:

I had to get a wrist shot in front of the museum:

Once Dennis fought his way through Jersey traffic and made it to the Museum, our tour began - guided by Museum Director, Noel Poirier. Here's a photo of Noel showing Dennis (also pictured) and myself the museum's storage and archive "back room."

The begining of the tour brought us to the section of the museum dedicated to the earliest known attempts by man to measure time:

The museum maintains an absolutely stunning clock collection of every sort and variety:

American time keeping has a strong connection to the the railroads so the museum has an excellent collection of watches which came from that era in American history.

This exhibit was one of the more interesting and educational for me - I learned of American watch brands I had not heard of before, like this company which was headquartered in Ohio - the state where I reside:

Of course Ball Watch is perhaps the most famous of the American railroad watches and was well reprepresented:

Here's a lovely early railroad watch by German manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne.

A fantastic collection of marine chronometers:

We then moved on to the wrist watch collections which the museum holds. Noel Poirier admitted that the museum's wrist watch collections are something of a week point - but that's something that is quickly changing. Both the NAWCC and the museum are committed to provide more content for those interested in wrist watches.

Of course, with Hamilton having started out in Lancaster, PA (prior to being purchased by the Swatch Group), the museum had a vintage Hamilton collection which would impress any collector:

Other famous manufactures of high interest to vintage watch collectors were also well represented:

I believe this is the only time in my life I've ever seen a Patek next to an Invicta in the same display case - did you know Invicta has quite a heritage in watch making long before they became a home shopping brand?

The museum's watch holding aren't just limited to vintage watches - several manufacturers have donated large collections of their most current contemporary offerings which are on display in the museum:

Omega fans will no doubt be amazed by this Omega "moon watch" in the museum's collection from the actual NASA Apollo 9 mission:

After our tour of museum, Dennis and I headed across the street to visit the NAWCC's School of Horology - one of the few remaining and fully accredited training institutions in the United States for watchmaking.

Classes weren't in session, so we were able to get a peak at their impressive, well equipped class rooms:

On behalf of myself, and the WATCH TALK FORUMS Community I'd like to thank everyone at the National Watch & Clock Association for an amazing tour of their facilities. In particular, I'd like to thank both Markus Harris and Noel Poirier for arranging this opportunity and for the time spent with Dennis and I. Of course, it goes without saying that any fan of horology and timekeeping must make the trek to visit the museum. The pictures shown in this report are far from comprehensive, and only provide a glimpse into the incredible items on display at the NAWCC Museum.

For more information on the National Watch & Clock Association, please visit the NAWCC webiste by click here.

For information about the NAWCC Museum, including hours and special exhibits on display, please click here.

**Photos & Text Copyright 2009 WATCH TALK FORUMS. No part of this report can be reproduced outside of WATCH TALK FORUMS without the expressed permission of John B. Holbrook, II.

[eaea]

Outstanding!!!, thanks for the report, a place worth of visiting in the next trip to the U.S.

Also, is good to know that manufacturers support this museum...

[Wolfdog]

Nice work and a wonderful virtual adventure.
Thank you very much for sharing, wish I was there.

[MikeyT]

Thanks very much for the report. I'll be adding a visit to the museum to an already planned motorcycle trip to Pennsylvania next Summer.

[Catbird]

"did you know Invicta has quite a heritage in watch making long before they became a home shopping brand?"

No, I did not -- very enlightening.

[JBHII]

Thanks for the kind words guys - I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[Vintagehamiltons]

Fantastic Hamilton wristwatch collection, but I spotted a Franken. The one between the Square Engraved and the Piping Rock is either a Sentinel or Secometer case with an Endicott dial. Also, the Wilshires #16 & #17 have the straps attached incorrectly.

[ulackfocus]

Originally Posted by Vintagehamiltons

Fantastic Hamilton wristwatch collection, but I spotted a Franken. The one between the Square Engraved and the Piping Rock is either a Sentinel or Secometer case with an Endicott dial. Also, the Wilshires #16 & #17 have the straps attached incorrectly.

Member Endicott noted the same thing in the American Watch Forum. Good catch - John and I both looked at them, but I only gawked at the Piping Rocks, the Ventura, and the Pacer.

[bio]

Great tour! The photographs are top notch! By the way Dennis, what watch were you wearing that day?

[ulackfocus]

Originally Posted by bio

By the way Dennis, what watch were you wearing that day?

I think it was the IWC Spitfire.