We may not be able to meet in person lately but HSNY is working hard to continue offering exclusive benefits to our HSNY members. This month, we're happy to share "A Detailed Study of H4", a film about John Harrison’s successful Longitude timekeeper and its reconstruction project spearheaded by Derek Pratt.
Never before available in a digital version, this film is made accessible with kind permission from producer Barbara Darby, and is exclusively intended for members of the Horological Society of New York. (Use your HSNY member password to access.)
Welcoming New HSNY Members, May 2020
HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our members’ support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day.
Aidan Lee Saccucci-Bryan, NY
Ankur Jhunjhunwala, Nepal
Arne Ruhnau, Germany
Carl Oberg, MN
Frank Sprow, TX
Hans Sprecher, NY
Hien Nguyen, MA
James D. Kloiber, NY
James Muldoon, NY
Jeffrey Feirman, NY
Joe Zanini, MA
Jonathan Bresler, Washington, D.C.
Kyle McEvoy, NY
Mark S. Macdonald, MD
Michael Chapman, NY
Michael Griner, FL
Michael Russell, FL
Michael Woods, Australia
Patrick Wood, VA
Raymond Vickers, NY
Robert E. Friedman, NJ
Romel Campbell, NJ
Sam Levinger, TX
Scott Schenker, WA
Steve Zlotnick, NJ
HSNY 2020 Gala & Charity Auction Cancelled
Dear friends of HSNY,
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shroud our community with uncertainty, HSNY has decided to cancel the Gala & Charity Auction on August 5th.
It was a difficult decision for HSNY to make, but the health and wellbeing of our members is our top concern. While we are no longer toasting in person this year, please know that HSNY is working hard to continue supporting watchmakers and our community financially with initiatives such as the Working Watchmakers Grant, the new Howard Robbins Award for Watchmaking Schools and the Henry B. Fried Scholarship for Watchmaking Students.
Gala guests will receive refunds by July 1 and have priority access to purchase tickets for HSNY’s 2021 Gala & Charity Auction once a date is set.
We thank you for your understanding and look forward to making next year’s Gala the best one yet. In the meantime, HSNY wishes you good health and we hope to see you again soon.
Best wishes,
Horological Society of New York
Welcoming New HSNY Members, April 2020
HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our members’ support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day.
Aldo Halim, CA
Alfred Toussaint, NJ
Blaze Short, AL
Brad Crafton, CO
Charles Flanagan, FL
Erik Barrios, NY
Hannah Ware, Australia
Mark Chou, NY
Nicholas Glasnovich, NJ
Samuel M. Brower, NV
Thomas Cardenas, France
Vaughan Pearce, Australia
Wesley Salem, TX
HSNY Launches Virtual Horological Tutoring Program
The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) announces today the launch of its Virtual Horological Tutoring program. The nonprofit organization, whose mission is to advance the art and science of horology, thrives on educating watch enthusiasts on a global scale. To adapt to the changing landscape, HSNY is going virtual with more educational options and topics than ever before.
Via virtual tutoring, HSNY’s team of professional watchmakers will bring the Society’s award-winning classes to the comfort of students’ homes in the form of small group theory classes and one-on-one tutoring. Certified instructors are available to work with students on watch and clock making techniques and theory, even going beyond the scope of HSNY’s in-person classes.
HSNY’s virtual horological education syllabus will include live 60 to 90-minute Online Curriculum courses for groups of up to four students. Classes will cover HSNY’s 101 through 104 curricula, but with a focus on a theoretical approach. Instructors will share material slides in real-time and demonstrate the disassembly and reassembly of a mechanical movement live at their home workbenches.
Students who have completed HSNY’s 101 through 104 courses - or participated in Traveling Education classes - can enroll in One-on-One Tutoring on horological topics never covered before by HSNY, including:
Tool dressing and maintenance
Quartz battery replacement
Glass crystal replacement
Acrylic crystal replacement
Observation of movement disassembly and discussion about movement service
Timing machine results and general timing principles
Last but not least, HSNY’s team of instructors will lend their expertise on Advanced Topics. Recommended for watchmakers or those craving more technical lessons, topics include:
Boring and bushing worn holes in bridges/mainplates
Turning down worn posts and fitting a new bushing
Lathe work
Fitting a balance staff and poising the balance
Escapement adjustment
Chronograph adjustment
Clean oiling techniques
All courses will be offered by the same dedicated instructors that teach HSNY’s classes worldwide. To get started, HSNY will offer its Basic Movement Theory class free to HSNY members. To enroll or inquire, simply fill out the form located on HSNY’s Virtual Horological Tutoring page. Upon review, HSNY’s instructors will reach out to tailor each session including availability, pricing and content covered. Select classes will be offered in French upon request.
HSNY Establishes the Working Watchmakers Grant
Since 1866, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) has been helping watchmakers succeed in every way. What started as a guild with medical and employment benefits - by watchmakers for watchmakers - has evolved into a nonprofit organization with scholarship and award opportunities for students and institutions. Now, in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has drastically changed the way we live and work, HSNY is establishing the Working Watchmakers Grant aimed to assist industry professionals directly.
Made possible through generous donations, HSNY’s Working Watchmakers Grant will allocate $100,000 to support America’s watch and clock makers during this time of need. Payments of $1,000 will be made to 100 watchmakers on a first-come-first-served basis. Applicants must include proof of their employment (or prior employment if applicable), along with information on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their business or income.
“It took us looking at HSNY’s history to realize what our next steps should be,” said HSNY President Nicholas Manousos. “New York watchmakers came together in 1866 to ensure their colleagues were taken care of. The Working Watchmakers Grant is today’s version of the altruism that led to the founding of HSNY. The application process is simple and grants will be paid quickly.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 2,700 watch and clock repairers in the country. HSNY’s Working Watchmakers Grant is made possible by generous donations from individual donors interested in the well-being of watch and clock makers. To learn more about HSNY’s Working Watchmakers Grant or to apply, please visit https://hs-ny.org/working-watchmakers-grant.
5 HSNY Officers Appointed to Newly Formed GPHG Academy
The Academy of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) announced today its new list of 350 Academy members responsible for selecting the year’s top creations in the world of watchmaking. The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is pleased to share that five HSNY officers have been appointed to the Academy. This year’s members include HSNY President Nicholas Manousos, HSNY Vice President, John Teifert, and HSNY trustees William Massena, John Reardon and Kiran Shekar. As the GPHG list expands, so does involvement from HSNY, marking the most officers on board to date.
According to the GPHG, Academy members will participate in two rounds of voting to determine this year’s watch models deemed worthy of awards such as best in “chronometry”, “jewellery”, “artistic crafts”, and more. The awards ceremony will be held on November 12, 2020. To learn more about the GPHG and its new Academy, please visit https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en.
HSNY Awards $55,000 in Financial Aid to Further Watchmaking in the United States
New York - April 1, 2020
Established in 1866 by a small group of German emigres, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is America’s oldest watchmaking guild. Today, HSNY operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to advance the art and science of horology.
Throughout its 154-year existence, HSNY has created educational programs and established scholastic awards to ensure that the future of horology is bright. As the world battles the coronavirus pandemic and the watchmaking industry faces uncertainty, HSNY is investing in the future with $55,000 in grants - its largest pledge yet.
HSNY now introduces the Howard Robbins Award, a grant for watchmaking schools created to complement the Henry B. Fried Scholarship for watchmaking students. Howard Robbins (1950-2020) was a professional in the world of timepieces for nearly 40 years and recently passed away in March 2020. The Howard Robbins Award is intended to foster Robbins’ professional rigor, love of people and belief in education within the watchmaking community.
The 2020 recipients of the Howard Robbins Award are the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Delaware ($15,000), the only technical school devoted to disabled veterans in the U.S., and Paris Junior College’s Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology in Texas ($10,000), established in 1942 to provide industry job training.
Additionally, HSNY awards $30,000 to six watchmaking students through its Henry B. Fried Scholarship. Named after a former HSNY president and a prolific author in the field of watchmaking once described by The New York Times as “the dean of American watchmakers”, the Henry B. Fried Scholarship was established in 2017 and aims to help watchmaking students succeed in every way. This year, HSNY received applications from more than half of all watchmaking students in the U.S. and is doubling the number of scholarship recipients from 2019. Six watchmaking students will each receive $5,000 to help cover the cost of watchmaking tools and living expenses. The 2020 recipients of the Henry B. Fried Scholarship are:
Brandan Cloos (Lititz Watch Technicum, Pennsylvania)
Gordon Hyde (Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Delaware)
Brian Kruppenbacher (Paris Junior College - Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, Texas)
Raluca Markow (Patek Philippe Institute, New York)
Nichelle Nguyen (North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, Texas)
Jared Troy (Paris Junior College - Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, Texas)
Class of 2020
“The Henry B. Fried Scholarship aims to alleviate costs associated with horological education,” said Nicholas Manousos, HSNY president. “We are thrilled to have received so many applications and personal stories about what horology means to future watchmakers.”
Award recipients are usually honored at HSNY’s annual spring Gala & Charity Auction which helps the nonprofit raise funds to advance the art and science of horology. This year’s gala has been postponed to Wednesday, August 5 due to the coronavirus. Many of the scholarship winners will be present at the gala to join in the celebration.
HSNY's Henry B. Fried Scholarship Recipients to Be Announced April 1
Horological Society of New York past president Henry B. Fried instructing students on lathe work. (Photo credit: The Brooklyn Public Library — Brooklyn Collection)
Earlier this year HSNY announced that all full-time watchmakers in the United States were eligible to apply for the Henry B. Fried Scholarship.
After weeks of review and deliberation by our board of trustees, HSNY has chosen the deserving recipients for 2020.
Henry B. Fried Scholarship recipients will be announced on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 via a press release and article on the HSNY website. Stay tuned!
Welcoming New HSNY Members, March 2020
We miss you and hope to reunite soon!
HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our members’ support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day.
Adam J. Lucente, NY
Albert Billeci, NY
Andra Reardon, NJ
Artem Vaynman, NY
Brad Schwartz, NY
Brian P. Quinn, NY
Caitlyn Bazemore, NY
Cameron Ferrante, NY
Carlos Navarro, NY
Claus Fadum Nissen, Denmark
Conor Bennett, NY
Daniel You, NY
David Phantana, NY
Debbie Davis, NY
Enrico Bova, IL
Eric Kwan Tai Lau, NY
Evan Roklen, CA
Frank Arcaro, CT
Frank Malvezzi, PA
Gary Luks, NJ
Gerard Joseph Connolly, MA
Gordon Grieve, NY
Gus Puryear, TN
Hubert Kolka, NY
Ian Reardon, NJ
Jason Gong, NJ
Jessica Owens, NY
Joe Chulick, WA
John Bryant, MD
John Mrozowski, NY
Jon Catanio, NY
Joseph Dayan, NY
Joseph Zagami, NJ
Kevin Litchfield, NY
Leon Fischman, NY
Mark Jungers, WI
Marshall Chandler, NY
Michael John Mimmo, NY
Michael Liebowitz, CT
Michael Wang, NY
Miguel De Luis, Geneva
Murali T. Bolla, NY
Nick Humphries, NY
Olivier Sicouri, Australia
Patrick Ma, NJ
Philip Fishbane, TX
Philip Meier, London
Rich Pinto, NY
Richard Davis, NY
Richard Thomas, NY
Robert Younger, NY
Russ Chow, NY
Scott Hall, FL
Sebastian Ruiz, NY
Sevket Halil, NY
Sundeep Gokaraju, NY
Tarique Chaudhary, NY
Thomas Lubeck, NY
Timothy P. Queenan, NY
Tod Schuck, NJ
Vinny Naro, FL
Vlad Shendelman, NY
Zachary Landzberg, NJ
HSNY Celebrates Its 154th Anniversary Today
Dear Friends,
Watches and clocks are not particularly important right now, but our relationship with time is. Public health has become the focus of the world as the coronavirus pandemic continues to change our lives. A rapidly changing world can also cause us to focus on the short term rather than the distant future. Recognizing this and taking a break from the present can be a healthy diversion. With that being said, let me take you back to March 26, 1866.
The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) was founded on March 26, 1866, by George Schmidt and Frederick Ruoff, two watchmakers working in what we today call the Financial District of Manhattan. For a moment, consider New York in 1866. There was no Empire State Building or Brooklyn Bridge. The subway did not exist and the Statue of Liberty would not appear in New York Harbor for another 20 years. New York was a very different place then compared to now, but some things are still the same. New York is still a thriving city, a financial center, an architectural masterpiece, and a state of mind.
Today is HSNY's 154th anniversary. Last year at this time, the HSNY team was busy with last-minute preparations for our annual Gala & Charity Auction, which we hold every year in April. This year, for the first time in HSNY's history, our Gala has been postponed. But even with that necessary change, some things are still the same. On April 1, HSNY will award its 2020 Henry B. Fried Scholarships.
For 154 years, HSNY's dedication to its educational mission has also stayed the same. Generations of horologists before us worked to ensure this would happen, guiding the organization through the 1918 flu pandemic, Great Depression and both World Wars. HSNY will continue to serve watchmakers, clockmakers, and the interested public during this current crisis and into the future. HSNY is only able to do this because of our dedicated members worldwide and growing list of corporate sponsors. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated, and I look forward to seeing you soon at a lecture, class, or the Gala!
Sincerely,
Nicholas Manousos
President, Horological Society of New York
HSNY Gala & Charity Auction Postponed to August 5
Dear Members & Friends,
As you are all aware, the Horological Society of New York is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health of our members as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread.
Our Gala & Charity Auction will be postponed to August 5, 2020. The venue remains the same, and tickets already purchased are valid for August 5. In the meantime, we wish you good health and we look forward to celebrating in the near future.
Meeting Recap: The Phenomenon of Resonance
François-Paul Journe, Founder of Montres Journe, Geneva, Switzerland
Osama Sendi, Founder of TheJourneGuy.com, Toronto, Canada
Pierre Halimi, General Manager of Montres Journe North America (translation)
March 2, 2020
Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately (using your membership password), and to the general public with a 2 month delay.
A full house was eagerly awaiting the start of the March lecture at the Horological Society of New York. François-Paul Journe, Founder of Montres Journe, along with Osama Sendi, Founder of TheJourneGuy.com, presented their topic on the phenomenon of resonance: what it is, its history and its application in horology.
Sendi started the lecture with the three key terms that are necessary to understand the concept of resonance: amplitude, frequency and natural frequency. A wine glass being shattered by a human voice, for instance, is a common example of natural frequency. The history began with Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695), the Dutch scientist who invented the pendulum clock in 1656 and first observed the occurrence of resonance. However, the first application goes to Antide Janvier (1751-1835) the royal clockmaker to Louis XVIII who created three clocks: Double Pendulum Long Case Clock No. 400, Double Pendulum Wall regulator No. 453 and the Coupling Regulator No. 470. Then, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1741-1823) tested the phenomenon in clocks: Breguet No.3177, Breguet No. 3671 and then pocket watches: Breguet Nos. 2788, 2794 and 2667.
Finally, Sendi introduced François-Paul Journe to the podium along with Pierre Halimi, General Manager of Montres Journe North America, who assisted as Journe’s translator. Journe touched upon his life, experience and apprenticeship, and explained the connection with the pendulum and resonance which was exemplified by the Breguet No. 3177 Clock. He continued to explain his creation of movements that resulted in the 1998 debut of his resonance wristwatch. Incidentally, the engraved word "resonance" on his debut piece was misspelled with a double n: "resonnance". In 2000, he created the F.P.Journe Chronometre a Resonance. Journe stated that the timepiece had to have no variation, it needed to be impeccable — the settings had to be precise. That type of drive is not surprising from a watchmaker, let alone a legendary watchmaker. Journe strongly believes that one can always get a step closer to perfection.
HSNY thanks François-Paul Journe, Osama Sendi and Pierre Halimi for their fascinating lecture!
Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian
Welcoming New HSNY Members, February 2020
Cheers to those who joined us for the February 2020 lecture!
HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our members’ support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day.
Aashdin Billimoria, India
Alan LaMielle, CO
Alex Rodriguez, NY
Andrew Lyons, NY
Brian Dickover, IN
Christopher Nixon, PA
Christopher Rowley, NY
Darren Cole, CA
Eddie Landzberg, NJ
Gregory Boguslavsky, NY
Howard Sklamberg, Washington, D.C.
Jeff Horowitz, NY
Jeffrey Stein, GA
John Metelski, NY
Jonathan Sobey, Singapore
Joseph Ramirez, OH
Junteng Zheng, NY
Lesley Hines, FL
Matty Feldman, CT
Nicolas Macchiavello C., Chile
Paul Daeninck, Canada
Philip A. Shearer, NY
Sam Cannan, DE
Scott Starr, IL
Thomas Hass Augustsen, NJ
Travis A. Carreno, NY
Upcoming Lecture: The Phenomenon of Resonance
Join HSNY on Monday, March 2, 2020 for a lecture on the phenomenon of resonance, presented by François-Paul Journe, Founder of Montres Journe, Geneva, Switzerland & Osama Sendi, Founder of TheJourneGuy.com, Toronto, Canada.
The phenomenon of resonance can be traced back nearly three centuries within the history of horology and has been shrouded in mystery for most of this time. Discovered centuries ago and understood by only a very small handful of watchmakers since, it is no surprise that it remains a topic of controversy. How can two objects suspended in free motion possibly synchronize themselves and better the performance of a timekeeper? At the March 2, 2020, meeting of the Horological Society of New York, François-Paul Journe and Osama Sendi will discuss the history of resonance in horology, its discovery, development and Mr. Journe’s creation of the first modern Resonance wristwatch in 2000.
Free tickets are required to attend.
Attn. Watchmaking Students - HSNY's Henry B. Fried Scholarships Is Now Accepting Applications
HSNY's Director of Education Steve Eagle and President Nicholas Manousos pose with the 2019 recipients of the Henry B. Fried Scholarship - Nural Amin, Aleksandra Halic & Gerard Connolly.
HSNY is proud to announce that the 2020 Henry B. Fried Scholarship application period is now live.
The Henry B. Fried Scholarship was created in 2017 in honor of Mr. Fried, one of America’s most recognized authorities in the field of horology and a former HSNY President (1954-1955). While most watchmaking schools in the United States are free and tuition is covered by a sponsoring brand, professional watchmaking tools and living expenses are not covered.
Any student who has been accepted to or is currently studying at a full-time watchmaking school in the U.S. is eligible for the Henry B. Fried Scholarship. Prospective students may also apply, with the understanding that the scholarship is contingent on their enrollment at a full-time watchmaking school. Scholarship recipients will be awarded at HSNY's Gala & Charity Auction, taking place in New York City on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Awards up to $10,000 are available.
To apply, students should email a letter (PDF) to the Trustees of the Horological Society of New York that includes a biography, explanation of their motivation to study watchmaking and an explanation of how this scholarship would benefit the applicant. A resume is required, and reference letters are recommended.
The application deadline is Sunday, March 1, 2020. Don't delay!
To learn more about the Henry B. Fried Scholarship and to read the full qualifications, please visit http://hs-ny.org/scholarship/.
Now Available: Tickets to the HSNY 154th Anniversary Gala & Charity Auction, April 1
Join us as we celebrate 154 years of New York's horological tradition on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
Our most celebrated night of the year will be held at the Manhattan Penthouse, an incredible venue with panoramic views of the New York City skyline. Guests will have the opportunity to celebrate the year's horological accomplishments, toast to HSNY's 154th anniversary and mingle with industry leaders and fellow enthusiasts.
Once again, we are pleased to host our highly-anticipated charity auction, presented by Christie's. A selection of extraordinary timepieces, exceptional experiences and horological miscellanea will be up for sale, with all proceeds benefitting HSNY's ongoing educational programs.
The 2020 HSNY Gala & Charity Auction will commence with cocktail hour from 6-7PM, with premium open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres, followed by a seated dinner. The suggested attire is business formal.
HSNY to Teach Watch Courses in Melbourne, Australia Hosted by the Hour Glass
The Horological Society of New York (HSNY), America’s oldest watchmaking guild, founded in 1866, is crossing a fourth continent off its Traveling Education list with a trip to Melbourne, Australia on February 29 and March 1, 2020.
Serving as one of the oldest continuously operating horological associations in the world, the 154-year-old Society stands today as a nonprofit with the mission to advance the art and science of horology. Armed with a curriculum of Horology 101 through 103, a team of professional watchmakers, and portable ergonomic watch benches, HSNY will go from the Big Apple to Down Under in the name of horology.
HSNY’s award-winning classes will be hosted by The Hour Glass, a world-leading specialty luxury watch retail group with boutiques in key retail corridors throughout the Asia Pacific region. During each four-hour course, eight students will disassemble and reassemble a complete mechanical watch movement (ETA 6497) and find out what makes a watch tick. The hands-on experience will allow watch enthusiasts to go beyond scratching the surface of horological education, learning the proper usage of watchmaking tools and gaining insight to the terminology and theories of modern horology. Steve Eagle, HSNY’s Director of Education, will guide students through the fundamentals of movement mechanics, gear training, and winding and setting.
For the first time in Traveling Education history, HSNY will also collaborate with a regional media partner - Australian watch media publisher Time+Tide. As the country faces critical times, HSNY is honored to match The Hour Glass’s donation of a ticket to participate in the lauded Traveling Education courses. Both tickets will be raffled at Time+Tide’s Watch & Act! World Watch Auction Wrap Party with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Bushfire Appeal.
Classes hosted by The Hour Glass will be held at The Westin Melbourne - just a few feet away from the boutique - on Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1, 2020. Watchmaking tools and ergonomic benches will be provided for the duration of each course. No prior experience is required.
Visit HSNY’s Eventbrite page for tickets and times. Any profit from sales is directly reinvested into HSNY’s ongoing educational mission.
For more information about the Horological Society of New York, please visit http://hs-ny.org.
To learn more about The Hour Glass, visit https://www.thehourglass.com/.
To learn more about Time+Tide, visit https://timeandtidewatches.com/.
Meeting Recap: Horological Homecoming: The Hidden History of WWII Watches
Cole Pennington, Editor at HODINKEE
February 3, 2020
Video recordings of lectures are available to members immediately (using your membership password), and to the general public with a 2 month delay.
A large crowd was at hand to attend the much-anticipated lecture from Cole Pennington, Editor at HODINKEE, for the February 2020 installment of HSNY’s lecture series. To start the lecture, Pennington referenced a book by Roman Mars titled “Always Read the Plaque” as a way to explain the unique information that building plaques display when people pass by. It is this idea that Pennington believes watch enthusiasts/collectors should adopt: always read the case back. And also, what are the circumstances on how we retrieve a World War II watch in the first place?
Before touching upon the WWII watches, Pennington referred WWI timepieces that were touted as trench watches. The two inscribed caseback examples that he showed were the USAS (United States Air Service) 1917 and the L Taggart 1916. Mineral glass covered the dial with ornate metal coverings to protect the glass from shrapnel. Inscriptions were not only for memory’s sake - they also served the unfortunate purpose of identification in case anything went wrong.
So how did Pennington come across the military watch collection that he covered in detail on HODINKEE? Not only does Pennington have an interest in watches - he’s also interested in aviation. The P-51 Mustang plane named “Kwitcherbitchin” was making an appearance at a WWII Day re-enactment event in Reading, Pennsylvania. Since re-enactors are detail-oriented, they need true period timepieces. Pennington came across a gentleman who was selling some of his 40-year-old military watch collection at the event. The common pieces found were Army Ordnance Dept (ORD DEPT) watches that were used by infantry, and then issued to all the branches of service, of which the A-11 wristwatch was mainly made for the Army Air Corp.
Here’s what Pennington chose to highlight from the collection and the inscriptions that were on the casebacks:
Watch #1
Brand: Elgin
Inscription: To the Heroic People of the USSR - Russian War Relief
Watch #2
Brand: Active Service
Inscription: To Lieut. A.C. Jones RCNR From Royal Sovereign Sea Cadet Corps Sault Ste Marie 1941
Watch #3
Brand: Elgin (Army Ordnance Watch)
Inscription: W.H. Croner, LT. U.S.N. 309657
Watch #4
Brand: Hamilton
Inscription: Lt. G.C. Fullenkamp Best Wishes From Your Fed. Mach. & Welder Co. Friends
Watch #5
Brand: Elgin De Luxe
Inscription: To Pike Beall From Co-Workers Edgewood Arsenal 1942
Watch #6
Brand: Orvin
Inscription: Maj. T.G. Brown Dec 25 1940 Edmonton Fusiliers
Watch #7
Brand: Belmar
Inscription: Todd 3-23-46 F CO. 32 Infantry
Watch #8
Brand: Active Service
Inscription: J.R. McDowell R192429 R.C.A.F.
If you’re curious about the significance of the inscriptions, the video replay gives a well-researched explanation of these incredible timepieces.
HSNY thanks Cole Pennington for his fascinating lecture!
Photography by Atom Moore
Submitted by Melody Benloss, Recording Secretary & Associate Librarian
Welcoming New HSNY Members, January 2020
Thumbs up for new members in 2020!
HSNY would like to welcome the following new members. It is only with our member's support that we are able to continue flourishing as America's oldest watchmaking guild and advancing the art and science of horology every day.
Andras Balla, NY
Arnando Peralta, NY
Ashish Ashwin Gajjar, CA
Brian Nigito, NY
Danny Avizov, NJ
Emily Pazar, NY
Fred Suh, NY
Galen Disston, WA
Greg Cromwell, NY
Jasmin Ibrahim, NY
Jason Totoiu, FL
John P. Magnussen, CA
Kent Shelley, CT
Logan Clark, CO
Michael T. Cavalier, NJ
Michael Wist, NY
Nancy B. Adler, NY
Renato Teixeira, FL
Ricardo Sime, NY
Robert Gach, NY
Ronald Bernstein, NJ
Scott Devine, MO
Sumei Shum, Singapore
Terry W. Beach, IL
William Andrewes, MA