Newsroom Archive 2017
December 11, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NEW DISPLAY ENCOURAGES MUSEUM VISITORS TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES A WRISTWATCH "COLLECTIBLE"
COLUMBIA, PA: Just in time for the holiday season, the National Watch & Clock Museum has added an ongoing display in its Wristwatch Gallery that features four timepieces with special historic significance to stimulate discussion among visitors.What makes one watch more valuable than another?How important is provenance?Who gets to say whether a wristwatch is “collectible”? Why? Titled James Bond Originals, this exhibit includes the actual Breitling for Bentley Chronograph that author Jeffery Deaver wore during his launch tour for his novel Carte Blanche in 2011. In that book Deaver describes his fictional Agent 007 wearing this same real-world wristwatch while working undercover.
Along with his watch James Bond Originals shows a first edition, first printing of Carte Blanche hand-signed by the author. Additional autographs were obtained from the first and current Bond movie actors. Daniel Craig hand-signed an Omega marketing piece promoting the Seamaster Planet Ocean in Quantum of Solace. Sir Sean Connery personally signed a photograph taken during the filming of Dr. No where he is shown holding the Rolex Submariner on a leather strap.
James Bond Originals is curated by Ian Fleming and James Bond watch expert Dell Deaton, of JamesBondWatches.com, the foremost independent authority on these subjects. He is perhaps best known internationally for his discovery of the original literary James Bond watch, an actual Rolex 1016 Explorer that was owned and worn by 007 creator Ian Fleming. That original timepiece was exhibited for five years at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
The James Bond Originals Rolex has an intact radium dial and was first shown alongside Fleming’s watch in 2010 and 2011. In fact, its serial number dates production of this wristwatch to the very same lot as the Fleming-Bond watch; the two were likely produced within hours of one another.
“James Bond Originals joins our ongoing quartz-Bond watches gallery at the Museum,” Dell Deaton begins. The two exhibits now bookend the separate, dedicated Wristwatch Gallery on the main floor of the Museum.
Deaton continues, “A key distinction between the two Bond exhibits is that James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution answers a broad range of detailed questions and explains a very important piece of horological history that doesn’t get the attention it deserves and is often grossly mischaracterized. James Bond Originals has been designed to ask—rather than answer—questions.”
Museum Director Noel Poirier describes the new placement as a strategic decision. “This space is literally positioned as one of the last areas through which visitors pass as they go through the 18,000 square foot National Watch & Clock Museum. By this point they’ve been presented with literally thousands of examples from history.”
Poirier added, “This display allows us to use James Bond as a backdrop in service to our broader Museum mission—to educate. We think that James Bond engages people to answer the serious question implied by this display: Which of these watches do you think are most collectible and why? That question may even stick with them as a takeaway from their visit."
The Casino Royale Limited Edition by Omega in this display can help highlight questions about collectors’ series pieces in general. It further invites comparison to mainstream counterparts in long-term value.
The Gruen Precision next to it was an easily forgettable model until first identified by Dell Deaton in 2013 as the earliest James Bond movie watch. It is visible when Agent 007 meets Sylvia Trench in Dr. No and appears in three subsequent films as James Bond’s choice. Since initially being displayed at the National Watch & Clock Museum from 2013 to 2015, on screen-correct one-piece woven strap, it sells for up to 50 times what it commanded before its Bond connection was known.
“We think Dell’s involvement here sends a powerful message in terms of the continuing relevance of the museum experience for visitors,” Poirier says. “As Jeffery Deaver wrote here, Dell is ‘the James Bond watch guy.’ Having established that through JamesBondWatches.com, his exhibits say ‘the Internet isn’t enough. If you want to truly understand watches, you need to see them in person, in a real place, in the sort of larger context we have assembled here.’ We agree.”
James Bond Originals also bookends an important milestone for the Museum itself. This is the last new display to open before the National Watch & Clock Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary on November 29, 2017.
The National Watch and Clock Museum is operated by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) association with over 13,000 members, representing 52 countries. April through November the Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. December through March hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From Memorial Day through Labor Day the Museum is also open on Mondays. Discounts are available to seniors, students, AAA members, and groups of 10 or more. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to call ahead. For more program information, directions, or general Museum information, call 717.684.8261 or visit our website at www.museumoftime.org.
December 5, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT NOON
COLUMBIA, PA: Ring in the New Year with Father Time at the center of time—The National Watch and Clock Museum. The Museum’s New Year’s Eve at Noon event on December 31 is the only local New Year’s Eve party designed specifically for children during daylight hours.
Children will learn about the passage of time using traditional adult activities presented in a child-friendly manner. As part of the traditional celebration, the Museum will host a countdown with Father Time, complete with a balloon drop at the strike of noon. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Father Time will lead guests in a dance party full of fun and swinging music.
Activities include time to:
• Make New Year’s hats out of recycled materials to wear as you celebrate the new year
• Pose in the Museum’s New Year’s photo booth while you show off your party hat
• Play a New Year’s trivia game testing your knowledge of New Year’s traditions and history
• Participate in family challenges like Minute to Win It as you race against the clock
• Enjoy a special New Year’s Eve story time
• Create a time capsule to remember 2017
• Write your resolutions for 2018 on Resolution Wall
• Decorate a cookie like a clock face with Rivertownes PA, USA, and enjoy it as a snack afterward
• Accessorize with face painting
Joining in the celebration will also be a mob of mascots, including Turkey Hill’s “Hilda” and Columbia Fire Co.’s “Sparky” with his fire truck!
Media sponsor for New Year’s Eve at Noon is WROZ FM – Fun 101.3.
Advance registration is not necessary and all activities are included with regular paid admission of adults $9, senior citizens $8, children age 5–16 $5, children younger than 5 free, and a family rate of $23. For additional information, contact 717.684.8261, ext. 237.
November 16, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IT’S LUNCH TIME! CLOCKWORKS
COLUMBIA: Pack a lunch and join the National Watch and Clock Museum for its Lunch “Time” presentation, "Clockworks” on Wednesday, December 13. Museum Director Noel Poirier will show and discuss some objects from the collection that use a clockworks, gears, and timing for purposes other than timekeeping. The Museum invites the public to join in a casual conversation and understanding of the story behind these pieces. “We wanted to provide a more intimate opportunity for people to discover objects from the Museum collection or learn about important and interesting aspects of the history of time and timekeeping. We thought a brown bag lunch would be the perfect fit,” explains Poirier.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch for this casual conversation. Lunch “Time” is a complimentary educational program that will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. and will continue every other month.
October 30, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TIMEtalk: THE INTERNET MADE JAMES BOND WATCHES COLLECTIBLE
COLUMBIA, PA: Who can remember when we had to wait until after a new movie came out to find out what kind of wristwatch James Bond was wearing? When the only way to figure out how to set your watch after you lost the instructions was to write a letter to the manufacturer to request that they mail you a duplicate? Or a motion picture where no one in production even bothered to identify the 007 watchmaker—as was the case with You Only Live Twice in 1967?
In the next presentation of TIMEtalks at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, at the National Watch & Clock Museum, author and presenter Dell Deaton will substantiate the argument that it was the Internet that uniquely made James Bond watches collectible and will then take a close look at what that collectibility actually means. Deaton will unpack what the organization and availability of watches through marketplaces, such as Amazon or eBay, have come to mean in terms of typical downward pricing pressures due to commoditization. Also included will be a look at how the social aspect of influential online channels have introduced and perpetuated an emotional component that drives premium pricing.
Deaton shares, “During TIMEtalks, we will challenge the generally held notion of the Web as an environment that empowers the consumer and topples the absolute control over information spin historically held so tightly by sellers. Are we honestly expected to accept the assertion that James Bond’s current watchmaker has simply surrendered its positioning destiny to the Internet masses? That James Bond’s legacy watchmakers have no plan or vested interest in keeping us reminded of their prowess from the days when Sean Connery and Roger Moore carried the Walther PPK?”
Finally, Deaton’s presentation will explore recently published correspondence in which Ian Fleming found himself at the center of in the mid-1950s. It serves as a remarkable metaphor in assessing the ostensibly democratic and unbiased online resources that buyers are encouraged to rely on to make their James Bond watch purchase decisions.
Dell Deaton is author–creator of JamesBondWatches.com and related sites, launched in 2006. He is a widely published expert on this niche subject, having done original research that documented the discovery of numerous 007 wristwatches from both the movies and literature. Most notably, he is credited as the first to identify the original Ian Fleming literary Bond watch. Deaton has curated James Bond watch exhibits for the National Watch & Clock Museum since 2010 and is currently responsible for the James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution gallery opened in 2015.
TIMEtalks is a complimentary educational program that will continue every other month.
October 5, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO CELEBRATE NAWCC’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
COLUMBIA, PA: “We observe that TIME STANDS STILL FOR NO ONE and, in turn, hire our next chief executive officer,” so says Lancaster County’s most famous public institution and greatest kept secret, The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. The NAWCC is the world's largest museum, research library, educational institution, and international community of horological professionals and enthusiasts dedicated to clocks, watches, time, and timekeeping.
In keeping with its international reputation, its Executive Director, Thomas R. Wilcox, III, Esq., as of August 28, 2017, replaced the retiring Steven Humphrey, after Humphrey finished a distinguished career of 10 years with the organization on August 25. Tom and his team at the NAWCC Headquarters stand firmly committed in leading the institution to “being the world leader, educator, and advocate for horology and for everyone who is interested in timepieces and time-related subjects.” That’s quite an aspiration. And they will not have a lot of TIME to spare because currently on the team’s plate is planning and executing the 40th Anniversary Celebration Night on November 29, 2017, commemorating the official opening of the Museum in 1977. Not far behind is the NAWCC’s grand celebratory event in mid-July 2018 recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the NAWCC institution. It should be quite a TIME! And the 2018 NAWCC National Convention is also being held in July at the York County Utz Convention Center.
Tom’s TIME spent in executive employment brings a variety of skills, experiences, and training to help in completing on TIME all these projects in this new role, including JD and MBA degrees and active licenses to practice law and real estate. His professional career also includes executive and professional positions with the US Court of International Trade, Mack Trucks, Siemens Med, SMG Inc., the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, Keller Williams, and New Life Youth and Family Services. Tom has also been an adjunct law and business professor for 18 years teaching international law and business classes and has studied art at the Barnes
Foundation and EU Law at Cambridge University. Tom has served on numerous nonprofit boards, conducted leadership training for association professionals, and has published works. In TIME, Tom and his family will relocate to the Lancaster area from the Philadelphia suburbs.
October 4, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TIMEtalks: THE INTERNET MADE JAMES BOND WATCHES COLLECTIBLE
COLUMBIA, PA: Who can remember when we had to wait until after a new movie came out to find out what kind of wristwatch James Bond was wearing? When the only way to figure out how to set your watch after you lost the instructions was to write a letter to the manufacturer to request that they mail you a duplicate? Or a motion picture where no one in production even bothered to identify the 007 watchmaker—as was the case with You Only Live Twice in 1967?
In the next presentation of TIMEtalks at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, at the National Watch & Clock Museum, author and presenter Dell Deaton will substantiate the argument that it was the Internet that uniquely made James Bond watches collectible and will then take a close look at what that collectibility actually means. Deaton will unpack what the organization and availability of watches through marketplaces, such as Amazon or eBay, have come to mean in terms of typical downward pricing pressures due to commoditization. Also included will be a look at how the social aspect of influential online channels have introduced and perpetuated an emotional component that drives premium pricing.
Deaton shares, “During TIMEtalks, we will challenge the generally held notion of the Web as an environment that empowers the consumer and topples the absolute control over information spin historically held so tightly by sellers. Are we honestly expected to accept the assertion that James Bond’s current watchmaker has simply surrendered its positioning destiny to the Internet masses? That James Bond’s legacy watchmakers have no plan or vested interest in keeping us reminded of their prowess from the days when Sean Connery and Roger Moore carried the Walther PPK?”
Finally, Deaton’s presentation will explore recently published correspondence in which Ian Fleming found himself at the center of in the mid-1950s. It serves as a remarkable metaphor in assessing the ostensibly democratic and unbiased online resources that buyers are encouraged to rely on to make their James Bond watch purchase decisions.
Dell Deaton is author–creator of JamesBondWatches.com and related sites, launched in 2006. He is a widely published expert on this niche subject, having done original research that documented the discovery of numerous 007 wristwatches from both the movies and literature. Most notably, he is credited as the first to identify the original Ian Fleming literary Bond watch. Deaton has curated James Bond watch exhibits for the National Watch & Clock Museum since 2010 and is currently responsible for the James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution gallery opened in 2015.
TIMEtalks is a complimentary educational program that will continue every other month.
September 14, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IT'S LUNCH TIME!
COLUMBIA, PA: Pack a lunch and join the National Watch & Clock Museum for its Lunch “Time” presentation, “Oddities from the Museum Collection,” on Wednesday, October 18. Museum Director Noel Poirier will present collection objects that have interesting backgrounds, odd forms, or are just plain weird!Columbia, PA: Pack a lunch and join the National Watch & Clock Museum for its Lunch “Time” presentation, “Oddities from the Museum Collection,” on Wednesday, October 18. Museum Director Noel Poirier will present collection objects that have interesting backgrounds, odd forms, or are just plain weird!
The Museum invites the public to join in a casual conversation and understanding of the story behind these pieces. “We wanted to provide a more intimate opportunity for people to discover objects from the Museum collection, or learn about important and interesting aspects of the history of time and timekeeping. We thought a brown bag lunch would be the perfect fit,” explains Poirier.
Lunch “Time” is a complimentary educational program, held from 12 to 1 p.m., and will continue every other month. The next program is scheduled for December 13.
September 14, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A SPECIAL INVITATION TO HOMESCHOOLERS
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, has declared Tuesday, October 17, Homeschool Day. Families who homeschool are especially invited to spend time at the Museum and participate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the following crafts and activities:COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, has declared Tuesday, October 17, Homeschool Day. Families who homeschool are especially invited to spend time at the Museum and participate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the following crafts and activities:• Enjoy a behind the scenes tour• Learn how water can be used to tell time• Make a working clock to take home• Go on a scavenger hunt through the Museum exhibits• Learn about how the sun can be used to tell time • Play time-related games• Learn how to research a timepiece• See a watchmaker at work
Registration for the Homeschool Day is required by October10; cost per student is $10 with no charge for one accompanying adult. For each additional adult attending there is a $6 charge with no charge for children under 6 years of age (unless they want to make a clock for $6). Please contact admissions at 717.684.8261, ext. 234 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register or for more information.
“Along with other events and workshops, the Museum enjoys planning a Homeschool Day each year because it’s another opportunity for families to see that the Museum is not only educational but a whole lot of fun too—for all ages,” stated Coordinator of Marketing & Special Events Kim Craven.
August 31, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RGM WATCH COMPANY CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
COLUMBIA, PA: To celebrate its 25th anniversary, RGM Watch Company is hosting a special two-day event, including an exclusive RGM Open House in Mount Joy followed by a reception at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia.
RGM Watches will open its doors for a behind-the-scenes look at its workshop on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16, 2017.
The open house will allow guests to see the machinery in motion as the RGM makers demonstrate how they produce many of the parts that go into their distinctive watches. See firsthand how they marry the old with the new by observing vintage machines working in harmony with modern technology to create unique timepieces.
Time will be provided for attendees to examine the current line of RGM timepieces and even purchase one if so inclined.
The second phase of the event will take place Saturday afternoon at the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA. During this time, RGM will unveil several new watch models and give away some RGM promotional items. As a special bonus, attendees will be guided through the museum by RGM owner Mr. Roland Murphy.
The itinerary is as follows:
• Open House: Friday, September 15, 2017, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, September 16, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
at RGM Watch Company, 801 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552
• Tour and Reception: Saturday, September 16, 2017, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
at the National Watch & Clock Museum, 514 Poplar St., Columbia, PA 17512
Pre-registration is not required, but RGM Watches is asking attendees to support the National Watch & Clock Museum by making a donation, which can be done by visiting https://goo.gl/CwxDCj.
August 31, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, INC. WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Inc. (NAWCC) recently appointed a new executive director, following the retirement of Steven Humphrey, who had served the NAWCC for more than 10 years. Tom Wilcox, Esq. was approved to assume the position effective August 28 and will work from the NAWCC’s Museum in Columbia, PA.
Mr. Wilcox brings with him a rich background of professional skills, experiences, and training, having served on numerous nonprofit boards and conducted volunteer leadership training for association executives and chapter leaders. An avid collector, Wilcox is the proud owner of a meager and humble collection of inherited antique pocket watches and wristwatches; mantel clocks; banjo, RR regulator, and shelf clocks; and one generic tall case clock. He has two grown daughters and is in the process of relocating to the Lancaster area with his wife and his collections.
The NAWCC is a complex organization that manages an extensive education program, a library and research center, a 13,000 member organization of collectors, and a world-class museum. The NAWCC is pleased that Wilcox has decided to bring his many skills and talents to the area in support of the Association and its mission.
“As the NAWCC’s new chief advocate and spokesperson, I will focus on promoting and preserving, expanding and enhancing, and growing and enriching the health, prestige, influence, and impact the NAWCC has around the globe, far into the future. Also in serving, stay true to the NAWCC’s mission and vision and focus on what the Association is all about: time and timekeeping,” shares Wilcox.
August 24, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CLOKTOBERFEST!
COLUMBIA, PA: On Saturday, September 23, in conjunction with Smithsonian Magazine’s Free Museum Day, the National Watch and Clock Museum will hold its third annual Cloktoberfest. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum, make-and-take a clock, a steampunk fashion show, book sale, silent auction, area food trucks, beer, and vendors selling horological, industrial, steampunk, and handmade items, and more!
“The behind-the-scenes tours will include a peek into the area of the Museum that many do not get to see. Visitors can expect to see pieces that are not on display, a look into how these items are stored, and information on what goes into the National Watch and Clock Museum’s collection of nearly 13,000 objects. Three tour times will be offered: 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. to allow a more personal experience,” explains Curator of Collections Kim Jovinelli.
Kids of all ages will also make their own clock to take home. Our popular Make-and-Take program will be available for participants to create a unique clock. There is a fee of $5 per clock.
Food trucks, including TriCounty BBQ, SOL Creations, and Penny’s Ice Cream, will be on hand with all sorts of tasty options to eat, and Columbia Kettleworks is even creating a special brew for the event!
The Museum thanks financial sponsor, M & T Bank, and media sponsor, 96.1 SOX, for assisting with this year’s Cloktoberfest.
July 28, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IT’S LUNCH "TIME!"
Pack a lunch and join the National Watch and Clock Museum for its Lunch “Time” presentation, “The Legacy of the Luther Goddard Pocket Watch,” on Wednesday, August 16. Museum Director Noel Poirier will provide an overview of the life and career of Goddard, America’s first watch manufacturer, and the legacy of rare and fine workmanship he left for future watchmakers.
An entrepreneur, Goddard is considered to be one of the earliest American watchmakers and the first watchmaker to create serialized, or numbered, timepieces. Goddard’s story is one of opportunity, global trade, ingenuity, and setback—a microcosm of the greater forces of the past and present world.
The Museum invites the public to join in a casual conversation and understanding of the story behind this piece. “We wanted to provide a more intimate opportunity for people to discover objects from the Museum collection, or learn about important and interesting aspects of the history of time and timekeeping. We thought a brown bag lunch would be the perfect fit,” explains Poirier.
Lunch “Time” is a complimentary educational program that will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. and will continue every other month. Future dates include October 18 and December 13.
July 18, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“EVALUATING TIME” AND “LUXURY OR LIE?™” OFFER NEW CONFIDENCE TO WATCH BUYERS
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc.’s twin courses, “Luxury or Lie?™ How to Identify Genuine from Fake Watches” and “Evaluating Time: Researching, Identifying, and Valuing Wrist and Pocket Watches” were held recently at the NAWCC headquarters. Adam Harris, designer, curator, and instructor for the two highly praised classes, gave a wealth of knowledge about the perks and perils of watch identification.
In “Evaluating Time” watch specialist Harris gives an overview of the evolution of watch types and appropriate terminology and criteria for judging the value of a watch. Participants learn the correct methods to identify watch types, key components and characteristics, and to evaluate authenticity, originality, condition, quality, and desirability. Participants also learn proper examination techniques, research tools and methods, and critical appraisal skills, such as qualitative ranking, classification, rarity determination, and writing accurate descriptions.
“Luxury or Lie?™” is a guide for detecting counterfeit or reworked luxury timepieces. The course includes an overview of watch types, appropriate terminology, and criteria for judging the authenticity of the timepiece based on comparative analysis. Participants learn watch examination techniques and methods and critical detection skills to discern the genuine from the fake. The course includes watch brands and makers, such as Omega, Hublot, Rolex, Rolex-Tudor, Breitling, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Panerai, Bell & Ross, and Audemars Piguet.
An optional one-day workshop “Watches for the Novice” was also held in conjunction with the two courses to provide neophytes and newbies with basic groundwork information to prepare them for the other courses. Instruction includes nomenclature of watch parts, best practices to identify different case types and to open them correctly with the proper tools, how to photograph watches, and more. The cost for this workshop is in addition to the other courses.
Instructor Harris, a lifelong horology enthusiast and guest wristwatch curator since 2012 at the National Watch and Clock Museum, is a Scottish-born British expatriate who now lives in Spain. He admits that it’s impossible to know every manufacturer and all their models, but he attests that there are many ways to spot a counterfeit. He imparts his own personal litmus test that can immediately identify a fake from most types of timepieces.
Since their debut, both courses have been phenomenally successful, and Harris has taught them all over the world. Past attendees who enthusiastically expressed their support for the classes include well-known collectors and watch dealers, expert appraisers from the ISA and the ASA, and even Rick Harrison, celebrity TV pawn shop owner and star of Pawn Stars. The most recent attendees were equally enthusiastic:
“Adam, you're the best. You really know your stuff. Your love of watches is obvious. Great course and presentation. That was great, thanks for presenting the "Luxury or Lie" course. It was fantastic. I also appreciated the tour around the library, and museum.” (Cary Keno)
“I have been to countless seminars/classes regarding this subject and none have even come close to being as valuable as this one. It was incredible. The teaching methods, timing, material, and presentation were perfect. Change nothing!” (Christine Hammond)
“Thanks for all your effort in putting together the “Luxury or Lie” class. It was a great experience and I learned a lot.” (Mike Mckeever)
“Without a doubt your class was the most informative seminar I have ever attended. The pure volume of work demonstrates your expertise, but your delivery of the subject matter confirms your passion. I look forward to using this invaluable information.” (Rob Hammond)
The next scheduled offering of “Evaluating Time” will be held September 16-18, 2017, and “Luxury or Lie?™” will run from October 28 to 30, 2017. Both courses will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the classroom facilities at the NAWCC headquarters in Columbia, PA. Class sizes are limited, so register early. The courses include hands-on instruction and use of the National Watch and Clock Museum collection and the NAWCC Library and Research Center.
The cost for each of the three-day programs is $1,250; an early bird registration rate of $1,000 is available for attendees who register one month prior to the course date. NAWCC members may qualify for a cost of $900 if they also register by the deadline. Discounts are available if sending two or more employees from the same business or if registering for both courses.
For more information and to register:
Evaluating Time: https://net.nawcc.org/NAWCC/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=WS327B17
Luxury or Lie?™: https://net.nawcc.org/NAWCC/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=WS325B17
Additional information may be available by contacting Course Coordinator Abby Krouse at 717.684.8261, ext. 211, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
June 28, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SALLY BIEL NAMED “VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR” BY THE WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) has named Lancaster County resident Sally Biel “Volunteer of the Year” for her generous contribution of time to the National Watch and Clock Museum and its Library and Research Center.
“For nearly two years Sally has been coming in once a week to work on cataloging vertical files. Most people may not know Sally, because she works quietly in my office every Wednesday, but her work is having an enormous impact on the availability of information to NAWCC members, a key part of the Library’s mission. In the time she’s been working here, she has cataloged almost 700 files,” shares Library and Archives Supervisor Sara Dockery.
“Sally has taken it upon herself to learn a tremendous amount about horology, keeping careful notes about each type of clock and watch she encounters in her work. Thanks to the work that she is doing, members are able to easily find library resources and a project that has been ongoing for well over the five years I’ve been here is nearing completion,” adds Dockery.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Watch and Clock Museum and the Library and Research Center. Dozens of volunteers donated thousands of hours, contributing significantly to the achievement of the NAWCC’s mission—a huge savings for the Association. These dedicated individuals provide much of the manpower needed for daily operations, programs, special projects, and events. From event planning to education aides to exhibit construction, to archival research, volunteers get involved at various levels that fit the individuals’ time and commitment availability. If you have extra time on your hands and are interested in volunteering, please call Museum Director Noel Poirier at 717.684.8261, ext. 236 to request an application. The application is also available on the Museum’s website at www.museumoftime.org.
June 26, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TIMEtalks: ART OF TIME
COLUMBIA, PA: On Saturday, July 22, from 11 a.m. to noon, the National Watch and Clock Museum Curator Kim Jovinelli will share the development and inspiration for the current Art of Time exhibit.
Artists from around the world were invited to create with any medium they chose their interpretations of an object in the Museum’s vast collection. Professional and nonprofessional artists submitted entries, including surrealist sculpture to paintings of all kinds. This incredible collection of time-inspired artwork comprises the Art of Time exhibit.
Museum Curator Kim Jovinelli shares, “One of the great things about this exhibit is we have professional artists work alongside those who do it as a hobby and even kids. I wanted to make this an inclusive exhibit that not only shows off artists’ work but also their take on objects in our collection and put a creative spin on the objects in our Museum.” Attendees will learn about the inspirations that led the various artists to create their unique perspectives on time and timekeeping.
TIMEtalks is a complimentary educational program that will continue every other month.
May 31, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MUSEUM GUEST CURATOR AND EDUCATOR EARNS PRESTIGIOUS SERVICE AWARD
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch & Clock Museum has announced that guest curator and horological instructor Adam Harris has been awarded the prestigious J. Bryson and Mary Lou Moore Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes distinguished and outstanding service to the Museum. Candidates are nominated by the Museum and approved by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors’ (NAWCC) Museum Collections Committee, and are confirmed only with unanimous approval by the NAWCC Board of Directors.
Harris has been a dedicated member of the Museum team in a variety of roles since first visiting the Museum about seven years ago. Initially, his work at the Museum was partially underwritten by the Gallet Watch Group, but his most recent tenures have been at his own expense.
In 2012 Harris served as Gallet Guest Curator of Wristwatches, who identified and photographed all the wristwatches in the Museum collection. When he returned in 2013 from his home in Spain, Harris worked on and installed a new permanent wristwatch gallery using the Museum’s wristwatch collection, objects on loan from third parties, and objects from his collection, which he donated to the Museum. Then in 2014, Adam, at his own expense, continued working on wristwatches, but also began a comprehensive review of the Museum’s largely unphotographed horological tool collection. During this time he also started his very lucrative work with the development and presentation of NAWCC educational programs.
Harris has served as instructor for an intensive course he researched and created titled “Luxury or Lie: Identifying the Genuine from the Fake.” Adam has presented this highly successful course in many locations throughout the United States and overseas. He developed a second course titled “Evaluating Time: Researching, Identifying, and Valuing Wrist and Pocket Watches.”
The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, in association with the National Watch & Clock Museum, appreciates Harris’s ongoing commitment and contributions to the Museum and congratulates Adam for attaining this prestigious honor.
Additional information may be available by contacting Museum Director Noel Poirier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 717.684.8261, ext. 236.
May 25, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WATCH & CLOCK MUSEUM AND NAWCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVE AWARDS
COLUMBIA, PA: Each year PA Museums, the Harrisburg-based statewide trade association serving museum professionals and institutions throughout Pennsylvania, invites nominations for their Special Achievement Awards to recognize excellent and exemplary work in Pennsylvania’s museums for more than 30 years.
Recipients this year were the National Watch & Clock Museum (Institutional award) and the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors’ (NAWCC) Executive Director J. Steven Humphrey (Individual Achievement award).
Like many museums tasked with minimizing expenses, the National Watch & Clock Museum aimed to fulfill its educational mission without expanding its budget. In 2008 the Museum shifted its marketing efforts from traditional methods to advertising on the Internet and the growing social media environment to reach a larger audience in affordable, direct, and more meaningful ways. Through a website that acts as a virtual brochure and branded social media platforms, the Museum has enjoyed robust remote and on-site visitation while reducing costs.
Steve Humphrey joined the National Canal Museum – Hugh Moore Park in Easton after graduating from Penn State. After almost 30 years there, he moved on to become the Executive Director of the NAWCC, where he has served since 2007. He is a board member and officer of PA Museums and has served on the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Independent Museums, the board of the Northampton Co. Historical Society, working with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Pennsylvania Canal Society, the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and as a MAP Surveyor with the American Alliance of Museums.
Humphrey’s advocacy work with PA Museums and the PA Coalition of Museums has helped keep museum grants in the state budget to better serve the needs and issues of the larger museum community. Steve will step down from the PA Museums board later this year after serving on and off for 15 years, and the board wants to recognize him for his outstanding service over the years.
Congratulations to Steve Humphrey and to the National Watch & Clock Museum!
Additional information may be available by contacting Director of Communications Markus Harris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 717.684.8261, ext. 227.
May 22, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER BRINGS WATCH PORTRAITS TO WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum announces the recent opening of a new exhibit, Watch Portraits, a collection of the unique horological work of renowned photographer, Atom Moore.
Atom explores the finest aspects of vintage and modern timepieces. From his macro shots—incredibly beautiful photographs that peer into the subtle embellishments of each piece—to his whimsical "mashups" that extrapolate on those details through repetition and collage, Watch Portraits is a beautiful, unique look at the world of watches.
Combining his profession as a photographer and his enthusiasm for wristwatches, Moore has gained recognition as an artist and created a critically acclaimed body of work. Today his talents are sought after by some of the most distinguished names of the wristwatch world, including Tudor and F. P. Journe.
Aside from his work as house photographer and art director for the online boutique Analog/Shift, Moore has compiled a series of artistic interpretations of wristwatch portraits that he calls mashups. These mashups explore various visual aspects of watches, such as the varying degrees of patinas of vintage Rolex watches of the same model or what a starburst of lugs looks like circling the case of a Jaeger Le-Coultre Mark XI.
Atom Moore is a talented photographer working with the watch industry in New York City. A graduate of the photography program at Fitchburg State University, he specializes in watch and macro photography and often contributes to watch industry publications, including the RedBar Crew's Collectors' Perspective. Atom most recently hosted a photography exhibit of his Watch Mashups commissioned by Tudor Watches in Hong Kong in November 2016. He has had several solo art exhibitions of his portrait and Watch Mashup photography in New York City and can be found exploring watches on the wrists of watch collectors around the world.
“I have been creating Watch Portrait Mashups for the last few years,” explains Atom. “A portrait of a watch has just as much personality as a person does. I try to bring those different personality traits/details out with my Mashups. It’s important to love what you do and look for inspiration in what you love.”
“The Museum is always seeking special exhibits that explore the many interesting facets of horology, and Atom’s work brings to life the amazing detail found in the skill of watchmaking. We are honored to be able to exhibit Atom’s work and provide our visitors with an opportunity to discover Atom’s unique perspective on horology,” shares Museum Director Noel Poirier.
The special exhibit, Watch Portraits, will continue through December and is included with Museum admission. To view all of Atom’s creations, visit www.atommoore.com.
May 31, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IT’S LUNCH TIME!
Pack a lunch and join the National Watch and Clock Museum for its Lunch “Time” presentation, Saved from the Fire: The Fechter Collection, Wednesday, June 14. Museum Director Noel Poirier will provide an up-close examination of a generous donation of historic documents to the Museum.
Edward Fechter, the last mechanical superintendent at Hamilton Watch Co. in Lancaster, PA, saved dozens of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century engineering drawings depicting watch movements and tooling from Hamilton Watch Co., Illinois Watch Co., and Waltham Watch Co.
The Museum invites the public to join in a casual conversation and examination of these documents. “We wanted to provide a more intimate opportunity for people to discover objects from the Museum collection, or learn about important and interesting aspects of the history of time and timekeeping. We thought a brown bag lunch would be the perfect fit,” explains Museum Director Noel Poirier.
Lunch “Time” is a complimentary educational program that will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. and will continue every other month. Future dates include August 16, October 18, and December 13.
May 19, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM OFFERS FREE ADMISSION TO MILITARY
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum launches Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across the United States. Admission is free for active duty military members (ID required) and their families (up to five family members) from Memorial Day, May 29, through Labor Day, September 4, 2017. Active duty military includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, along with active duty National Guard, and active duty Reserve members.
“The Blue Star Museums program is a great opportunity for the NEA to team up with local museums in every state in the nation to support our service members and their families,” said NEA Chair Jane Chu. “It means a lot to offer these families access to high-quality, budget-friendly opportunities to spend time together.”
“Blue Star Museums has grown into a nationally recognized program that service members and their families look forward to each year,” said Blue Star Families Chief Executive Officer Kathy Roth-Douquet. “This fantastic collaboration with the NEA brings our local military and civilian communities together, and offers families fun and enriching activities in their home towns. We are thrilled with the continued growth of the program and the unparalleled opportunities it offers.”
This year, more than 2,000 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and dozens of children’s museums. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact that museum directly. To find museums that are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site also includes a map to help you plan your visit.
Watch Portraits, a collection of the unique horological work of renowned photographer, Atom Moore and Art of Time, an incredible collection of timely-inspired artwork are special exhibits on display at the National Watch and Clock Museum through the end of the year.
May 17, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ARTISTS MAKE TIME FOR LOCAL MUSEUM
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum announces the opening of its newest exhibit, Art of Time, an incredible collection of time-inspired artwork.
Artists from around the world were invited to create with any medium they chose their interpretations of an object in the Museum’s vast collection. Professional and nonprofessional artists submitted entries, including surrealist sculpture to paintings of all kinds.
Art of Time attracts visitors to the Museum to see the beautiful works created by these artists. The collections in the Museum also showcase outstanding watches and clocks built over the centuries by skilled craftsmen.
Museum Curator Kim Jovinelli shares “One of the great things about this exhibit is we have professional artists work alongside those who do it as a hobby and even kids. I wanted to make this an inclusive exhibit that not only shows off artists’ work but also their take on objects in our collection and put a creative spin on the objects in our Museum.”
A group of students from Hempfield High School in Landisville, PA, was immediately inspired by their art teacher, Amy Edwards, to create pieces for the exhibit. “Art of Time was ‘timely,’ coinciding with the change of semesters and the start of my Fine Metals II/Advanced Fine Metals class. I had been saving old watches for a few years, so I had some interesting raw materials for them to explore. But more importantly, the call provided them the unique opportunity of creating art for a juried experience and a strict deadline. Concept is always a key component of any lesson I teach, but this experience took the impetus away from me, the teacher, and put it truly in the hands of the students,” explained Edwards.
“It was very interesting for me to step back and watch the process unfold. I witnessed the ownership of the creative process develop as each student worked within the criteria of the competition. I can say with confidence that each student in the class produced a piece of work that met the high level of concept and craft necessary for Art of Time. I am so proud of these students and how they embraced the experience!” exclaimed Edwards.
Art of Time will be on display through January 2018 and is included with Museum admission.
May 17, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
10th ANNUAL HOPS ’n’ CLOCKS
COLUMBIA, PA: It’s time to sip on some hops and check out the clocks! The National Watch and Clock Museum will hold its tenth annual beer-tasting event, Hops ’n’ Clocks, on Friday, July 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sample local brews and the area’s fine food, enjoy live music, and maybe even win a door prize!
Two new breweries are joining the fun this year: Aldus Brewing Co. and Collusion Tap Works. Returning breweries include Lancaster Brewing, Liquid Hero Brewery, Columbia Kettleworks, J & J Miracle Mead, Gift Horse Brewing Co., Wacker Brewing Co., Lancaster Homebrew, Cox Brewing Co., and Mad Chef Craft Brewing. And what’s beer without something to go with it? Vendors providing tasty samples to complement the beer will include Loxley’s Restaurant, Union Station Grill, Half Nuts Popcorn, Hinkle’s, the Original Pickle Co., Baum’s Bologna, Isaac’s Restaurant and Deli, Bully’s, and the Wrightsville Inn. For designated drivers or those just looking for an alternative, Turkey Hill also will provide plenty of nonalcoholic drinks!
Live music by the energetic and popular Irish group Fire in the Glen returns with a rollicking selection of traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, and the Canadian Maritimes, including blistering fiddle tunes, mug-thumping pub songs, and soulful airs and touching ballads … and some unusual twists as well!
“The People’s Choice” will be awarded at the conclusion of the evening after everyone has visited all the breweries and restaurants and voted by ballot for his or her favorite!
A limited number of tickets will be sold. Tickets are $30 and $15 for designated drivers. Attendees must be 21 or older, and IDs will be checked at the door. The ticket price includes beer tasting, food sampling, a commemorative glass, Museum admission, live music, and a chance to win a door prize! Proceeds benefit the National Watch & Clock Museum, Library & Research Center.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 1, at 10 a.m. To order tickets visit www.museumoftime.org or call 717.684.8261, ext. 211.
Media sponsor for Hops ’n’ Clocks 2017 is 96.1 SOX.
May 8, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MAKE AND TAKE TIME
COLUMBIA, PA: “At the National Watch and Clock Museum you don’t have to just visit time. You can take time home with you!” explains Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Kim Craven.
Make-and-Take Workshops will be held at the Museum on Mondays June 5 through August 28 between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participants can choose the clock they want to make for themselves or for a gift. There is a small fee of $8 and large groups should make reservations by calling 717-684-8261, ext. 234.
“A workshop like this one is another opportunity to encourage families to visit and see that our Museum is not only educational, but a whole lot of fun, too – for all ages,” shares Craven.
May 8, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TIMEtalks
COLUMBIA, PA: Mysteries abound at the National Watch & Clock Museum: How does the mouse get up the clock? Does the grandfather clock really talk? But mathematical mysteries too?
On Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to noon, NAWCC WatchNews editor Keith Lehman will present “Mathematical Mysteries behind the Cosmic Calendar.” Keith will give insights into the Buddhist cosmic calendar and its Hindu, Babylonian, and most important of all, human origins.
“During this first Timetalk, I’ll be taking a more comprehensive and explorative look into how early mathematicians, astronomers, and mystics developed their system, reasons for its success, and its spread from Arabia into Europe, India, and Asia, influencing religious beliefs along the way,” shares Lehman.
TIMEtalks is a complimentary educational program that will continue every other month.
March 31, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER BRINGS HIS WATCH PORTRAITS TO WATCH AND CLOCK MUSEUM
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum is honored to announce the opening on April 30 of a new exhibit, Watch Portraits, a collection of the unique horological work of renowned photographer, Atom Moore.
Atom explores the finest aspects of vintage and modern timepieces. From his macro shots—incredibly beautiful photographs that peer into the subtle embellishments of each piece—to his whimsical "mashups" that extrapolate on those details through repetition and collage, Watch Portraits is a beautiful, unique look at the world of watches.
Combining his profession as a photographer and his enthusiasm for wristwatches, Moore has gained recognition as an artist and created a critically acclaimed body of work. Today his talents are sought after by some of the most distinguished names of the wristwatch world, including Tudor and F. P. Journe.
Aside from his work as house photographer and art director for the online boutique Analog/Shift, Moore has compiled a series of artistic interpretations of wristwatch portraits that he calls mashups. These mashups explore various visual aspects of watches, such as the varying degrees of patinas of vintage Rolex watches of the same model or what a starburst of lugs looks like circling the case of a Jaeger Le-Coultre Mark XI.
Atom Moore is a talented photographer working with the watch industry in New York City. A graduate of the photography program at Fitchburg State University, he specializes in watch and macro photography and often contributes to watch industry publications, including the RedBar Crew's Collectors' Perspective. Atom most recently hosted a photography exhibit of his Watch Mashups commissioned by Tudor Watches in Hong Kong in November 2016. He has had several solo art exhibitions of his portrait and Watch Mashup photography in New York City and can be found exploring watches on the wrists of watch collectors around the world.
“I have been creating Watch Portrait Mashups for the last few years,” explains Atom. “A portrait of a watch has just as much personality as a person does. I try to bring those different personality traits/details out with my Mashups. It’s important to love what you do and look for inspiration in what you love.”
“The Museum is always seeking special exhibits that explore the many interesting facets of horology, and Atom’s work brings to life the amazing detail found in the skill of watchmaking. We are honored to be able to exhibit Atom’s work and provide our visitors with an opportunity to discover Atom’s unique perspective on horology,” shares Museum Director Noel Poirier.
The special exhibit, Watch Portraits, will continue through December and is included with Museum admission. To view all of Atom’s creations, visit www.atommoore.com.
March 6, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IT’S LUNCH TIME!
Pack a lunch and join the National Watch and Clock Museum for its first Lunch “Time” presentation on April 12. Museum Director Noel Poirier will discuss the Museum’s recently acquired Beaman clock. Learn at Lunch “Time” about the history of this unique American timepiece.
The well-known Beaman clock, built in the 1870s from assorted parts found around Beaman's farm and home in the Gilbertville/Ware, MA, area, was installed in his barn.
“We wanted to provide a more intimate opportunity for people to discover objects from the Museum collection, or learn about important and interesting aspects of the history of time and timekeeping. We thought a brown bag lunch would be the perfect fit,” explains Museum Director Noel Poirier.
Lunch “Time” is a complimentary educational program that will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. and continue every other month. Future dates include June 14, August 16, October 18, and December 13.
January 30, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
‘EVALUATING TIME’ JOINS ‘LUXURY OR LIE ™’ IN TRAVELING THE GLOBE
Columbia, PA: The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc.’s groundbreaking course, “Luxury or Lie? ™ How to Identify Genuine from Fake Watches” has been traveling the globe and with it joins the NAWCC’s highly praised “Evaluating Time: Researching, Identifying, and Valuing Wrist and Pocket Watches” course. The designer, curator, and instructor for the highly attended classes, Adam Harris, has boomeranged his way across the world jetting from Spain to Pennsylvania to New York to Singapore to Las Vegas and beyond.
In “Evaluating Time,” watch specialist Harris presents proven methods of identifying watch types and evaluating their authenticity and condition. It begins with an introduction that serves as the foundation for the course. To aid those in the class who do not have previous knowledge of timepieces, he breaks down the terminology associated with wrist watches and pocket watches found in every day usage.
And what are watches without their history? Without attention to their makers? Harris’s presentation covers makers from the sixteenth century to today. He focuses on the important dates of the developments in watch features and movement types, all of which will prove invaluable in appraisal research.
This course gives an overview of the evolution of watch types and appropriate terminology and criteria for making value judgments based on comparative analysis. Participants will learn the correct methods to identify watch types, key components, and characteristics and to evaluate authenticity, originality, condition, quality, and desirability. Participants will learn proper examination techniques and research tools and methods as well as critical appraisal skills, such as qualitative ranking, classification, rarity determination, and writing accurate descriptions. The requirements for an appraisal report and its format are reviewed and those attending the class submit their reports to receive their certificates.
Instructor Adam Harris was born in Scotland, has lived in England, and is now retired to Spain. He was a guest wrist watch curator at the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, from 2012 to 2016. Harris was vice president of Fujitsu Europe before he retired to pursue horological study under Mme Cinette Robert, former owner of Dubey and Schaldenbrand, and Marcus Hardy of Vintage Jewelry. He has also been a guest appraiser in a pawn shop, Gold Rush. Harris’s large collection of more than 200 vintage watches has aided in his knowledge of appraising timepieces.
Since the course debuted this past fall, interest has been high among horological collectors and multiple professionals from the jewelry and appraisal industry, and the course has been universally praised by many, including the following attendees:
“As a dual accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, I found the course helpful in increasing my knowledge of wristwatches and pocket watches, a specialization I have been focusing on for some time. I strongly recommend this course to anyone who is a member of the International Society of Appraisers or the American Society of Appraisers. But its practical overview of this popular area of horology makes this course beneficial to anyone interested in broadening their understanding of timepieces.” (John H. Grow, ISA-AM, Prestige Evaluation Inc.)
“There was never a dull moment and the wealth of information Adam had shared with the class was unbelievable. I discovered from him and the class so many new ways to research about watches and the different resources one can go to and learn about the history of a timepiece. Adam was so knowledgeable and shared his wealth of knowledge all the way through the course. He also presented us with great study guide that I can use for years to come.” (Richard Nehls, NAWCC member)
“Evaluating Time” will be held April 29-May 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the classroom facilities at NAWCC headquarters in Columbia, PA. Class size is limited, so register early. The course includes hands-on instruction and use of the National Watch and Clock Museum collection and the NAWCC Library and Research Center.
The cost for the full three-day program is $1,250; an early bird registration rate of $1,000 is available for attendees who register by March 29. NAWCC members may qualify for a cost of $900 if they also register by that date. Discounts are available if sending two or more employees from the same business or if also registering for the “Luxury or Lie ™” course.
For more information and to register, go to https://net.nawcc.org/NAWCC/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=WS327A17 or contact the Education Department at 717.684.8261, ext. 237, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
January 23, 2017
Contact Name: Kim Craven - Communications Dept.
Phone: (717) 684-8261 - E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MUSEUM KEEPS TRACK OF TIME
COLUMBIA, PA: The National Watch and Clock Museum welcomes a special exhibit—one that doesn’t have faces or dials and by itself does not tell time but is integral to the history of timekeeping.
From February 1 to March 3 the Museum will open its doors to members of the Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders, who build, display, and operate layouts throughout Central Pennsylvania. During this time, special programming will include presentations on various aspects of railroading history as it relates to time.
Saturday, February 18, at 11 a.m. Dave Gorrell, a National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. member, will speak on “Railroad Timekeeping: 1827 to the Present.” Necessity of accurate timing on a growing railroad system, the railroad watch as a marvel of engineering and beauty, and how the railroads kept time starting with the “Day with Two Noons” will be covered.
"Timekeeping has been integral to railroads and modern travel in general, since the beginning of rail travel that allowed movement from place to place at a pace never seen before," says Museum Director Noel Poirier. "Railroads and their time schedules forced the establishment of standard time zones and the development of highly accurate timepieces. The Lower Susquehanna Valley Model Railroader display will allow the Museum to honor the significance of railroads to the history of horology while providing our visitors a great visual and auditory experience."
The Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders (LSVMR) is a group of O-gauge enthusiasts from the Lower Susquehanna Valley Region of Pennsylvania. Some customers and employees of CoolTrains Hobbies in Salunga, PA, came together in July 2009 to form the LSMR and since then have expanded it.
“One of the nice things about our club is that we are just a group of people who share a mutual love of trains. Unlike other clubs, we do not model any specific location or era. Everything we do is for the fun of the hobby, which is why you will see all kinds of different things on our layout. From carnivals to Lego towns to the drive-in movie theater, no two setups are the same, often captivating the imagination of many children. All our trains are member owned, so there's always something new rolling by,” shares LSVMR president Travis Moody.
LSVMR members look forward to showing off their model train layouts to visitors to the National Watch and Clock Museum from February 1 to March 3. The railroad display and lecture is free to the public.