Online Hamilton Database Project

[Snide]

After some thought, and questions about my own sanity, I am going to propose a community project...a Hamilton database that would explore and eventually establish production figures for the grades and movement variations of this fine company. Granted, production figures have been published but I would like to establish new numbers for variations such as those indicated in this thread old ref::Ham992. Another instance would be the fully marked barrel bridges on 940s and 936s and the not fully marked barrel bridges. There is information in the original Hamilton list as to technical changes (such as double roller/single roller) that would be easy to incorporate.
I already have the serial number database. Some time ago when I first set up the Model 92 website, someone offered web space for an online database. I do not remember who that was and I can't find the thread that has the offer. If that offer still stands, I have the space for photos and I would be happy to oversee the project and post any photos that are submitted. Any and all information would be available to the collecting community as the project evolves.

I think his would be a doable project. The Hamilton list is not that long, and it is not like Waltham or Illinois in that there is not the wide range of grades and models that these two companies made. Hopefully there would be a high level of participation because there will be open, onging access to it.

What say group?

Jim

[Snide]

After some thought, and questions about my own sanity, I am going to propose a community project...a Hamilton database that would explore and eventually establish production figures for the grades and movement variations of this fine company. Granted, production figures have been published but I would like to establish new numbers for variations such as those indicated in this thread old ref::Ham992. Another instance would be the fully marked barrel bridges on 940s and 936s and the not fully marked barrel bridges. There is information in the original Hamilton list as to technical changes (such as double roller/single roller) that would be easy to incorporate.
I already have the serial number database. Some time ago when I first set up the Model 92 website, someone offered web space for an online database. I do not remember who that was and I can't find the thread that has the offer. If that offer still stands, I have the space for photos and I would be happy to oversee the project and post any photos that are submitted. Any and all information would be available to the collecting community as the project evolves.

I think his would be a doable project. The Hamilton list is not that long, and it is not like Waltham or Illinois in that there is not the wide range of grades and models that these two companies made. Hopefully there would be a high level of participation because there will be open, onging access to it.

What say group?

Jim

[HenryB]

Now your talking.

I do not have the webspace, but would do what I can for any support.

As an FYI, as an experiment, I tried taking the the Hammy serial numbers, and grade list, running them through a scanner, to see if I could get them in Excell.
No luck yet, but I am not finished trying.

[Snide]

Henry-

If you would like it in Excell, I could send it to you.

Jim

[Tom McIntyre]

I would be happy to host a Hamilton database on the same site as the Waltham database.

The factory records have a lot more detail with respect to runs than the Waltham records had. It is my impression that transcribing the database with dates at the level of detail available would be a bit more work than you seem to think.

The Hamilton records on microfilm are available at the NAWCC Library and Research Center. I have been thinking for a while that it would be good to have the page images available on-line. Does anyone participating here have to ability to automatically digitize microfilm images?

What did you have in mind for the marking details? Would you like to create classifications like you have for the Waltham 92 models?

By the way, I have gotten very little feedback on the queries and data elements in the Waltham database. Things like the marking classifications could easily be added to the database.

Eventually, I want to see all these data stores and images stores hosted directly by the NAWCC.

Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[Snide]

Tom-

These things always turn out to be more work than originally anticipated but, the sooner we get started, the closer we will be to reliable numbers. If you host it, can I have some kind of administrative access to it?

Thanks for the offer,

Jim

[Fred Hansen]

I like this idea and would like to see it happen. The more information on variations (markings, damaskeen, etc.) recorded the better.

Fred

I think Jon Hanson has most of the factory records in hard copy, so you should check in with him.

Lance

[Kent]

Ed and I have about 5,000 Hamilton watches, mostly railroad grade (no surprise there!), listed in our data base. Almost all are just plain jane, vanilla, that fall right in line with the Hamilton serial number list.

But it does include private labels, tu-tone, grade marking, the marking of adjusted vs. adjusted to positions and etc. We've also started recording those that are marked "Made In U.S.A."

Don't count on the change from single to double roller being where the Hamilton literature says it is. Exceptions are known to exist.

Naturally, we'll make our data base available to those who work on this project. Right now, its in Microsoft Works format.

Kent

That guy down in Georgia :smile:

[Tom McIntyre]

Jim,

The easiest way to work on the database is to keep it in Access. That allows more complex queries to be easily built and provides support for html query pages.

The Waltham database is freely copyable although a bit large to copy around very much.

Let's talk off-line about access to the database directly on my site.

Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[HenryB]

Sounds like a promising start.

The rudimentary input data is in Excell, covert it to Access for the querys, and blow in Kent's/Ed's MicroSoft Works watch data into the Excell listing once the fields are finalized.

Not sure, but I think thats where Tom is heading :smile:

[Tom McIntyre]

That's right Henry. The easiest way for most people to collect data is Excell. However, it is difficult to build web page lookups with Excell (for me at least).

It is good to get as many fields defined up front as we can, but it is also possible to extract data from a comment field and use it to populate the data fields later or to just search the comment field.

One of the more difficult problems is consistent use of terminology for the content. Making coded terms like Jim has done for his 92 model information helps as long as everyone understands it.

Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[Russ Snyder]

Jim, Henry, Kent, et al.

As it happens, I have a database program designed to run on the web for Illinois watches and my Illinois database. My problem has been finding a "host" where I can get access to upload information as it changes -- not an easy task for 300+ Mbytes if you're doing it any way but via CD-ROM.

However, since the code is all written for web access, and can be adapted to access any database format (e.g. MS Access), it wouldn't take too much effort to "port" it over to your Hamilton data.

Let me know how I can help.

Russ