Hamilton Model 22

[Ralph Porter]

I recently acquired this Navy deck watch in gimbals and box, serial# 2F8982(Navy Bu.Ships 1942), and I'd like to learn all I can about it. Is there a government manual, magazine article, or other literature that discusses this watch in detail? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

[Ralph Porter]

I recently acquired this Navy deck watch in gimbals and box, serial# 2F8982(Navy Bu.Ships 1942), and I'd like to learn all I can about it. Is there a government manual, magazine article, or other literature that discusses this watch in detail? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

[Don Dahlberg]

Yes there is a great deal of information on the Hamilton model 22 Chronometer Watch. An excellent discussion can be found in Marvin Whitney's book, "Military Timepieces" page 395-404. There is also a military manual "Manual for Overhaul, Repari and Handling of Hailton 35-Size Chronometer Watch with Parts and Catlalog" Contract N8ss-2270. If you are a member of NAWCC you can check these books out from their library. They are also sold at bookstores that handle horological books. Also the library has the Hamilton ledgers for the war years and can give you the exact date your model 22 was complete. The 1942 is the contract date. My model 22, serial number 2F17289, was completed and sold on August 30, 1944. Your watch is clearly much earlier.

The model 22 had many uses. The standard chronometer on a ship was the larger model 21, which was always kept below decks in the middle of the ship. Model 22s would often be kept with the model 21 to make sure that nothing had gone wrong with the 21. Other model 22s would be kept in other more useful locations and referenced to the model 21. Some smaller ships had only gimbled model 22s or the non-gimbled version for use in navigation and other time critical uses. They were called Chronometer Watches because they were used as chronometers, but were constructed more like a large pocket watch.

You can also find information at http://www.militarywatchmuseum.com/ and at http://home.t-online.de/home/konrad.knirim/chapman.htm

I wish I could tell you that I know of some way of finding out where your 22 served. So far I have come up empty. I know the records exist somewhere in the Navy, but I have not been able to find them.

After the war, production of the watch continued. It was a favorite of jewelers as a reference timepiece. I remember as a child seeing a model 22 in the front window of a jewelry store in downtown Tacoma with a sign saying "The Exact Time." People would stop and set their watches to the model 22 in the window. This site was repeated all over the country for several decades after the war.


Enjoy it, it is a very special timepiece and a very special part of history.

Don Dahlberg

[Ralph Porter]

Don,
Thanks for all the great info! I'll begin looking for and at this material promptly.
I'm not sure this watch ever made it to a ship since I got it in the original cardboard box. Also I understand there is a second wood box or carrying case for this unit, so I'd like to know where I might find one of those too.

Thanks again,
Ralph

[doug sinclair]

ralphporter,

There are people around building the cases for Hamilton Model 21s, and I'm sure they must be building cases for the 22s. Apparently there is still some brass hardware available to complete a replica box. A fellow who often shows at the NAWCC Pacific North West Regional (May 20-22, 2004 in Spokane) often displays replica Hamilton chronometer cases. If you are NAWCC, Larry Crutsinger who advertises in the MART publication has brass case parts for these, and he might be able to put you in touch with the folks that make the cases. He might even have the cases himself.

This is not a commercial for anyone. I have no financial interest at all in making this information available.

Doug S.

[Don Dahlberg]

You can find nice reproduction boxes at http://www.shipsclock.com/ and then click on Products. You are looking for an outer box.

It is difficult for me to imagine that a chronometer watch with as low a serial number as yours did not see service. We were extremely desperate for chronometers for ships, both military and merchant marines. At the beginning of the war, we were converting car clocks into chronometers. Now chronometers and chronometer watches were returned for repair and service every so many years. Many were surplused after the war. Many were removed from their boxes, because of the condition of the boxes. What is the condition of your box? If it is without any scratches and dents, it may be a reproduction box. That may be why it was in a cardboard box.

Don

[HenryB]

Nice Link Don

I have an orginal Model 21 outer box (with the aircraft compass in) :smile:
that I am going to get rid of one of these days.

Unfornately it will not work for the Model 22.

[Ralph Porter]

Many thanks to all of you who have shared info.

Don,
The box is in excellent condition, one tiny 1/4" surface scratch but no other blemishes. While it could be a reproduction, the name plate and winding instruction plate appear new. The brass gimbals and watch case are the same, not even tiny scratches or worn spots. The watch dial is perfect as is the movement, no blemishes on any surface or screws. The watchmaker I bought it from said it hasn't been run as far as he could tell, and recommended oiling before running it. Is there any othe places I should check for clues about it's service?
Thanks,
Ralph

[Don Dahlberg]

The fact that the case is in such great shape suggests that it has been replaced. Many of these watches were removed from their cases and later sold in their brass tubs. Later people added new box and gimbles. The fact that the crystal is also in great shape suggests that the whole watch was not used much and it all might be original. The crystal on mine has a significant number of scratches. It is plastic and scratches easily.

As I said, the NAWCC has the ledger containing the date of completion and sale of your watch. If you are a member, you can go to the library section from the NAWCC Home Page and request the library to look up this information using the provided research request. All we need is your membership number, the serial number and model of watch. Don't forget to tell us what you want to know. I am a volunteer on Fridays and you can request that I do the search if you want. If it was sold to the armed forces, then there will be number under "Sold to". We have not been able to decode these numbers as yet other than they are some sort of military purchase number. Some units were sold or presented to other individuals. For example, President Roosevelt was given a model 21. If your watch was presented to some VIP, then it might not have been used much. If you send detailed photographs of the box, we can compare it to the original blueprints for the box and with known original boxes. The brass in reproductions usually is not perfect in detail.

One place that I have not had a chance to look for service records is the National Archives. Someday I'll have to look for chronometer records there.

As with any watch, you should not run it if it has not been properly cleaned, overhauled and oiled in the last six years. The model 22 is straight forward to work on for anyone familiar with cleaning pocket watches. There are only a couple unusual features such as the rate control assembly (regulator). The manual actually lists the steps in detail. You want someone who does it right, that is, takes the movement apart, cleans, inspects each part, repairs as necessary in an appropriate manner, reasembles and adjusts.

Don Dahlberg

[Ralph Porter]

Don,
Thanks for all the info and offer to do the research at NAWCC library. Unfortunately I'm not currently a member so that will have to wait. I'll try to find someone to photograph the box since I don't have the equipment. The hinges,latches, and tension bar in the top section are silver-colored which I assume is nickle-plated brass. All components of the gimbals watch case and counterweight are normal brass. As you suggest I've begun to look for someone who does watch work 'right', do you have any recommendations near Knoxville, TN? Thanks again for your help.
Ralph