Program #2 - Following Business Meeting

Repairing a World War II Navy Chronometer –
The Iconic Hamilton Model 21
A YouTube Presentation

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Morning Program – 11:15 a.m.

The Hamilton Model 21 Ship’s Chronometer –
A Story About American Horological Engineering at its Best
Presenter: Edwin L. Fasanella

With World War II starting, the U.S. Navy had a critical need for more marine chronometers for navigation.  With Switzerland and other traditional chronometer makers cut off due to the war, the Navy turned to the Hamilton Watch Company and the Elgin Watch Company to come up with a solution. Hamilton came up with an impressive design that was able to be mass produced at an unheard-of level (11,000 were produced during World War II) for a precision timepiece.

Ed has restored several dozen of these chronometers over the last few decades and will display a working chronometer and some of its individual parts. Ed does not claim to be an expert repairman of these chronometers, but will gladly take questions after the presentation.

A long-time member of the Old Dominion Chapter Member, Edwin L. Fasanella has served twice as Chapter President.  He enjoys doing research on horological matters and serves as the editor of the NAWCC Research Activities Column in the NAWCC Bulletin.  An NAWCC Fellow, Ed and his wife, Barbara, reside in Williamsburg. 

Afternoon Program - Following Business Meeting
Repairing a World War II Navy Chronometer –
The Iconic Hamilton Model 21
A YouTube Presentation

This is an informative and well-done video on YouTube that shows in detail the disassembly, cleaning and repair of a Hamilton Model 21 chronometer.

Speaker at August 2026 Chapter Meeting

Dr. Clint Geller will be presenting at the August 9, 2026, Chapter Meeting. The subject is Civil War Provenance Watches. The presentation will be made via Zoom.

Dr. Clint Geller is a materials physicist living and working in Pittsburgh PA, as a Senior Advisor Scientist for Materials Design, Inc. He is the author or co-author of three NAWCC books and 20 previous Bulletin articles on the subjects of E. Howard & Co., Waltham, and Civil War provenance watches. Dr. Geller chaired two NAWCC Ward Francillon Time Symposiums, and he guest-curated a special exhibit on Civil War timepieces at the National Watch & Clock Museum in 2019. Dr Geller was made an NAWCC Fellow in 2009 and a Silver Star Fellow in 2022. He received the NAWCC’s James W. Gibbs Literary Award for excellence in horological literature in 2009. 

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NAWCC 2026 National Convention
June 25 - 28, 2026
Lexington, Kentucky
Further information and registration details
can be found at www.nawcc.org.

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Help Wanted

Former Chapter Member Mary Loose DeViney of Tuel Jewelers in Charlottesville, VA, is interested in identifying some watch (both pocket and wrist) repair persons for her store.

If you are interested or know of someone who would be, please contact Mrs. DeViney at mloose@aol.com.

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Congratulations to -
Edwin L. Fasanella - Chapter Member and Vice President Edwin L. Fasanella of Williamsburg, VA, on being named an NAWCC Old Timer.  Per the NAWCC Standing Rules, the designation of Old Timer shall be automatically given to the two hundred (200) active Members having the lowest membership numbers.

Stan Palen - Chapter Member and Audio-Visual Chair Stan Palen of King George, VA, on being awarded the 2026 Horological Association of Virginia (HAV) Presidential Award as well as a HAV Lifetime Membership

If the Chapter has an email address for you, you should have received an ‘invite’ from Dennis. If you did not or perhaps have misplaced it and wish to participate on the Facebook page, please contact Dennis at ammidede@aol.com or at (757) 365-0402 or (757) 810-5997. Dennis will be happy to set you up as a user.