Photo Request for Model 21 Ships Chronometers

Please share pictures of Hamilton Model 21, gimballed versions.

Hamilton Chronometers

The above images are all we have - unless someone can post a bigger one.

Best regards,

Greg

See...

http://www.militarywatchmuseum.com/hamilton.htm

http://www.militarywatchmuseum.com/24HRChest.jpg

http://www.militarywatchmuseum.com/Ham21NO50.jpg

http://www.militarywatchmuseum.com/HamNO52.jpg

http://www.chronometer.net/hamilton.htm

http://www.chronometer.net/nav.htm

Don

I have some photos of Ham 21's and 22's on my picture site. I was particularly interested in display stands and enclosures, so that's what most of the photos are.

Here's a link:
http://www.pbase.com/rreid

Don & Reid,

Thank you for the interesting and enjoyable links.

Reid - You are doing some interesting and advanced things with horology.

Best regards,
Greg

Model 22 --- Don't forget the 22 model - very many of these were also made.

Dan

This Model 21 was purchased in metal transport tub, no cabinetry. New cabinetry and plaques seen here were purchased from Gary Sellick.

Ron

Here are more examples of the Model 22.

Ron

Living in San Diego makes getting these easy. Both of these 22's could have significant WWII "History". Nothing rebuilt, only regular service and 24-7 operation. The PW is a Waltham 16s 17j and my "birthday" piece. It was engraved by a Hawaiian Watch person with 8-26-45 on the back. I was 5 that day.

But these Russian "Kirov", and "Kovet" ships watches are still the most accurate I have seen. The big guy was styled after the same movement as our Ham 21. Both of mine have "seen some time" and are running 24-7. The Russian Navy Cap emblem is another story.

Hi Dave,
Do you have a serial # for the large chronometer?.
do you know of any way to date them?, I have one but no information to go with it.
Ray

Good question Ray, as they are both large and both chronographs I opened up both. The "Largest" Poljot "Kirov" is s/n 3252 on both the dial and the stunningly beautiful all gold plated fusee movement

Movement s/n 3252, with the 2-58 production date just below it. This was very early piece, had none of the electronic synchro switches on it.

Whitney, p. 264; "These Kirov grade Poljot (Russian watch factory Number 1) chronometers have been made for the Russian Navy for 30 years (used mostly in Submarines). . . . The performance record of these fine instruments . . . is well within the (U.S.) Navy's tolerance for Marine Chronometers.

I must add that my measurements show the mean deviation of these pieces is LESS than 10 PERCENT of the maximum allowable error of the U.S. Navy. i.e., they are "closer to God" than virtually any other production timepiece made.

The Smaller "Large" Poljot "Kovet" Chronometer

Is a 22 Ruby Jewel s/n11115 53303 M134 Hacking movement. The production date marked on this one is 4-73. This equals the precision of both my Ham 22's, and is only bested by the "Big Boy", albeit a few seconds a month. Probably due to the Stopworks Spring Powered movement instead of the big guys Fusee thing. Fortunately Vladimir my "Magician" keeps these guys perfect.

Thanks David, very interesting. My Boxed Chrono is not as early as yours, my serial # is 24288 but wow, they are truly amazing pieces and as you stated Great timekeepers.

Ray

I hope it is OK to post this reference to QUARTZ clocks, but it seems relevant to the topic.

On US ships, the Hamilton Model 21 was replaced by these quartz chronometers (Waltham and Marathon). So that these quartz versions could slip into same storage compartment as the obsolete Hamilton 21, the outer dimension of all are the same.
-I doubt this particular Marathon example stayed aboard on the USS Abraham Lincoln very long, as the setting stem is broken (as all are probably now broken).

In today's modern navies, I believe all ships probably use GPS for navigation.

Ron

Lets pray these new Quartz thingy's are not "Made in China"!