Jon Hanson, NAWCC #8801. Founder and President of the Early American Watch Club, founded 1990. Dr. Herb Gold secretary/treasurer; John Cote, membership chairman; Bill Tapp, director of research; Dr Henry Burgell, web master; Howard Gunderson, legal advisor; Greg Davis, webmaster and Hans Dahlke, editor.
President Hanson has been active collecting, researching, writing and lecturing about early American watches for nearly 60 years and is widely recognized as the leading authority and collector of all early American pocket watches. "I have given hundreds of horological talks at clubs, museums and seminars as well as watch displays around the country at all levels (chapters, regional conventions and national conventions, plus museums). I chaired the American pocket watch section at the 1976 National Convention in Anaheim, California, critically acclaimed the finest horological display ever unveiling rare and previously unknown watches and clocks."
NAWCC Chapter 149 is the premier and leading pocket watch collectors' club in America, specializing in all aspects American pocket watch collecting, research and study. Originally founded as a land based chapter in Southern California in 1990, we now provide a web site as well as public and private message boards as the only legitimate NAWCC Internet chapter. Our membership is worldwide, however current NAWCC membership is required.
We are a research and study chapter providing pocket watch educational tools and knowledge to collectors worldwide. A few of our innovations include many CDs pertaining to pocket watches and specialized information either for free or for a donation to help further our research projects. In fact our world famous Illinois CD, created by member Dr Russ Snyder, is the cutting edge in horological educational tools. Our watch award winning posters are legendary, and these proved to be a highlight at our free 2002 seminar in Ft Wayne, Indiana, at the regional convention featuring early America watches. Many finest knowns and excessively rare or pristine watches accompanied the lectures. Please look for a new one which was distributed early 2010. The subject is Hamilton watches and proved to be another BOCK BUSTER poster in strict high quality of which the chapter is famous. Members and collectors worldwide are anxiously awaiting our third effort. Along with our 2 Hamilton CDs and our factory printed serial number data (available from the chapter) collectors will have all of the necessary Hamilton horological tools needed for study or collecting.
Another valuable horological tool provided for the members and all non member collectors are the serial number look up data bases for Hampden, Hamilton, South Bend and Rockford Watch Companies. This wonderful tool was created by 149 BOD member and site Admin Dr. Henry Burgell. What is even more wonderful is that some of these services and educational tools are free to all nawcc members at our chapter web site.
Several of our mottos are "ethics" and "credibility" in horology and collecting (something sorely missed in horology today). In fact President Hanson wrote the very first ethics statement within the organization exclusively for Chapter 149.The Chapter 149 "Mentor Program" (also created by President Hanson) which has assisted new and advanced collectors from all continents on various horological subjects is available to collectors free of charge. Chapter 149 was founded to educate and advance horology intelligently, correctly and honestly worldwide. Check out our current list of mentors to assist you at http://www.nawcc-ch149.com/mentor.html
Non chapter members are welcome to register and participate in our open to the public forums. Folks might also enjoy my brief American pocket watch histories on Web Horology. This is also free to non members as well as the public.
You might enjoy a visit to either our website (http://www.nawcc-ch149.com/)
or, our Message Board (http://www.nawcc-ch149.com/ch149mb/).
If you are serious about pocket watch collecting, research and study, you should contact us. Remember, there is no substitute for knowledge!
Thank you for reading and for your interest and continued support making Chapter 149 NUMBER ONE in American horology
Jon Hanson, NAWCC #8801