On the other hand, for the James Bond
aficionado: Prepare to be shaken and stirred!
How did Ian Fleming, the creator of
James Bond, use watch choices to flesh out his characters? Gadgets
and timekeeping: Yes or no? What were some of the fascinating
intersections of technology and fads forever memorialized by their
association with the 007 films from EON Productions? What better way
to build to the climax of a thriller than with a countdown? Why is
it important for the Bond character to wear any particular brand of
watch at all?
The National Watch and Clock Museum
was officially opened to the public in 1977 with fewer than 1000 items.
Since that time, the collection has increased to over 12,000 items and
the museum has undergone several expansion projects. The latest
expansion opened in October 1999 and featured an entirely new and
redesigned exhibit space, as well as a new two-story addition. Today,
the museum is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive
horological collection in North America.
The National Watch & Clock Museum
collection is international in scope and covers a wide variety of
clocks, watches, tools, and other time-related items. Chronologically,
the exhibits take visitors on a tour through the entire history of
timekeeping technology from early non-mechanical devices to today's
atomic and radio-controlled clocks.
Currently (through December 31, 2008),
the museum is hosting an exhibit of presidential timepieces. These
include the pocket watches of George Washington and John Adams, clocks
belonging to James Polk and Franklin Roosevelt, and wristwatches of
Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson. In all, twenty United States presidents
are represented with over thirty objects on loan from a variety of
presidential libraries, museums, and historical sites.
[link]
On a personal note— it's
been a privilege for me to serve as Lead Consultant to the NAWCC and its
National Watch and Clock Museum on the "Bond Watches, James Bond
Watches" exhibit. I was invited to the project at its inception, and
have worked with staff behind the scenes for the better part of 2008.
Then in December 2008, I was officially named "Guest Curator" for the
project. Now that we're on the radar, I look forward to providing regular updates
through the James Bond Watches website and Blog, as I continue my work
on this through 2011.
I have also agreed to act as first point
of contact on general inquiries from private collectors who have access
to properties they feel might benefit this exhibition. If this is you,
please let me know by eMail.
[eMail link]
Index to
"Bond Watches, James Bond Watches" exhibit information on James Bond
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