Can anyone out there tell me how to use and read them...?

Jim,

Go to this link

http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/chronograph_functions1.htm

(also 1 click below) and learn everything you want to know about chronograph functions.

The center seconds is started and stopped by the top pusher. The bottom pusher resets all registers to zero. The register on the right records up to 30 minutes and the left register up to 12 hours. Watch the second hand make a complete revolution and watch the minute register advance 1 click. This is somewhat similar to an odometer advancing adjacent wheels.

I'd be willing to bet you have been using electric chronographs which twirl hands all over the place and are next to impossible to read. Let us know if you have more questions and remember we all started out with 0 knowledge.

David