Dependable performance combined with rugged beauty and sturdy construction have made the hamilton 992 a favored timepiece among railroad men of america. I inherited a vintage hamilton pocket watch and, in attempting to verify its age and grade, i have run into some conflicting information. Pocket watch identification and value guide the spruce crafts. New and used items, cars, real estate, jobs, services, vacation rentals and more virtually anywhere in hamilton.
Get the best deals on vintage hamilton pocket watch when you shop. This hamilton railroad service watch came with its original celluloid stamp holder. The city is 58 kilometres 36 mi southwest of toronto, with which the greater toronto and hamilton area gtha is. Sep 16, 2010 elgin probably flipflopped more than most since you would have a bw raymond that was, 18s,16s,12s in various jewel count, where a hamilton was more strict, a 992 was a 16s 21j and not an 18s 19j. The elgin and hamilton were dated by serial number, while the gruen was dated by an inscription on the back. You can also type in a part number and get a list of all grades using that part number. The hamilton 992b railroad pocket watch, hamilton railway special the hamilton grade 992b is a high quality antique mechanical pocket watch. Here is a chart of grades by serial number ball hamilton i see some pocket watches marked ast ball hamilton, chicago. Hamilton produced many fine pocket watches of all sizes and grades, and some of their models were considered the main workhorses of the railroad. Hamilton eventually took possession of aurora watch companys machinery shortly after incorporation.
This is what has made hamilton the internationally renowned watch brand it is today. Hamilton continued to operate and build both pocket watches and wristwatches in the us until 1969 when the us company ceased operation. Use this table to look up the serial number of your hamilton pocket watch and hence the year of manufacture. Schild, citizen, eta, isa, lecoultre, omega, rolex, seiko, many others. It seems that the hamilton watch company made watches. The technical features of the 951 also make it one of, if not the highest grade movement produced at the factory. Dont ever go by a rule of higher the number the better the grade because companies like hamilton will prove you wrong. Apr 06, 2014 there is a dizzying array of hamilton pocket watches. Today, under the hamilton name swiss quartz watches of good quality are still being offered. A 1948 hamilton railway special, grade 992b, 21j hamilton 992b technical specifications movement size. Taking root in the city of lancaster around the turn of the century, the hamilton workshop rapidly grew into one of north americas most respective timepiece producers. Its watches had 42hour mainsprings, with 17 jewels in their isochronous movements.
And, contrary to common belief, there were many regulations in place before webb c. It also features block editorgutenberg support, a dark mode, custom background color support, a resume page. Located in upstate new york, hamilton is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Made in the lancaster, pa by the hamilton watch company, it truly is a remarkable timekeeping piece. The william mckinley grade was a thin, 16 size watch introduced in 1902 or 1903. This is a quality old watch from one of americas premier watch manufacturers. Open the back cover of the watch with your fingernail and look for identifying names a magnifying glass or loupe may be necessary. The hampden pocket watch company made some special models, or grades. Hamilton history hamilton story hamilton watch company.
They come in two general flavors dress pocket watches and railroad watches. The first watch made under the hamilton name was an 18size 17jewel pocket watch in 1893. There are at least 30 different movement grades, not to mention the variety of dials and case designs. From the very beginning, elgin was finishing and selling over 100 watches per day and were working on thousands more. Any other reproduction, by any means mechanical or electronic without the express written permission of watertown watch and clock company, is strictly prohibited. They also come in three general sizes, 12, 16 and 18 size. A railroad grade pocket watch is simply a watch that was approved by a particular railroad organization for use by conductors on their rail.
Hamilton college 198 college hill road clinton, new york 3231292 office of the registrar office. It displays posts in a beautiful image grid that can be set to either two or three columns, which makes it a perfect fit for photographers, illustrators or graphic designers looking for a theme for their portfolio. There is a dizzying array of hamilton pocket watches. From its broadway limited series of pocket watches that became known as the watch of railroad accuracy, to the worlds first batterypowered and digital timepieces, hamilton has made several of the most dramatic changes to the horological landscape. The musical opens with the ensemble giving a summary of alexander hamilton s childhood in the middle of the 18th century, before the american revolution. Modern pocket watches for sale the pocket watch guy. Postworld war i vintage hamilton pocket watches, designed for the elite, feature expensive mechanical parts, including gold screws, wheel sets, and cases. Hamilton 992b 21j 16s pocket watch hamilton gf case wdisplay box.
The hamilton 992b pocket watch is a beautiful watch not only on the outside. Elgin kind of did with watches like the bw raymond and father time. Adjusted, double roller, ball regulator, hamilton hairspring stud. During hamiltons first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced. New listing antique hamilton pocket watch lancaster pa. Hamilton 940 grade 18 size open faced railroad grade pocket watch. Founded in lancaster, pennsylvania, in 1892, hamilton watches are an american classic.
A world war istyle hamilton 992 pocket watch, with its gold lettering and center wheels, is one of the most collected watches in the united states. Three splendid grades hamilton pws, grade 912 hamilton 17j strap watch grade 987 strap watches, grades 401 987 979. So, it isnt surprising that they needed some way of organizing and classifying these watches to make it easier to manufacture, for marketing purposes and for watchmakers to. Among the brand names of railroad grade watches celebrated among railroaders were hamilton, illinois, elgin, howard, and waltham. How to identify a waltham pocket watch our pastimes. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, hamilton college was awarded a chapter of the prestigious phi beta kappa honor society.
Goldbergs pocket watch collection hamilton watches. I picked up a 914 a long time ago and its been sitting on my bench with some other pocket watches, patiently awaiting its turn at the spa. Railroadgrade watches had to meet strict guidelines to ensure their reliability and accuracy. The company was established in lancaster, pennsylvania in 1892 and continued us production up to around 1969 with a total of 12,803,207 timepieces produced overall. The specific definition of railroad grade evolved quite a bit over the years. Hamilton model 950 pocket watch national museum of american. One of the largest sites for antique, collectable, and vintage pocket watches, wrist watches, pocket watch fobs, pocketwatch chains and watch repair. Hamilton 992b railroad pocket watch, hamilton railway special. This circa 1920 watch features a white porcelain dial with black roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial with arabic numerals over the sixth hour. Hamilton pocket watch, pocketwatches, pocketwatch, wristwatches. Hamilton is a port city in the canadian province of ontario. From the very beginning, the focus was on quality and accuracy. Hamilton 18k white gold 21 jewel grade 12s pocket watch. Construction of a new brick factory building, designed by chicagoarchitect clarence luther stiles in the second empire style, located.
When looking for the number on your watch you should be looking at the serial number on the movement, not the case. Excellent railroad grade hamilton pocket watch size 18s 21 jewels cal. Hamilton 992 railroad grade watch collectors weekly. This watch features a mint fancy yellow gold filled hunting case and a mint dial and movement. Pocket watch grades what do they mean and how can i. Hamilton watch company the hamilton watch company was located in lancaster, pennsylvania, and made watches from 1892 to 1969. Hamilton college is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 16. Buy hamilton pocket watches and get the best deals. The watch is a 21 jeweled pocket watch in working order.
Hamilton grade catalog hamilton grade catalog size grade description adjusted roller jewels first year of. New listing running 1919 hamilton 16s 17 jewel 956. Hamilton serial numbers and grades use the serial number of the movement to find the grade of your hamilton watch. A huge percentage of the hamilton 16 size watches were these threequarter plate models. An industrialized city in the golden horseshoe at the west end of lake ontario, hamilton has a population of 536,917, and its census metropolitan area, which includes burlington and grimsby, has a population of 747,545. This will allow you to type in the grade of your elgin pocket watch, and show you all the part numbers for the various parts.
The convenient steel hamilton materials cabinet, together with descriptive comment on dynavar mainsprings and information on pml 79 oil the new watch oil developed and manufactured by hamilton to meet watchmakers needs for one wi th all fine watch oil equirements, will be found on page 36. Exclusive designation for brotherhood of locomotive firemen. The first series of hamilton pocket watches with the title the watch of railroad accuracy. As the market switched from pocket watches to wrist watches after world war i, the company manufactured wrist watches. Pocket watches for sale antique and vintage railroad grade. Vintage hamilton grade 910 12s 17j gold filled 25 yrs. The business was then sold to the hamilton watch company in 1891, and hamilton officially sold its first watch in 1893. Mechanical handwinding new listing hamilton 17 jewels grade 910 pocket watch clean and running. In 1893, the hamilton watch company of lancaster, pennsylvania began producing pocket watches primarily for railroad workers. Construction of a new brick factory building, designed by chicagoarchitect clarence luther stiles in the second empire style, located along the columbia turnpike, began in the fall of 1874. Hamilton was founded in lancaster, pennsylvania in the u. Hamilton horology courtesy of ihc185 catalog reference material. After a hurricane destroyed his island, his mother died, and his father abandoned him, hamilton. A closeup view of a hamilton 18 size 924 export model marked usa pocket watch movement.
The typical hamilton 16 size watch is what is known as a threequarter plate. Hamilton 18k white gold 21 jewel grade 12s pocket watch manual winding. A well maintained and adjusted watch kept in a fixed location at room temperature can reach accuracies normally only seen with quartz watches. During hamiltons first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced the 18size and the smaller 16size. This watch features a mint fancy yellow gold filled hunting case and a.
The last american manufactured railroad pocket watch was the grade no. The hamilton watch company was considered to be americas premier watch maker. Published hamilton data available on the internet suggests manufacture in early 1938. These watches are typical of the deco style of the teens and 20s. Railroad grade pocket watches explained the vortic blog.
Note the thick hands, engraved patterns and bold design of all of these watches. Adams of chicago, and several local citizens of lancaster, pennsylvania. Discover the date and grade of your hamilton watch. The hamilton 992b was one of the most popular brands of watches used by the trainmen in the earlytomid 20th century. The right to download and store or output pages and pictures from this web site is granted to users for their personal use only. As you can see above, these watches have a barrel bridge, a train bridge, and a balance cock or bridge with a cutout for the balance wheel and the escapement to be visible. Find pocket bike in canada visit kijiji classifieds to buy, sell, or trade almost anything. The new haven was dated by looking at the style of the watch. Get the best deal for hamilton pocket watches from the largest online selection at.
Railroad grade watches had to meet strict guidelines to ensure their reliability and accuracy. Apr, 2014 like the 916, several dial and case combinations were available directly from hamilton. Perry, in lancaster, pennsylvania in september 1874. So if you tell your friend you have a 2003 ford f150, and he says he has a 2008 ford f150 you both know there is some difference between them. Various cast members describe how a series of misfortunes set hamilton on his path to fame. Elgin grade numbers was in grading systems nawcc forums. Like the 916, several dial and case combinations were available directly from hamilton. Hamilton pocket watches play an integral part in pennsylvanias precision timepiece past. Below is a picture of the serial number on the pocket watch case.
Advertised as, the famous hamilton 992 railroad model. Hamilton pocket watches exhibit the style and quality on which the company built its reputation. The hamilton watch company is a swiss manufacturer of wristwatches based in bienne. The watch was named after president william mckinley, who had been assassinated a few years earlier. The registrars office is responsible for class registration, grade processing, transfer credit evaluation, student records and transcript requests. Hamilton is a clean wordpress portfolio theme for creatives.
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