4 handed Hamilton 992B pocket watch?

DaveK · Dec 28, 2019

Hi all

I’m not interested in buying this Hamilton 992B Canadian railroader. Well I would be, but not anywhere near this price (case is 10k gold filled). But just out of interest, what is the red hand on this watch for? A GMT? Busy boxing week crowd and I couldn’t play with the watch.

Bonus though, a cool fob and a CPR inscription on the back.

Thanks in advance 😀

connieseamaster · Dec 28, 2019

Forwarded this on to a friend who is a bit of a nut when it comes to things that are esoteric and Hamilton.

connieseamaster · Dec 28, 2019

His response: It is not unusual and hand sets were made aftermarket. It is for use by train crew who crossed timezones Was frowned upon by RR Time Services.

UncleBuck · Dec 28, 2019

@Canuck is a railroad afficionado, I believe.
Let's see if he can join us.

Canuck · Dec 28, 2019

That double hour hand was aftermarket. And normally, the two hour hands span one hour on the dial. And some operators liked the feature for use when their trip crossed a time meridian. Those who were obliged to carry a railroad standard watch as part of their job were forbidden by time service rules to ever re-set their watch. Only their watch inspector was permitted to do that. But if you talk to an old time railroader about this, they snicker and tell you they frequently re-set their own watch. This hour hand was likely for the more fastidious railroader who refused to re-set his watch, as per “the time service rules” he operated under. I hadn’t heard that railroads forbade them. These hands can be had on line, so buy a 992B at a price you like, then buy a hand and fit it. But I feel a watch so outfitted isn’t worth a premium.

DaveK · Dec 28, 2019

Canuck
That double hour hand was aftermarket. And normally, the two hour hands span one hour on the dial. And some operators liked the feature for use when their trip crossed a time meridian. Those who were obliged to carry a railroad standard watch as part of their job were forbidden by time service rules to ever re-set their watch. Only their watch inspector was permitted to do that. But if you talk to an old time railroader about this, they snicker and tell you they frequently re-set their own watch. This hour hand was likely for the more fastidious railroader who refused to re-set his watch, as per “the time service rules” he operated under. I hadn’t heard that railroads forbade them. These hands can be had on line, so buy a 992B at a price you like, then buy a hand and fit it. But I feel a watch so outfitted isn’t worth a premium.

Thank you Canuck (and the rest). Super informative as always.

The railroader watches are fascinating, and being Canadian, the CDN railroaders have a strong iconic resonance for me. I hope that 2020 will be the year I find a nice one

4 handed Hamilton 992B pocket watch?

DaveK

connieseamaster

connieseamaster

UncleBuck

Canuck

DaveK

Similar threads

FOUND Hamilton 992b Pocket Watch with Model 11 case and porcelain dial