Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

DaveK · Sep 27, 2022

Canuck
So often in this hobby, seeking answers to questions only results in more questions!

If I an not mistaken, the marginal minutes are found on Montgomery dials. Especially ones with the 6 in the seconds bit. Or on a Canadian 24-hour Montgomery dial, the 18 would be in the seconds bit, as it is with this Keystone Howard series 5 with 24-hour Montgomery dial. Busy, I know,

I’ve never seen the minutes rotate to that orientation. Interesting

Canuck · Sep 27, 2022

DaveK
I’ve never seen the minutes rotate to that orientation. Interesting

I have pictures of four individual Keystone Howard series 5 watches in my files, all with 24-hour Montgomery dials, and the dials are all the same. The minute track numerals are place radially, as per the example above. All have the 18 in the seconds bit. The only other picture in my files of a Montgomery dial, is a 12-hour model, with the 6 in the seconds bit, and the minute track numerals placed horizontally.

TexOmega · Sep 27, 2022

Hamilton refused to pay Mr. Montgomery a fee, so Marginal Minutes was their name for their design.

TexOmega · Sep 27, 2022

Not a Marginal Minutes.......but for our Canadian RRoaders, Hamilton had a "6" and a "18" version so y'all wouldn't forget those hours😁

Canadian dial with US military base metal case.JPG

TexOmega · Sep 27, 2022

An my eariest 992B

US Army designation
1940-41
And a letter of decommission for 768 war surplus 992B for civilian use.

Canuck · Sep 27, 2022

TexOmega
An my eariest 992B

US Army designation
1940-41
And a letter of decommission for 768 war surplus 992B for civilian use.

Very interesting! New to me. And an early serial number. A friend of mine, years ago, had an opportunity to buy 992B S# 1. He passed on it. Later changed his mind, went back, but the vendor was no longer there.

Alpha · Sep 27, 2022

A meagre offering this evening, a couple of snaps taken from my desk.

Canuck · Sep 27, 2022

Two favourites I have said goodbye to, recently. Now being on enjoyed by members of the local railroader community. As in Heritage railways. My virtually NOS Waltham Vanguard (1623 model, circa mid 1950s), and my 111 year old 18-size Elgin you all heard me boasting about, recently.

TexOmega · Sep 29, 2022

My Earliest 4992B
Circa 1941-2 for our Canadian and British allies.
Pendant set
Hack: 22nd jewel was the conversion

Alpha · Sep 29, 2022

Desk time for my French p.w. decided to rotate the few that I have on desk duty 👍

Canuck · Sep 29, 2022

Here is the information on the pocketwatchdatabase.com site. I was amazed at both the watches produced in this run, but also the total number produced. This model is identical to the standard 992B, except for the modifications done to convert the Watch to a centre sweep hand. I don’t recall if this model was equipped with a hack.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/4C79914

TexOmega · Sep 29, 2022

Hacks

Ramped up war production

noelekal · Sep 29, 2022

Here's a Hamilton 946. I felt that I "snuck up" on it for a decent price when nobody was looking, on Ebay no less!

Photos don't do it and especially its movement justice. The movement is difficult to photograph well enough to capture the detail and the brilliance.

I ran it three days and it gained a minute. I intend to have it serviced before putting it to "work."

Appears to date to 1909.
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/493850

DaveK · Sep 29, 2022

noelekal
Here's a Hamilton 946. I felt that I "snuck up" on it for a decent price when nobody was looking, on Ebay no less!

Photos don't do it and especially its movement justice. The movement is difficult to photograph well enough to capture the detail and the brilliance.

I ran it three days and it gained a minute. I intend to have it serviced before putting it to "work."

Appears to date to 1909.
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/493850

Congrats !

Canuck · Sep 30, 2022

Stunning! Ball produced a grade 999 model based on this movement. The Ball 999 version production was 100 units. But this one is scarce in its own right. Here’s the pocketwatchdatabase.com listing on this handsome watch.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/493850

TexOmega · Sep 30, 2022

Wow, my first time seeing a 946, and a super case as a bonus.👍

Hamilton made the 999A for Ball
Others.....Elgin, Waltham, E. Howard, and later Record(Swiss) always manufactured the movements for Ball

Doesn't detract from their beauty and durability or accuracy. Or collectibility.

TexOmega · Sep 30, 2022

And then Hamilton made the 999B starting in 1949

Canuck · Sep 30, 2022

I advised a member of the watch repair fraternity, locally, many years ago. He had a Ball pocket watch sent to him for a balance staff, but had no luck obtaining a correct staff from his suppliers (he told me)! He asked if I could help. We went to his shop, and the watch was on his bench. I knew it was a Hamilton from 6 feet away, but didn’t recognize that it was a Ball grade 999, 18-size, 23-jewel model until I handled it. I told him I had a staff for it, and I could get it back to him in a day or so. This Ball model uses the same balance staff as Hamilton 940, 941,942, 943, and 944. I knew I had staffs for it, and it was done that very afternoon.I wrote an article for the NAWCC Bulletin on that very watch. I still have the owners name on file.

Alpha · Sep 30, 2022

'Smiths' Empire today 😀

red0vitis · Sep 30, 2022

noelekal
Here's a Hamilton 946. I felt that I "snuck up" on it for a decent price when nobody was looking, on Ebay no less!

Photos don't do it and especially its movement justice. The movement is difficult to photograph well enough to capture the detail and the brilliance.

I ran it three days and it gained a minute. I intend to have it serviced before putting it to "work."

Appears to date to 1909.
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/493850

Very nice Hamilton 946 ⏱️!!

Mine is from about 1905, prize of my collection.

The 946 has a same style case as yours without the engraving.