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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck
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The Hamilton grade 940 (according to the Hamilton “bible” by Roy Ehrhardt) was introduced in 1900, and produced until 1928. There were far more Hamilton grade 940s produced than any other 18-size railroad standard model produced by Hamilton, over many more years of production than most of the other 18-size grades. Although, production numbers for several 16-size Hamilton railroad standard watches were far greater than the 940. It appears as though the grade 940 was the most popular 18-size railroad standard Hamilton model. Your 940 appears to be in desirable condition. You don’t say whether you own it or not, but I hope you do!

I have a private label grade 940 in my collection. Mine was sold by the jeweller G M Rioch in Kenora, Ontario. You might notice my later version is engraved “adjusted to five positions” on the mainspring barrel bridge. This was after legislation regarding how railroad standard watches were to be marked. Yet strangely, the subject 940 and mine seem to have both been produced in 1906, but in different runs.

P2248458.jpeg P2248457.jpeg
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CBM1590
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Canuck Canuck
The Hamilton grade 940 (according to the Hamilton “bible” by Roy Ehrhardt) was introduced in 1900, and produced until 1928. There were far more Hamilton grade 940s produced than any other 18-size railroad standard model produced by Hamilton, over many more years of production than most of the other 18-size grades. Although, production numbers for several 16-size Hamilton railroad standard watches were far greater than the 940. It appears as though the grade 940 was the most popular 18-size railroad standard Hamilton model. Your 940 appears to be in desirable condition. You don’t say whether you own it or not, but I hope you do!

I have a private label grade 940 in my collection. Mine was sold by the jeweller G M Rioch in Kenora, Ontario. You might notice my later version is engraved “adjusted to five positions” on the mainspring barrel bridge. This was after legislation regarding how railroad standard watches were to be marked.

P2248458.jpeg P2248457.jpeg
I don’t own it but am watching it. It is sitting at $138 with 13 hours left. Have no idea what top end price would be for this model.
 
Canuck
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That price could well change. I bought my 940 for what I felt was a bargain at the time. $250.00! But THAT was 35 years ago! Let us know what it sells for, please. And whether or not you end up with it. (What would $250 dollars US in 1990 be worth in 2014?)

One other significant difference between the two 940s is the regulators.
 
noelekal
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ghce ghce
forgot the database on the 4992B
I was a little surprised that there were so few entries in the database given the quite large production run especially with the military connection.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/4C68226

You make a good point. The watch is is of interest to both watch collectors and militaria collectors. Collecting pressure ought to be high. It would be interesting to know how many surviving examples exist. Was the model widely issued and heavily used during the prosecution of the War, or were quantities left unissued in military stores and sold as surplus after the War?

Brings up another question I've long had. How strict was military accounting for watches issued at various times during the 20th century among nations' armed forces? All sorts of materiel, including an amazing amount of small arms with quantities of ammunition, and ordnance including some surprisingly heavy and powerful items, walked off in the hands of servicemen. Were watches considered expendable materiel?

The fog of war ...
 
CBM1590
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Canuck Canuck
That price could well change. I bought my 940 for what I felt was a bargain at the time. $250.00! But THAT was 35 years ago! Let us know what it sells for, please. And whether or not you end up with it. (What would $250 dollars US in 1990 be worth in 2014?)

One other significant difference between the two 940s is the regulators.
Your $250 in 1990 would be the equivalent of $600 in today’s dollars. I’m going to let this one ride. It’s a beautiful watch, but I’ve got a major house renovation project going on and I can’t justify the purchase at this time. Here’s the link. It is still under $145 with 6 hours to go. I hope someone here will be able to grab it at a great price.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1562338414...y0vnmjksim&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 
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noelekal
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CBM1590 has sent the pocket watch thread into a Hamilton 940 tangent so I'll post the one I have here. It's a bit later with different plate markings. As a novice pocket watch hoarder who also isn't expert at early 20th century railroading the Hamilton 940 has the strongest aura of being a railroad watch to me, whether mine ever was or not.





 
CBM1590
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noelekal noelekal
CBM1590 has sent the pocket watch thread into a Hamilton 940 tangent so I'll post the one I have here. It's a bit later with different plate markings. As a novice pocket watch hoarder who also isn't expert at early 20th century railroading the Hamilton 940 has the strongest aura of being a railroad watch to me, whether mine ever was or not.





Sorry for the thread hijack. 🙁
 
noelekal
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Don't be sorry. It is a great thread hijack!
 
pdxleaf
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Sorry for the thread hijack. 🙁

Pocket watch, check.
Call to buffs, check.
Pocket watch buffs, check.

Pretty good post!
 
Canuck
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The Hamilton grade 940 posited by @noelekal differs from the other two 940s pictured above. By the time this 940 was produced, you may notice this later movement is marked double roller on the barrel bridge. Time service rules changed over the decades regarding how railroad standard watches had to be marked. This 940 (as with all those posted above) was definitely railroad grade. The regulators on the three 940s pictured show two different style regulators, as well.
 
CBM1590
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Your $250 in 1990 would be the equivalent of $600 in today’s dollars. I’m going to let this one ride. It’s a beautiful watch, but I’ve got a major house renovation project going on and I can’t justify the purchase at this time. Here’s the link. It is still under $145 with 6 hours to go. I hope someone here will be able to grab it at a great price.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1562338414...y0vnmjksim&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
15 minutes left and still at $142.50. Under the money for someone…anyone here watching it and going to make an attempt?

EDIT: Sold for $145. I hope a member scored it.
Edited:
 
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Canuck
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One helluva price for a Hamilton grade 940! Is the market really that bad? The only thing about my 940 I like better is that it is a Canadian private label! I hope someone here bought it!
 
CBM1590
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Canuck Canuck
One helluva price for a Hamilton grade 940! Is the market really that bad? The only thing about my 940 I like better is that it is a Canadian private label! I hope someone here bought it!
Yeah, stupid low price on that one. I watched it count down and thought seriously about bidding $150 at the end…but the watch was a “want” not a “need”. And as my dad used to say “you’re old enough where your wants won’t hurt you”. True statement.
 
Canuck
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I remember 40 years ago, on vacation in Washington state, I came upon a Hamilton model 21 marine chronometer that was offered to me. It took me 12 hours to decide NOT to buy it. My wife became vey angry with my decision, convincing me that we would find away to pay for it. It took me two days for my bank manager to wire me the large purchase price, and I bought it! No regrets! I’m sitting here, looking at it across the living room, ticking away. It meant a short period of doing without other things, but no regrets. Some times you have to do it, or get off the pot!
 
noelekal
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Heh!

"Some times you have to do it, or get off the pot!"

They have that hoary old saying in Canada too?

We have a variant of that saying here in Texas, but it uses a single handy word substitution for "do it."
 
Canuck
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noelekal noelekal
Heh!

"Some times you have to do it, or get off the pot!"

They have that hoary old saying in Canada too?

We have a variant of that saying here in Texas, but it uses a single handy word substitution for "do it."

I believe there is a time and place for that word! Many readers knew what I meant!
 
Pastorbottle
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Canuck Canuck
I believe there is a time and place for that word! Many readers knew what I meant!
Let's not be shy and mince words here.....I believe the word you're alluding to is piss!
Us Aussies don't stand on ceremony.....we wipe our feet on it!
 
Canuck
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Let's not be shy and mince words here.....I believe the word you're alluding to is piss!
Us Aussies don't stand on ceremony.....we wipe our feet on it!

The dictums of many on line message boards such as this one forbids the use of certain words. I guess that has spilled over on me regarding using those words on this message board. But post away as you see fit.
 
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