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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs
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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. Yet strangely, the subject 940 and mine seem to have both been produced in 1906, but in different runs.
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.
Edited:
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CBM1590
·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.
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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.
One other significant difference between the two 940s is the regulators.
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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
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
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward Watchesforgot 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 ...
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CBM1590
·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.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1562338414...y0vnmjksim&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
This website may earn commission from Ebay sales.
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesCBM1590 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.
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CBM1590
·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.
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesDon't be sorry. It is a great thread hijack!
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Canuck
·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.
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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
EDIT: Sold for $145. I hope a member scored it.
Edited:
This website may earn commission from Ebay sales.
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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!
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesThat was a deal!
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CBM1590
·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!
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Canuck
·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!
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesHeh!
"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."
"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."
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Canuck
·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!
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Pastorbottle
·I believe there is a time and place for that word! Many readers knew what I meant!
Us Aussies don't stand on ceremony.....we wipe our feet on it!