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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

DaveK
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Canuck Canuck
Credit where credit is due! The idea for the pocket watch thread came from @DaveK , not from me. I opened the thread with a post on a Hamilton 992, but the credit belongs to @DaveK . And to all other posters who have helped perpetuate it. I get the impression that this thread has motivated many folks to develop an interest in pocket watches, and indeed has motivated many folks to become collectors. As to brand specific pocket watch threads? Pocket watches have been around since the 17th century. That is, about 350 years. To pigeon hole specific brands to create brand specific forums is simply not possible, considering the breadth of the topic. As to being the “jewel” thread on the Omega forum? About 191,000 views in 3 1/2 years might be an indication! We collectors have a place where we can boast, and to learn!

I don’t recall what the moment was that pushed me into pocket watches, but I’d bet $4 Canadian that @Canuck was influential. This thread has been a lot of fun!

pdxleaf pdxleaf
Nothing says there can't be multiple threads. Most of the people on this one would make them function. Would you want to go to one thread like this, or individual threads?

What would be the groups? A general discussion? Railroad, military, Non-American, by brand?

I'm agnostic about sub- forums. I do search this often and have barely scratched the surface. It would be helpful if it was sorted, but it's also nice to find new posts that bring new territory.

Regardless, for me, Canuck's PW thread is one of the crown jewels of the forum.
I’d bet that, to start, a railroad PW thread and an American PW thread would be strong leads in a PW subforum, joined by the UG thread, and a poorly-attended Omega PW thread. My hunch is that more PW collectors (and those who are PW-curious) would find us in surprising numbers once the subforum gave us more daylight.
 
Canuck
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Random thoughts.

Comparing the Hamilton grades 992, 992E, and 992B:

992- bi-metallic, temperature compensating balance wheel, blued steel Breguet hairspring, riveted balance staff. Jewels screw set.

992E- mono-metallic, Elinvar balance wheel and Elinvar Breguet hairspring, friction balance staff, pallet cock marked Elinvar. Jewels screw set.

992B- An almost totally different movement! Mono-metallic Elinvar Extra Breguet hairspring, friction balance staff, friction set jewels.

Comparing the Hamilton grades 950, 950E, and 950B:

950- bi-metallic, temperature compensating balance wheel, blued steel Breguet hairspring, riveted balance staff, jewels screw set.

950E- mono-metallic Elinvar balance wheel, Elinvar Breguet hairspring, friction (not riveted) balance staff, jewels screw set, pallet cock marked Elinvar.

950B- mono-metallic Elinvar Extra balance wheel, Elinvar Extra Breguet hairspring, friction balance staff (not riveted). Jewels friction set.

The point of this whole exercise you might ask? The 992 and 992E were quite different to the 992B. The 950, 950E, and 950B were very similar.

Here I show side by each a 950 and a 950B, followed by a 950E.

P9266553.jpeg IMG_2615.jpeg
 
TexOmega
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Hamilton 4992B circa 1952-3 with leather(edit to correct…Rubber)protection pouch.

IMG_5177.jpeg IMG_5176.jpeg IMG_5175.jpeg IMG_5173.jpeg IMG_5172.jpeg IMG_5171.jpeg
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TexOmega
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
A great example. Is the case leather? It sure looks like rubber in the last two photos.

Indeed, yes, rubber 👍🏻


And it’s Carrying Case when in flight

IMG_5178.jpeg IMG_5179.jpeg IMG_5180.jpeg
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noelekal
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I have been meaning to take some photographs of this Hamilton 950 from 1927 since back when TexOmega posted his 950 back on June 16th. https://omegaforums.net/threads/calling-all-pocket-watch-buffs.127856/page-203#post-2359235 I'm wearing it today and thought to photograph it and stick it up here.
IMG_4358.jpg

This Hamilton was acquired during my pocket watch madness of 2021, but we moved during the time so I must have failed to photograph it. Finally photographed it today.

I did service it in fall of 2021 and it's a pleasing timekeeper.

IMG_4360.jpg


I don't know how to discern if the case could be original to a 1927 Hamilton 16 size watch. The Hamilton Heavy Gothic dial was said to have been introduced in March 1927. At least that is what I uncovered in the NAWCC forum. Isn't this the style known as the "boxcar?"

IMG_4364.jpg IMG_4366.jpg
 
Canuck
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My reference lists the case as being Hamilton Model A. This model case appears to be from circa 1940, so it is a Hamilton case, just not (seemingly) original to that movement. The “boxcar” dial I have also heard called a “blind man’s” dial. As to the case, it is usually a case with a longer pendant as in this picture of my Hamilton 950. This 950 is shown next to my 950B which is about 25 years newer than the 950 posted by @noelekal . Note the taller pendant on the 950, and shorter pendant on the 950B.



Edited to add that my reference indeed DID NOT indicate the case style was from 1940! The example in my reference has a watch fitted with hands that were peculiar to a later model 950, from circa 1940. It also indicates that the 950 was typically advertised with this very model A case. Likely original to the movement!

P8227248.jpeg
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Canuck
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Further to the Hamilton grade 950 posted by @noelekal , I think the seventh digit on the serial number is obscured by the screws on the balance wheel. I took a gamble, deciphered the six digits I could read and added a 5. Then I went to the pocketwatchdatabase site and keyed in s# 2457645, and this was the result:

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2457645

Thereby, the 950 movement posted by @noelekal is much newer than the 950 movement in my collection. It could very well be that the case on the 950 posted by @noelekal is original. The case style on my 950 is an earlier style of case, but the serial number on my 950 movement is a few years earlier.
 
noelekal
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Canuck Canuck
Further to the Hamilton grade 950 posted by @noelekal , I think the seventh digit on the serial number is obscured by the screws on the balance wheel. I took a gamble, deciphered the six digits I could read and added a 5. Then I went to the pocketwatchdatabase site and keyed in s# 2457645, and this was the result:

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2457645

Thereby, the 950 movement posted by @noelekal is much newer than the 950 movement in my collection. It could very well be that the case on the 950 posted by @noelekal is original. The case style on my 950 is an earlier style of case, but the serial number on my 950 movement is a few years earlier.

You were close Canuck, but close counts in Horseshoes, hand grenades, and watch serial numbers. The serial number is 2457643.

Thanks guys for the information. The possibilities raise the watch's case and dial in my esteem.
 
Canuck
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noelekal noelekal
You were close Canuck, but close counts in Horseshoes, hand grenades, and watch serial numbers. The serial number is 2457643.

Thanks guys for the information. The possibilities raise the watch's case and dial in my esteem.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Sometimes when you delve a little bit, information often surfaces that adds to the interest of a collectible! With pocket watches, there is so much to find because there is so much to know. But you do have to dig a bit. There are enough of some models of watches that there is one for everyone who wants one. Not so with the 950! And @noelekal has a nice one.

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to own a Hamilton grade 950E. I missed it! Dam! So I’ll just have to satisfy myself with my 950, and my 950B.
Edited:
 
ghce
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noelekal noelekal
I have been meaning to take some photographs of this Hamilton 950 from 1927 since back when TexOmega posted his 950 back on June 16th. https://omegaforums.net/threads/calling-all-pocket-watch-buffs.127856/page-203#post-2359235 I'm wearing it today and thought to photograph it and stick it up here.
IMG_4358.jpg

This Hamilton was acquired during my pocket watch madness of 2021, but we moved during the time so I must have failed to photograph it. Finally photographed it today.

I did service it in fall of 2021 and it's a pleasing timekeeper.

IMG_4360.jpg


I don't know how to discern if the case could be original to a 1927 Hamilton 16 size watch. The Hamilton Heavy Gothic dial was said to have been introduced in March 1927. At least that is what I uncovered in the NAWCC forum. Isn't this the style known as the "boxcar?"

IMG_4364.jpg IMG_4366.jpg
Looking at the case and the movement mount screws it appears to have screw marks in 2 other places, making one suspect a recase.
 
Canuck
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ghce ghce
Looking at the case and the movement mount screws it appears to have screw marks in 2 other places, making one suspect a recase.
My reference indicates that this model “A” case was advertised with the 950 grade movement in it. It anppears ans though another Hamilton movement might have been housed in that case in the past. But it is the correct case for a grade 950.
 
DaveK
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noelekal noelekal
I have been meaning to take some photographs of this Hamilton 950 from 1927 since back when TexOmega posted his 950 back on June 16th. https://omegaforums.net/threads/calling-all-pocket-watch-buffs.127856/page-203#post-2359235 I'm wearing it today and thought to photograph it and stick it up here.
IMG_4358.jpg

This Hamilton was acquired during my pocket watch madness of 2021, but we moved during the time so I must have failed to photograph it. Finally photographed it today.

I did service it in fall of 2021 and it's a pleasing timekeeper.

IMG_4360.jpg


I don't know how to discern if the case could be original to a 1927 Hamilton 16 size watch. The Hamilton Heavy Gothic dial was said to have been introduced in March 1927. At least that is what I uncovered in the NAWCC forum. Isn't this the style known as the "boxcar?"

IMG_4364.jpg IMG_4366.jpg

I like that case design. According to the PW Database, that’s the model A (shoulderless version) that was made in 1948 and later. Does that line up?
 
ghce
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DaveK DaveK
I like that case design. According to the PW Database, that’s the model A (shoulderless version) that was made in 1948 and later. Does that line up?
Here is my 922b with the same case though the bow looks a slightly different style est date 1950 and you might note the smaller case serial number.


https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/profile/ghceltd/collection/view/149715

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/C299768

2028403823.jpg 2027586013.jpg 2027585959.jpg
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Canuck
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DaveK DaveK
I like that case design. According to the PW Database, that’s the model A (shoulderless version) that was made in 1948 and later. Does that line up?

My Hamilton 950, s# 1664510.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/1664510

I showed my 950 (1927), and my much newer 950B. The contrast between the older long neck case and the newer short neck case are obvious.

@noelekal ‘s 950, s# 2457643.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2457643

In spite of the difference of approximately 7,000 between the two serial numbers, the pocketwatchdatabase indicates both watches were made in 1927. I showed my 950 earlier in this thread. It has a long neck pendant on the case, and no extra case screw marks. Older cases (apparently) used pendants with a longer neck. Should @noelekal ’s movement have been in a case with a long neck, or is this case correct for his 950? Indeed, a moot subject. But I like his 950!

Here is a cut from my reference which indicates that this case was used on 23-jewel Hamilton 16-size models. It lists the movement in the case has baton hands which were from circa 1940-41.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2457643
 
Canuck
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Referring to @DaveK ’s picture of his 992B movement and comparing the location of the case screws to the location of the extra case screw marks on @noelekal ‘s 950 case, it could have been a 992B movement that was originally fitted to the case on @noelekal ‘s Hamilton 950. But I still like it!
 
DaveK
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Canuck Canuck
Referring to @DaveK ’s picture of his 992B movement and comparing the location of the case screws to the location of the extra case screw marks on @noelekal ‘s 950 case, it could have been a 992B movement that was originally fitted to the case on @noelekal ‘s Hamilton 950. But I still like it!
Yah, I need to add a 950 to my Christmas list
 
Canuck
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DaveK DaveK
Yah, I need to add a 950 to my Christmas list
Then you’ll need a 950E, and a 950B. Then you’ll need a 962 (I recently missed out on one of those), a 964, or a 966. That is, unless you decide to diversify into hunter cased versions of the above! If you aspire to a 950E, prepare to lose a body part!
 
Canuck
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
My 950B is in the same case as @noelekal 's 950.
20230205_090214.jpg
Please confirm that yours is a 950, not a 950E or 950B. If it is indeed a 950, that is interesting. Probably the 950 was superseded by the 950E circa 1931. Your case was likely available until about the time Hamilton folded. If it is indeed a 950, then we have 3 950s in the recent posts, mine in the older long neck pendant, and plain finish, and two with the same newer case.
 
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