From that time onward, hamilton was privy to and could use. We specialize in rare vintage pocketwatches and wristwatches including illinois, hamilton, elgin and waltham, hampden for investment or hobby. To adjust the time on your open face lever set pocket watch, special care must be. Overall, this hamilton railroad pocket watch is a very nice example of a locomotive engraved gold filled case type along with a great highjeweled railroad approved movement that will last many generations as long at its well cased for. After thousands of watches, it is understandable that i would have a favorite. In fact, leversetting was a requirement of the general railroad timekeeping standards.
There is a non working hamilton and i can unscrew the glass cover off the front but i cant figure out how to get the back off to see the serial numbers. My wife decided to wash my pants, and failed to notice the cord that my hamilton 992 railroad watch was tied to, sticking out of the watch pocket. In fact, during the first quarter of the last century, there were about two dozen different pocket watch movements. My all time favorite watch is the hamilton 992b pocket watch. Discover a large selection of hamilton railroad watches on chrono24 the worldwide marketplace for luxury watches. Open face size 16, 21j, 10k gold filled case, montgomery dial, double roller adj. Mar 14, 2015 horologicaladventures hamilton 992 railroad pocket watch in cross bar case by the pocket watch guy duration. Find great deals on ebay for hamilton railroad pocket watch and hamilton railroad pocket watch 992b. Railroad grade pocket watches explained the vortic blog. These hands stay adjusted so hand crashes are very rare.
Jul 11, 2012 hamilton 992b railway special one of the most collected of all railroad pocket watches. Many highgrade pocket watches were adjusted to all 6 positions. These unmatched timepieces were created so brilliantly that its not uncommon for them to perform dependably for several lifetimes. Hamilton 21j 16s 992b railway special pocket watch. They used these pieces as comparing watches and actually timing ordinances, these watches are.
Each timepiece has been engraved with a serial number since 1852, starting with number 50. Nov 09, 2014 after thousands of watches, it is understandable that i would have a favorite. Its in great condition with minor wear to the back of the case. Hamilton, illinois, elgin, waltham, hampden, ball, gruen, omega, south bend. Railroad grade watches had to meet strict guidelines to ensure their reliability and accuracy. To change the time on your watch which is known as setting the watch, you will need to first identify what. They were referred to as americas timekeeper and preferred by the railroads. Wall clocks free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Hamilton 16sz 992b railway special pocket watch,10k gf hamilton case. A closeup view of a hamilton ferguson pocket watch dial. A lever set pocket watch can be identified by pulling the crown upward. Hamilton pocket watches can be set using either the crown or a combination of the crown and lever set on the side of the watch. Hamilton watches are innovative, iconic and known for american spirit and swiss precision.
George daniels used hamilton elivar extra hairsprings in his hand made pocket watches. This video is focused on antique american pocket watches specifically those that are lever set. The booklet the timekeeper by the hamilton watch company 1911, they describe their no. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Why is the hamilton 950b sought after by collectors more than other 23 jewel in the b series 992b and 950b hamilton had the best hairspring and balance ever made for a pocket watch up to this time and perhaps today. I own a hamilton 974 special pocket watch serial 2549040 that belonged to my grandfather, then my father. Back engraved joseph peder lindahl 6201893 to 3191963. For pocket watches, position 6 is pendant down pd, an odd position for any pocket watch.
The main difference is the keyless works used to wind the watch and set the time. Over 14,000 listings of actual watches that have been sold by us and selected auction results since 1998. Another hamilton 992 railroad grade and approved pocket watch in a barovercrown railroad style gold. This is the perfect design tribute to the proud hamilton history of being the watch of railroad accuracy in the nineteenth century. A stem set, or pendant set, movement has springs inside that push the keyless works into the time setting position when you pull the stem out. Lever set was one of the requirements of a railroad pocket watch. When looking for the number on your watch you should be looking at the serial number on the movement, not the case. Waltham pocket watches are perhaps the easiest timepieces to date. As well learn later, achieving close time in all 4 vertical positions is much harder than the typical 3 pu, pl, pr. It has 21 jewels, 16 size, is factory adjusted to keep accurate time in all 6 positions and is lever set. The hamilton grade 992b is a high quality antique mechanical pocket watch. Specializing in the repair and restoration of american railroad pocket watches and vintage. View and download hamilton watch instruction manual online. If it doesnt move, it means that a lever must be pulled out from the right side of the watch to release the crown for setting the time.
Kens fathers watch meets all of these requirements and many more that make it a railroad watch. Its my belief the few remaining examples of these should be preserved. How to determine the value of hamilton vintage pocket. These regulations became more widespread and more specific as time went on, with. Hamilton 992b beginning to end nawcc message board. A slight nudge toward the f or fast will speed the watch up, and toward s or slow will slow it down. You might think that i would pick a rolex datejust or maybe an omega seamater, but for me there is no greater pleasure than working on a good hamilton pocket watch. All the great american watch companies including waltham, illinois, elgin, hamilton among them responded with railroad pocket watches that had this feature. Hamilton 992b watch construction railway pocket watch.
A closeup view of a hamilton 16 size time king pocket. Im referring to the hamilton railroad pocket watch. Winding and setting your pocket watch antique watch. Railroad pocket watches companies such as elgin, waltham, and hamilton invested in pocket watch design in the late 19th century because railroads needed highly accurate, precision timepieces so their locomotive engineers could maintain. A closeup view of a hamilton 16 size 992 adjusted for railroad service 21 jewels 8 adjustments pocket watch dial. Unfollow hamilton railroad pocket watch to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. To go along with my union pacific steam locomotive no. I began to notice how precisely the watch kept time. This prevented the wrong time being accidentally set.
This hamilton railroad service watch came with its original celluloid stamp holder. The hamilton watch company was founded in 1892 and set out to serve the railroad market with accurate timepieces. Antique hamilton pocket watch repair, mechanical hamilton. Hamilton 992b railroad pocket watch, hamilton railway special. Original hamilton railroad yellow gold filled bar over crown 16 size pocket watch case with glass crystal. The specific definition of railroad grade evolved quite a bit over the years. That made it unlikely to accidently reset the time. Setting the time like all micromechanical precision instruments, your hamilton khaki e. I know this is off topic, but i am posting in hopes of finding someone who can repair my hamilton 992 railroad watch. Hamilton 992b railway special pocket watch youtube. To fit in pockets, their shape evolved into the typical pocket watch shape, rounded and. Mar 27, 2020 railroad pocketwatches and watches vintage railroad grade pocketwatches from time machine.
This is a problem if you try to wind your watch and you are on a moving train. In 1893, the hamilton watch company of lancaster, pennsylvania began producing pocket watches primarily for railroad workers. Hamilton 992 railroad grade and approved pocket watch in a factory made hamilton display case. Many of these critical timing instruments and were made with a special builtin safety feature that defeats any possibility of accidental time change while in a pocket or otherwise. Get the best deal for hamilton pocket watches from the largest online selection at. The new collectors i guide to pocket watches preface as with any specialized field, pocket watch collecting has its own terminology, and it is not always easy for the novice collector to. The problem is, he cant set the time cant raise the stem, and a jeweler he took it to couldnt even get the back off to examine it. Hamilton was founded in lancaster, pennsylvania and began producing pocket watches. All items sell as is, where is, no guarantees of any kind. Pocketwatch 101 photo instructions on setting a leverset watch. Personal regulation various factors affect the performance of any watch.
Get this original beauty and pass it down to future. If a balance or hairspring wasnt behaving properly, the watchmaker could simply replace it with a new one. If the information is only desired for one or two specific watches, nawcc members can obtain the exact dates many hamilton watches were finished and sold by sending in a colourredresearch requestcolour. Hamilton 992 railroad watch help practical machinist. Jun 22, 2012 hamilton pocket watches were some of the finest timepieces manufactured from 1896 through 1964.
Hamilton pocket and wrist watch cases were still being produced by outside. A pocket watch or pocketwatch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed. This case would be great for 16 size hamilton 992bs, 950. Great hamilton 16sz 992b railway special pocket watch,10k gf hamilton case. Many vintage pocketwatches are lever set models, which are not set by pulling out the winding crown leversetting was a feature of higher quality often railroad grade pocket watches that was intended to prevent them from being accidentally reset to an incorrect time. Any other reproduction, by any means mechanical or electronic without the express written permission of watertown watch and clock company, is strictly prohibited. Hamilton 992b railway special one of the most collected of. The right to download and store or output pages and pictures from this web site is granted to users for their personal use only.
Hamilton did however post 992b pocket watch adds in specific railroad magazines. The rugged, precision watch that hamilton produced became a favorite among railroad watch inspectors and personnel. The american waltham watch company can trace its roots to 1849. How to care for you vintage antique watch the antique. Hamilton open face antique pocket watches for sale ebay. Pocket watches are wonderful heirloom items, but they dont always come with a set of instructions. Shop by features such as 12hour dial, arabic numerals, railroad watch. The requirements of railroads, where time inspection is maintained, demand that a watch run within 30 seconds variation a week. To find out more about cookies, please also see our cookie notice. However, you cannot set the time by pulling out the watch stem. The 3 different ways to set the time and wind your antique pocket watch. But i still have a soft spot for a nice pocket watch or even notsonice ones too.
Leversetting was a feature of higher quality often railroad grade pocket watches that was intended to prevent them from being accidentally reset to an incorrect time. I dont have a timing machine, but continued over several days to adjust the regulator. If your watch is not keeping good time, you can adjust the regulator yourself. From the very beginning, the focus was on quality and accuracy, and these principles have made hamilton the internationally renowned watch brand it is today. Hamilton pocket watch railroad grade 992e housed in this. From that time onward, hamilton was privy to and could use whatever. As time went on, and watches became even more accurate, railroads starting demanding their watches have more than 17 jewels. Lever set how to set the time on your railroad pocket watch a lot of pocket watches and all wrist watches are pendant set. It is significant that the hamilton watch is the favorite of most railroad men, meeting time inspection requirements, and with proper care, performing dependably year after year. This watch will make a great gift for the railroad. Jan 15, 20 i started out collecting pocket watches but moved on to wrist watches, as i could enjoy them a lot more by wearing them every day.
Construction of a new brick factory building, designed by chicagoarchitect clarence luther stiles in the second empire style, located. The hamilton 992 is the most successful of all hamilton pocket watch movements. Discussion in american pocket watches started by george, jan 4. Adjusting a 1925 hamilton 912 12s pocket watch to 6. The latter would have a small lever at about the 2 position that you would pull out in order to set the time. Railroad watches are expected to keep time within 30 seconds per week. Hamilton pocket watch repair hamilton pocket watches have long been considered some of the most refined instruments ever made. A closeup view of a hamilton 10 size 923 pocket watch movement.
Watchmakers and railroad time inspectors of years past had vastly greater access to spare parts than we do today. The movement was serviced 81217 and the watch is running and keeping time. Around the time of its manufacture, the american watch business started to go to hell in a hand basket. A father and sons unhinged attempt to repair and adjust a 7jewel waltham model 1908 to railroad time or, why 7jewel. Nov 30, 2014 1951 model a 950b railroad watch hamilton made a variety of pocket watches back in the day. Why is the hamilton 950b sought after by collectors more than. Hamilton railroad all prices for hamilton railroad. How to set and wind a railroad grade pocket watch youtube. Hamilton pocket watch serial numbers use this table to look up the serial number of your hamilton pocket watch and hence the year of manufacture. A railroad chronometer or railroad standard watch is a specialized timepiece that once was. Antique 1914 hamilton pocket watch 974 17 jewels adjusted runs. At one time i had borrowed microfilms of the hamilton ledgers for the early 992b production.
And, contrary to common belief, there were many regulations in place before webb c. Its watches had 42hour mainsprings, with 17 jewels in their isochronous movements. Folks, this original 1925 992 cpr model is an important piece of hamilton railroad history. Movements were produced by the lancaster watch company. Apr 26, 2017 determine whether your hamilton pocket watch is set with the crown to be rotated or with the combination of crown and lever set. This is one of the scarcest cases to acquire as hamilton did not make many of these true cpr models, especially in green gf. In 1892, when it became the hamilton watch company, the quality became increasingly better. Hamilton railroad all prices for hamilton railroad watches.
Im pretty sure hamilton is no longer around, and im wondering if any of you out the. Open face pocket watches are often synonymous with certified railroad timepieces. The celluloid stamp holder is in good condition with a split on one side. Setting your antique pocket watch pocket full of time youtube. You might think that i would pick a rolex datejust or maybe an omega seamater, but for me there is no greater pleasure than working on a good hamilton pocket.
In the shop a timing machine is used to quickly adjust the rate. Leversetting usually requires that the bezel be removed or opened and that a small. A railroad grade pocket watch is simply a watch that was approved by a particular railroad organization for use by conductors on their rail. The adds below are all pre 1940 adds for the hamilton 992 without the b or other models from that time. Pocket watches for sale antique and vintage railroad.
You may change the settings to activate or deactivate each category of cookies at any time. I have no intention of selling it and intend to pass it on to my oldest son. Youll see 19, 21, and 23 jeweled movements listed among railroad grade watches. Find the perfect deal for hamilton open face antique pocket watches with free shipping on many items at ebay. Heres the correct way to set the time on your leverset watch. Regulating and adjusting a watch antique watch repair. A friend inherited one of these pocket watches see subject from his father. This post adjusts a 12size hamilton 912 pocket watch to essentially perfect time in all 6 positions. According to antique pocket watch, an online watch publication, testament to the quality of the watches it produced is the fact that most of its watches ended up being bought for use on the railways. Lever set how to set the time on your railroad pocket watch.
Government contract hamilton in the 1940s during ww 2 for their pocket watches and chronometers. I recently picked up one of hamilton s finest railroad watches a 21 jewel, 16 size 992b. The largest and most complete vintage watch online price guide of its kind. This is my regular carrying watch, spending all day in the pocket of. On a pendant set watch you would pull the crown and then change the time. Goldbergs pocket watch collection railroad watches. The watch is a 21 jeweled pocket watch in working order. The hamilton 992b railway special is a highquality railroad pocket watch. It made it impossible to accidentally adjust the time, an important consideration for timetables and trackswitching safety. The last american manufactured railroad pocket watch was the grade no. Perry, in lancaster, pennsylvania in september 1874.