Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Need Help Identifying

In Pocket Watches > Hamilton Pocket Watches > Show & Tell.
JacksonMZL's items1 of 1
13
Love it
0
Like it

mrcolorzmrcolorz loves this.
kwqdkwqd loves this.
Lady_PickerLady_Picker loves this.
ElisabethanElisabethan loves this.
egreeley1976egreeley1976 loves this.
Cokeman1959Cokeman1959 loves this.
pw-collectorpw-collector loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
Vynil33rpmVynil33rpm loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
dav2no1dav2no1 loves this.
See 11 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 3 years ago

    JacksonMZL
    (1 item)

    Hey all, this is my first time posting on this forum, so please excuse any mistakes or errors. I was given this pocket watch from my grandfather who worked in the railroad. I’ve searched high and low, yet cannot find any similar examples of this specific case. I have searched the serial number, and I know the movement is a 940. However, I cannot find this specific pocket watch anywhere online. Thanks In advance for your responses and insight!

    logo
    Hamilton Pocket Watches
    See all
    Rare 16s Hamilton Ball 999R 23j Railroad Pocket Watch
    Rare 16s Hamilton Ball 999R 23j Rai...
    $335
    1938 Ball-Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch 16s 21j 10k Gold Filled Runs GRADE 999P
    1938 Ball-Hamilton Railroad Pocket ...
    $331
    1916 Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch Grade 940 18s 21j Runs Sterling Silver
    1916 Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch...
    $98
    HAMILTON 16s BAR OVER CROWN 10K Gold Filled Pocket Watch Case Use For 992 Model
    HAMILTON 16s BAR OVER CROWN 10K Gol...
    $163
    logo
    Rare 16s Hamilton Ball 999R 23j Railroad Pocket Watch
    Rare 16s Hamilton Ball 999R 23j Rai...
    $335
    See all

    Comments

    1. dav2no1 dav2no1, 3 years ago
      Your grandfather may have worked in the railroad, but I don't believe this is a RR watch. It is a beautiful pocket watch though. We have a few experts here, so I'll let them help you...
    2. keramikos, 3 years ago
      Hi, JacksonMZL. :-)

      I'm not an expert, but I was able to look up serial number 847219 :

      *snip*

      From the American Horology Archive:
      Hamilton Watch Co.
      Grade: 974
      Manufacturer: Hamilton
      Manufacturer Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
      Movement Serial Number: 847219
      Grade: 974
      Model: 1
      Class: 5
      Estimated Production Year: 1911
      Run Quantity: 1,800
      Total Production: 114,784
      Size: 16s
      Jewels: 17j
      Jewel Setting: Screw-Set
      Movement Configuration: Openface
      Movement Finish: Nickel
      Movement Setting: Lever or Pendant
      Plate: 3/4 Plate
      Regulator: Reed
      Hairspring: Breguet
      Adjusted: Yes
      Adjusted to Position: No
      Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
      Railroad Grade: No
      Dial Feet Locations: 7.6, 21.8, 38.0, 50.5
      Hamilton 16s Dial Feet Research
      Data Research: 1953 Hamilton Serial List

      *snip*

      https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/847219
    3. keramikos, 3 years ago
      Hmmm, apparently, that was the case serial number, and I can't seem to find the movement serial number in your pictures:

      http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/sn-lookup.html
    4. JacksonMZL, 3 years ago
      What pictures can I post to help decipher what exactly I have here. Keramikos, the serial number for the movement can be found in the first picture in gold text. It’s hard to read, but I believe it reads “847219”.
    5. keramikos, 3 years ago
      JacksonMZL, if that pcoketwatchrepair dot com site I linked is to be believed, that 847219 is the case serial number, and in fact when I plugged that number into the pocketwatchdatabase dot com site, it came back with information that doesn't jibe with what is inscribed on your watch (for instance, the database came back with 17j, but your watch is inscribed with "21 JEWELS.")

      I don't see another number that looks like it could be a movement serial number. There is what looks like a 4 digit number engraved in the edge of the back. It looks like it might be 3402 (there is also a free-standing "3" digit way over to the left of that), but I don't think that's a movement serial number.

      FWIW, I tried plugging both 3402 and 33402 into the pocketwatchdatabase tool as serial numbers, but it came back with 17 jewel and 16j watches, so that isn't right.

      I'm afraid that you need some expert help, and that would not be me. :-(
    6. JacksonMZL, 3 years ago
      Keramikos, thank you for your help! Where would you recommend to get help for further information?
    7. keramikos, 3 years ago
      JacksonMZL, Well, you could hold on for a bit longer here, and hope that somebody besides dav2no1 and me weigh in on it.

      CW user pw-collector seems to be a quite a pocket watch enthusiast, but also seems not to have been active here lately. Hopefully, they're all right, will see this, and opine.

      Alternately, you could join a forum that specializes in vintage watches and clocks, e.g.:

      https://www.nawcc.org/join/

      https://www.watchuseek.com/help/faq/#how_to_register

      https://www.watchtalkforums.info/help/faq/#how_to_register
    8. JacksonMZL, 3 years ago
      Thank you so much!
    9. pw-collector pw-collector, 3 years ago
      JacksonMZL,
      I’m far from being an expert, but your pocket watch movement is a Hamilton 940 and advertised as having the most phenomenally accurate time-keeping records, is more extensively used and in far greater numbers on all main railroad lines of America than any other watch (taken out of The Timekeeper, The Hamilton Watch booklet dated 1911).
      The serial number on your watch movement is 647219 and the estimated manufacture date is 1909.
      The 940 movement was made for an open face watch case. Your grandfather may have had it re-cased in a hunting case after he left or retired from the railroad.
      It is a lever-set movement (time is set by pulling out, with your fingernail, the lever at the 2:00 position, then pushed back in when the correct time is set.
      It is definitely a railroad grade and approved pocket watch.
      I carry my Hamilton 940 quite often.
      I hope this answers a few of your questions.
      Dave
    10. pw-collector pw-collector, 3 years ago
      Here is the Hamilton 940 I have.
      Dave
      https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/153324-hamilton-no-940-railroad-timekeeper?in=collection-726
    11. JacksonMZL, 3 years ago
      pw-collector, you have an absolutely beautiful watch! Thank you for the info and replies, it’s greatly appreciated! I’m thinking of having mine appraised, where would be the best place to go? Just any watch appraiser or someone specific?
    12. dav2no1 dav2no1, 3 years ago
      Well I learned something...I thought most RR watches had the power/use meter on them..nice
    13. keramikos, 3 years ago
      pw-collector, D'oh!

      So I misread the MSD of that serial number (it's not 847219, but rather 647219), and it is indeed the movement serial number:

      https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/647219

      Yup, everything looks good now: movement 940, 21 jewels, railroad grade. :-)

      On another note, it's a relief to see your fonts. When long-time CW S&T users aren't active here for a stretch, it becomes worrisome in these perilous times.

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.