Thread: POCKET WATCHES

Hamilton was pretty much the last man standing as far as U.S made pocketwatches went. The 992B was the culmination with the latest in technology and was accurate, reliable, easy to service and cheap. However it wasn't their true high end caliber though it was advanced. They used the 992B in many of the WWll watches made for the military services just that they had an additional number in front of the 992B like 4992B.

The early English watches were really something else. I have on from the 1700s and before the industrial revolution they were truly handmade with simple tools and produced one at a time. Unfortunately getting someone to repair them is near impossible and replacement parts must be custom made and hand fitted. That's why you can get one for maybe $300 or so. Hand pierced balance ****s and hand hammered Silver and gold cases with gold hands. They are all hallmarked with makers marks and assay marks and the guild location where they were made. Very well organized those English.

Got my neat 992! One has to admire the craftsmanship of our ancestors, it is an amazing little machine. It is not as accurate as I was hoping for (about 1.5s too fast every hour), but I will either learn how to live with that (I do not think I want to set the time more often than once a week because of the procedure) or I will have it serviced and cleaned eventually.

I carry it wrapped in a piece of leather that I'll transform into a case one day. I have it on a leather lace tied to a retractable badge reel.

I'll post some pictures soon and am going to start a new savings account for a 950E.

This is nothing fancy, but my grandfather gave it to me long ago. He was into collecting and tinkering with watches.
There's no glass and it has bumps so you can feel your way around the face, I assume it's for night use or people with poor vision.

Originally Posted by sparq

Got my neat 992! One has to admire the craftsmanship of our ancestors, it is an amazing little machine. It is not as accurate as I was hoping for (about 1.5s too fast every hour), but I will either learn how to live with that (I do not think I want to set the time more often than once a week because of the procedure) or I will have it serviced and cleaned eventually.

I carry it wrapped in a piece of leather that I'll transform into a case one day. I have it on a leather lace tied to a retractable badge reel.

I'll post some pictures soon and am going to start a new savings account for a 950E.

You need to send it in to someone who specializes in vintage pieces. RGM is good but pricey. That watch should run to within 15 sec a day or better. Actually much better depending on whether it needs an overhaul and new mainspring or some new parts.

Actually whenever you get a vintage timepiece unless you know it was recently serviced that should be factored into the purchase. If its not lubed it will be damaged.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You need to send it in to someone who specializes in vintage pieces. RGM is good but pricey. That watch should run to within 15 sec a day or better. Actually much better depending on whether it needs an overhaul and new mainspring or some new parts.

Actually whenever you get a vintage timepiece unless you know it was recently serviced that should be factored into the purchase. If its not lubed it will be damaged.

Yes, I knew I would have to have them serviced. I am taking them to a watchmaker in Boston, Angelo Barone. He seems to have quite good references.

PS: Love that ticking.

Originally Posted by sparq

Yes, I knew I would have to have them serviced. I am taking them to a watchmaker in Boston, Angelo Barone. He seems to have quite good references.

PS: Love that ticking.

Good watchmakers who can work on mechanical watches and specialize in vintage pieces are about as rare as, well, a mint DD Wonderedge for a hundred bucks. If you have someone like that you are a very lucky man. Very often its like going to a barber for a shave, you wind up with a screwed up face or in this case a watch that never runs good again.

Good Luck and let us know how it works out.

If your considering a hamilton 950 the older 950 is the more elegant movement. If you want the more improved one get a 950B. The E just has the Elinvar spring.

He specializes in old vintage watches. He showed me an interesting 2974 movement (a WWII Navy variant of 992B with 17 jewels and Hack system) and was delighted to work on mine. Wish me luck!

Actually the 2974 is really a 974 not a 992. the military variant would be the 2992. Hamilton made several watches entirely for the military and those have separate classifications like the model 22. Those watches that had minor modifications they just put a 2 in front of the model number while the basic civilian watches have 3 number schemes.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Hamilton was pretty much the last man standing as far as U.S made pocketwatches went. The 992B was the culmination with the latest in technology and was accurate, reliable, easy to service and cheap. However it wasn't their true high end caliber though it was advanced. They used the 992B in many of the WWll watches made for the military services just that they had an additional number in front of the 992B like 4992B.

The early English watches were really something else. I have on from the 1700s and before the industrial revolution they were truly handmade with simple tools and produced one at a time. Unfortunately getting someone to repair them is near impossible and replacement parts must be custom made and hand fitted. That's why you can get one for maybe $300 or so. Hand pierced balance ****s and hand hammered Silver and gold cases with gold hands. They are all hallmarked with makers marks and assay marks and the guild location where they were made. Very well organized those English.

Yep!
After the US watch companies were selling out, Hamilton was buying them all until they finally sold to the Swiss.