Gentlemen, I just purchased an interesting 992B

[A.F.W.]

The movement dates to 1943 - 44 and is marked U.S. Gov. 21 jewels adjusted to 6 positions and temp. The dial is enameled singlr sunk with red 24 hour markings in the center and only HAMILTON as signature. J.Boss 10K gold filled case. So who was issued these types of watches?
Thanks in advance.

[A.F.W.]

The movement dates to 1943 - 44 and is marked U.S. Gov. 21 jewels adjusted to 6 positions and temp. The dial is enameled singlr sunk with red 24 hour markings in the center and only HAMILTON as signature. J.Boss 10K gold filled case. So who was issued these types of watches?
Thanks in advance.

[Norman Bliss]

In Marvin Whitney's book "Military Timepieces" he says "This open-face watch was primarily an Ordnance-purchased timepiece and issued to the Corps of Engineers for railroad use. The case was either nickel or base metal with a screw back and bezel."

The cases of these watches were marked on the back with information such as purchasing agency, mfr & part no. If yours isn't so marked, it may have been recased. Whitney also says these watches were subject to Navy comparing watch spec 18W3c.

[doug sinclair]

Norman,

Welcome to the NAWCC Message Board. And thanks for your contributions! Always glad to have another "watch nut" join the discussions. I have the Whitney book on marine chronometers, and it is a treasure trove of information. I'm not lucky enough to own the Military Timepiece one, but maybe someday! I understand the chronometer book is out of print, and highly sought after by many unlucky enough not to have one. Mine is signed by the author, and I treasure it!

[Don Dahlberg]

If you watch was produced during WWII, the NAWCC Library has the Hamilton Ledgers for that period. If you are a member of NAWCC, you can send the serial number to research@nawcc.org and request the date of completion and sale. We have the account number to which it was sold, but we do not know to whom the account numbers belong.

If you have the contract information on the back of a military case, then we can also provide information on the contract and to whom watches were shipped. This was usually a military distribution center (Like Wright Patterson) and it just gives the number of watches sent to each location under that contract.

Don

[terry hall]

It appears by your description your watch has already been recased...

so the contract number would not be available... and the ledger would most likely show a 'number' instead of a retailer for the selling info.

as described above, the 992B watches marked 'US GOVT' are in a base metal short pendant case i believe manufactured by Keystone, with engraved info on the rear cover.

Most examples seen have a 'numerical' single sunk dial marked "hamilton" in block letters. the 24 hr dials are seen on these also.

what is your movement serial number?

[A.F.W.]

Hi:
Thanks for all the replies. The serial number is C87562

[A.F.W.]

Here are some pics. Your opinions please.
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR1.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR2.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR3.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR5.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR6.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR7.JPG
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR8.JPG

[Kent]

The prescence of a second lever slot at the 56 minute position indicates that the case was a "universal" replacement case, available in the 1950s. I don't see any other case screw marks, so its likely that the movement (with its correct dial) was placed in the case when it was "liberated" from government service.

[terry hall]

how about one more shot... the inside of the case back showing the markings....

[A.F.W.]

Here you go:
http://www.oniva.com/upload/1523/hamil992B24HR9.JPG

[Kent]

Gee, it looks like a social security number. Maybe you can use it to trace the person who had the movement put in that case. Maybe he worked in a military railroad battalion during WWII.

[A.F.W.]

yes, it looked like a social sec. number to me.
I don't think I will be looking for this guy. If he is still alive he must be in his late 80s.

[Robert Sweet]

At least you know at some point in his life he lived in Virginia.

Robert

[Norman Bliss]

Doug, thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking for quite a while, and figured its time to get rid of that "new registration" karma.

As a chronometer and navigation maven (see my link), I need both books, and got them new (at discount). Wish I'd been able to talk to Whitney; I'd love to know where he got some of his information. The books aren't big on bibliographies and footnotes :biggrin:

Finally got myself a 992B, and am very happy with it. It's a model 15, so it's not as pretty as afinewatch's, but it'll do.

[terry hall]

Agree on SS# thing...

I was looking more for the case mark to determine 'if' it was one of the restrike cases from the 70's....

this does not appear to be one of them...

kent, looks like a possible 50's era case to me.... similar to some of the late ball case markings....

[A.F.W.]

I received an e-mail from someone who read these posts and thinks that they know the identity of the previous owner of this Hamilton.
Here it is:
"I looked up this SS# and it belonged to Robert G. Lassiter, b. 24 August 1912 and died 17 Sept 1999, with last address in New Mexico., issued in Virginia. I did a Google search on this person and it seems he or someone with the same name, built a road to Raleigh NC. If you do a google search on the name you will find lots more information. Perhaps this is how he came into possesion of "gov property". "

[Tom McIntyre]

Here is an example with the original case and markings, etc. It is a bit later with sn C51329.

992B Ordnance Watch (http://www.awco.org/Chronometers/992BOrd/992BOrd.htm)

[pocwatjim]

Tom,
Your example is correct except for the dial.

They were issued with a 024 dial. A single sunk Montgomery type and a few 24 Hour Canadian types.