Hamilton watch details

[terry hall]

Allan,
Your information shows this is a grade 926, 18 size, open face Hamilton watch.

My serial# list shows this to be the 53rd watch in the run from 1912-1913.

The other information seems to show you have a Sterling silver case, approximately 3 ounces. [that is the #3]

There were about 80,815 926 movments produced from 1900 to 1923. The 926 is described in old cataloge listings as being
adjusted to temperature. I see no mention of position adjustment. The watch is a medium grade watch. I do not think it was accepted for time service. There are other threads on the boards concerning this, also there is an EXCELLENT article in the newest BULLETIN about the Railroad Time service. [kudos to Kent and Ed !!!]

If you note at the top of the page, we cannot discuss values here. You could search ebay or other websites to see some realized prices.

Good luck with the watch. Carry it, put it in the safe, show it off, get it cleaned every couple of years, give it to grandkids or great grandkids....enjoy it.

[Alan Walker]

To answer the question concerning acceptance for time service, early 924s would possibly have met the minimum standard of excellence set forth by W. C. Ball in his instructions to watch inspectors dated Jan. 10, 1906, Instruction No. 3. It required a minimum of 15 jewels, Breguet hairspring, patent regulator and be adjusted. The instruction does not define what it means by "adjusted." However, it cites the Waltham Crescent Street and Elgin B. W. Raymond as being representative of movements that meet these requirements.

Certainly they would not have met the requirement for new watches, which required a minimum adjustment of five positions, temperature and isochronism. Only the 938, 940 and 942 met that requirement under that schedule.

[doug sinclair]

Alan,

Why would the 944 and 946 not be included in these standards as well?

Regards,
Doug S.

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[John Cote]

And the lowly 936


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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
http://www.interstatetime.com

[This message has been edited by John Cote (edited 10-17-2001).]

[Alan Walker]

I'm not certain why the 936, 944 or 946 were not listed in the schedule of approved watches. One possibility is that they were grandfathered in under the provisions in Instruction No. 3.

Another consideration is that in Instruction 4-B, Ball discourages the purchase of 21, 23 and 24 jewel watches due to "impaired efficiency and safety" as a result of their "complicated" and "delicate" construction causing them to get out of order more easily.