Gentlemen, I bought another Hamilton 992 but this one

[A.F.W.]

is in a hinged open face case. This is the first Railroad watch that I bought in such a case. Front bezel is hinged as are both back covers.
So question for you, are these cases rare for a railroad watch ?
The case is marked C.W.C. Co.

[Kent]

Not at all. Many railroad standard watches were put up in hinged back & bezel cases. This is especially true prior to the mid-1920s when Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton and Illinois began to sell complete watches, using screw back and bezel cases.

Instructions to watch inspectors in the first couple of decades of the 20th century included a section reminding the inspectors to ensure that the hinges for were in good conition and that the back and bezel fit tightly.

[Robert Sweet]

Your case was made by the "Crescent Watch Case Co."

Robert

[Tom Huber]

To further add to Kent's reply. Yes, rr men did normally seek out a screwback and bezel case. They were more dust tight than the hinged ones. But, one must remember that not all rr grade watches like the 992 were purchased for rr use. I have a very nice 992 in a hinged back and bezel case from around 1911. Mine is in excellent condition, in it's original case with only one service mark in the back. From it's nice condition, and lack of frequent service, I would doubt that mine was used in rr service. Probably carried by a gentleman who worked in an office.

Tom

[A.F.W.]

To further add to Kent's reply. Yes, rr men did normally seek out a screwback and bezel case. They were more dust tight than the hinged ones. But, one must remember that not all rr grade watches like the 992 were purchased for rr use. I have a very nice 992 in a hinged back and bezel case from around 1911. Mine is in excellent condition, in it's original case with only one service mark in the back. From it's nice condition, and lack of frequent service, I would doubt that mine was used in rr service. Probably carried by a gentleman who worked in an office.

Tom

Well since there are 2 covers on the back of this hinged case, I would venture to say that they keep the dust out just as well as the screw back.
I see only one mark of service. The watch is running about 15 sec. fast per day. I would say this is pretty good for a watch this age !!
Serial 1729169

[Kent]

I didn't have access to these earlier today, so here they are now:

A hinged back & bezel case shown in a 1912 Ad (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/1912_Dec_FT_HBB.jpg) for what I think is a Father Time, and in a 1910 Ad (http://photos21.flickr.com/35155733_3891105e60_o.jpg) for a Ball Official RR Standard.

[A.F.W.]

I didn't have access to these earlier today, so here they are now:

A hinged back & bezel case shown in a 1912 Ad (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/1912_Dec_FT_HBB.jpg) for what I think is a Father Time, and in a 1910 Ad (http://photos21.flickr.com/35155733_3891105e60_o.jpg) for a Ball Official RR Standard.


Here are some pictures:
http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged1.JPG
http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged2.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged3.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged4.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged5.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged6.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged7.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged8.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged9.JPG

http://www.afinewatch.com/images/hamil992hinged91.JPG

[Kent]

Oh, it's a Hamilton! (which you said in the topic header, but I somehow missed it)

It's a nice watch!

Take a look at what Hamilton was marketing in 1912 (from Duke University's Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850 - 1920) "... built to meet the most exacting requirments for correct time by the railroad employee (http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/images/eaa/A/A04/A0499/A0499-03-lrg.jpeg), mechanic or professional man."

[Don Dahlberg]

It is hard to see in photographs, but I think I see other case screw marks. If so, then the case has been switched.

Don

[Greg Frauenhoff]

FWIW. a famous RR watch with a hinged bezel, but screw on back, was the early Sangamo Special by Illinois.

[Kent]

Well said Greg! I'd forgotten about the Sangamo Special. Here's a 1926 Illinois Ad (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/1926_Mar_SS_HBB_Case.jpg) showing the Sangamo Special in a hinged, double back and bezel, stiff bow case.

[Robert Sweet]

Afinewatch,

FYI, your 992 movement, serial number 1729169, being a part of a 1000 unit lot (1729001-1730000) went to the "Finishing Dept." , Sept. 20, 1923, according to the "Hamilton Finishing Dept. Records". According to Don Dahlberg, (research volunteer at the NAWCC Library), 992 movements in this time frame were completed in about 1 month after leaving the "Finishing Dept".

Cases, such as yours, were prohibited from being marked with a "Warranty, i.e. 15, 20, 25 Years" after 1924 by the US Government. After 1924, cases were marked gold-filled, rolled gold plate, etc.


Robert