Hamilton 992 Question

[java1214]

Hello,

I recently bought a Hamilton which is marked 992 and double roller. It has early damaskeening and the two screws holding the crown wheel on. Would this be considered a first model? I thought they were not usually marked with 992 and double roller.

Thank you

[java1214]

Hello,

I recently bought a Hamilton which is marked 992 and double roller. It has early damaskeening and the two screws holding the crown wheel on. Would this be considered a first model? I thought they were not usually marked with 992 and double roller.

Thank you

[rrwatch]

When Hamilton brought out the Grade 992 in 1903 it was originally a single roller escapement and was not marked with the Grade number. The Grade 990 was the 16 size double roller movement and had a slightly fancier finish than the 992. However, the 992 proved popular and Hamilton eventually dropped the 990 and changed the 992 over to a double roller escapement. What really confuses things is that Hamilton apparently refitted the double roller escapment and in some cases engraved the "992" and/or "double roller" on a number of the early movements. They may also have supplied replacement roller tables and pallet forks to jewelers so that they could make the conversion for watches already in service. As a result, finding a single roller 992 can be difficult as therre are not that many around. My understanding is that any 992 that has the double screws holding the crown wheel are considered Model 1 movements, regardless of wherther they have three or four dial feet or a single or double roller escapement.

[java1214]

Ed,

Thanks for the information! It is a little confusing. Had to read it a couple of times. When Hamilton converted the first run to meet railroad standards, did they add/alter the serial number with a letter? Also, do you happen to have the serial numbers of the first run?

Thanks again for your time.

[Jon Hanson]

302,101 ???

[Kent]

Hi java1214:

Hamilton's first run of 992s was 302101-302200. Its highly unlikely that any of these (or quite a few afterwards) were modified to have a double roller escapement prior to leaving the factory. However, once Hamilton decided to make all 992s with a double roller escapement (serial number 379000 is frequently mentioned as the cutoff point), any 992s remaining in inventory were changed and, one major researcher reported that when 992s were returned to Hamilton for repair, these were also upgraded. There was no change in the serial numbers when this was done.

P.S. There is an article on the 992, which discusses this subject, in the June 2001 NAWCC Bulletin, pages 357-366.

[Don Dahlberg]

If you can provide us with the serial number, we should be able to give you a good estimate of the date it was finished.

Lowell Halligan's history of Hamilton movements lists the following changes on the 992:

First ones to the Finishing Room - First Model - 320101 - march, 1903.
Last ones to the Finishing Rom - First Model - 1092301 - April 1914.
1904 - 308701 - Double Roller - Deduction - 700 Single Roller*
1912 - 880001 Three-foot dials - Three pin blance cock
1913 - 1070701 - New style winding hub - (One Screw)
1914 - 1085801 - Second Model - Gold center wheel and gold meantime scews - New Pattern damaskeening

* Elsewhere it says "First Model. Probably 700 of these were fitted with single roller escapements."

Also notice that the last First Model was 1092301 and the first Second Model was 1085801. That is the way things were. Not everything happened in numerical sequence.

Don Dahlberg