Hamilton 992 - Please Help Identify

[dossne]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Hamilton 992 pocketwatch (My First). After reading a bit on this and other pages, I was curious to find out more about the watch I have purchased.

Here is what I know:

It is a Hamilton 992, Double Roller, non-elinvar, in a Model 4 case, manufactured in 1932. The Movement # is 2445890 and Case # is 443026.

I uploaded pictures as well.

Any information that you could provide from this and the pictures would be appreciated. I am new to this and I am trying to learn what I can. Is it normal to be a non-elinvar in 1932...? What would a watch like this be valued at? Thanks -Nick

[burnz]

I think your post would be better served under the American pocket watch forum!

[harold bain]

Hi, Nick, welcome to the message board. I am going to move your thread down to the American Pocketwatch forum for better exposure. Good luck with your quest.

[Robert Sweet]

Hello Nick,

I, too, welcome you to the American Pocket Watch message board.

First, your nice (second) model 992 was produced in 1927 and not 1932 as you first thought. My information comes from the Hamilton Watch Co. records.

The (first model) 992 was introduced in 1903. With a few changes, the (second model) 992 was introduced Feb. 1, 1915.

The (third model) 992 Elinvar was introduced in August, 1931.

Your movement was one in a "run" of 1,000 movements that went to the "Finishing Dept" in two separate groups on 12/3/1926 and 1/29/1927. As mentioned above, your movement was completed in 1927.

Your case, the model 4, was produced by the "Fahys Watch Case Company". The model 4 was first introduced to the wholesalers, Oct. 6, 1927.

Robert

[terry hall]

Robert has covered things very well for you... and welcome!

The dial on your watch is called BM Numerical... the BM stands for 'Blind Man' according to hamilton literature

the watch to me seems to be in the configuration it left the factory... factory cased... the only 'proof' would be the original box lable

the inside of the case is marked 10K gold filled, it sold for sixty dollars new...

if marked 14k gold filled, it sold for sixty-five dollars new.

The model 4 is one of Hamilton's Iconic designs...

Protect that bow from additional wear if you can... the engravings on it are the first to go usually and condition overall takes that into consideration.

[Robert Sweet]

What would a watch like this be valued at? Thanks -Nick

Sorry Nick, as shown in the upper right corner, no values or appraisals are permitted.

On-line auctions, i.e. Ebay, can give you some indication as to the value of your watch.

Robert

[Kent]

Hi Nick:

Here are a couple of ads for the Hamilton 992 in the No. 4 case. I was unable to find an ad that pictured the Montgomery Dial (http://mb.nawcc.org/showwiki.php?title=Pocket+Watch+Dials#Montgomery_D ials).

[Veritas]

Thanks for posting the old Hamilton ads, very interesting.:)

[Robert Sweet]

Hi Nick:

I was unable to find an ad that pictured the Montgomery Dial (http://mb.nawcc.org/showwiki.php?title=Pocket+Watch+Dials#Montgomery_D ials).

Kent,

Below is the No. 4 with the Montgomery Dial (http://mb.nawcc.org/showwiki.php?title=Pocket+Watch+Dials#Montgomery_D ials) or referred to by Hamilton as the Marginal Minute Dial.

Robert

[Kent]

Great picture Robert, thanks!

[terry hall]

Thanks Robert... but to clarify...

that is the HA Numerical... (heavy arabic)....

[Robert Sweet]

Thanks Robert... but to clarify...

that is the HA Numerical... (heavy arabic)....

Terry,

Yes, thank you. In my previous post, I had the intentions of typing "Safety Numerical" and from memory incorrectly typed "Marginal Minute".

In the 1911 "Timekeeper", the "HA Numerical Dial" is referred to as the "Montgomery Numerical Dial", and in the 1919 "Timekeeper" the "Montgomery Safety Numerical Dial".

Thanks again for the correction.

Robert

[dossne]

Terry, Robert, Kent, Veritas and Harold - Thanks so much for the information you all provided. I am glad to know a lot more about the watch. I bought it at a jewelry store from a lady who's father had died (who owned the shop and did watch repair) and it had been one of his watches.

I am surprised to see that it is from 1927 instead of 1932 - That is great to know :-) I know from schematics what a "double roller" looks like, but what is it and what does it do? Also, Is this watch a rather common one? I am just glad to have it and to have found a new interest.

Thanks again for all of the pictures and information and any more is appreciated! Thanks -Nick

[Kent]

Nick:

The double roller is a second roller table, notched to clear the lever's safety pin. This is to prevent the lever from moving until the impulse pin is between the arms of the fork. Several glossaries, or descriptions, of watch terms are available online:
CWR Technical Pages (http://www.cwrnh.com/techpages/cwr_technical_pages.htm) on the Carignan Watch Repair Company, Inc. website.
The Time Zone has an excellent Glossary of Watch Parts (http://www.timezonewatchschool.com/WatchSchool/Glossary/glossary.shtml),
The Horology WebRing offers The Watch-Collector's Paradise (http://www.datacomm.ch/rbu/index.html),
The Watch Cabinet has A Brief Glossary of Technical Terms (http://www.horologia.co.uk/watchglossary.html).

The grade No. 992 movement is an extremely common one. In rough numbers, including the version having an Elinvar balance, there were over a half a million made over nearly a forty year period. The No. 4 case is one of the less common of the factory cases in which the No. 992 was sold as a complete watch. The Montgomery dial, although fairly common, isn't seen as often as other types of pocket watch dials. In case you weren't aware of it, the lever-set version of the Hamilton Watch Co. grade No. 992 is a railroad watch, univerally accepted for use in railroad time service.

You have a nice example of a No. 992,

[dossne]

Thanks for all of the information Kent :-) I am going to look at the sites in regards to watch terms and lingo in order to learn more. I appreciate all of your help and hope you have a nice afternoon.

-Nick