Hamilton #'s??

I have a Hamilton that has the numbers 914 on the movement.. what does that mean... also the serial # 1839120 it says its a Lancaster? 17 jewels adjusted 3p

[Robert Sweet]

Hello DadsTimeShop,

You have a Hamilton, Model 914, open face, pendant set, 17 jewels, 12 size, adjusted to 3 positions movement.

Your particular movement was made in 1918. There were 43,099 model 914's made between 1912 and 1923.

According to a Hamilton reference, the 914 is larger than the conventional 12 size movements and requires a special made case.

Robert

was 914 a model? I looked it up there are two 914 in the guide.. but how do you tell if its 14K? its says on the inside lid..."Hamilton" and then some design under that "Quality" and the the word "permanent"

Thanks

[rrwatch]

The "permanent " marking on the case indicates that the case is gold filled , rather than solid gold. Just as the 5, 10, 20 and 25 year markings showed the length of time that the case was guaranteed not to wear through to the brass core underneath, the permanent cases were guaranteed forever, or at least until the manufacturer went out of business.
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[Robert Sweet]

Adding to Ed's nice comments.

Below is a Hamilton "Timekeeper", from abt. 1918 showing the 914 with the various cases available.

Robert


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[Don Dahlberg]

A little on the three positions. A what has six positions, dial up, dial down, pendant up, pendant right, pendant left and pendant down. It talkes a great deal of engineering and adjusting to get a mechanical watch to run at the same rate in all six positions. It is easy to get the watch to run at the same rate dial up and down. You just have to make sure the two pivots (axles) that the balance wheel ride on are smooth and oiled properly. To get a watch to then keep the same rate in the pendant positions is much more difficult. You have to poise or balance the balance wheel like you balance the tires on your car. You also have to shape the hairspring so that is flat and a perfect spiral. Where the hairspring attaches to the balance and to the bridge that holds the balance has to be shaped just right. This was very labor intensive. A three position watch just meant that enough effort had been put into the movement to keep approximately the same rate dial up, dial down and pendant up. More expensive watches were five position adjusted, meaning they also kept to within standards in the pendant right and left positions. Some watches were good to all six positions.

Your watch is also a 12 size. In the mid to late 19th century the 18 size watch was popular. It is easier to make and adjust a large watch. That was a rather large watch. Through better engineering in watch and tool design they were able to mass produce 16 size watches of quality by the end of the century. By the 1920s and 30s the 12 size watch was the most popular pocket watch. Your watch was made as the 12 size was beginning to become popular. The catalog posted by Robert above tells how thin the watch is.

Don

[terry hall]

was 914 a model?

914 was a technically a grade rather than a model....