Hamilton 992 First Run Model 1A

[Karl Burghart]

Got very lucky to have snagged this. 992 serial 302198. I'll post some better photos tomorrow. I'm not sure how significant first run watches in general but I'm sure happy to have it. Any idea how many of the first 100 are accounted for?

 

[Fred Hansen]

Nice find and congrats!

 

[terry hall]

Congrats, have you confirmed single roller?
can we see more of it?
ED or Kent may can share sightings of first run 992... i likes em too

 

[musicguy]

I agree very nice find


Rob

 

[rrwatch]

I picked up S/N 302,125 a couple of years ago. We also have in our database

302,301 (Private label for Fred E Hull, Saranac Lake, NY)
302,510
302,666
302,770 (Private label for William H Mellor)

in the first run of Grade 992. None list if single or double roller except for 302,125 and 302,770 which are both SR.

Karl, if you will show us the dial and the inside of the case back I will add your watch to the database that Kent and I maintain

 

[terry hall]

Question to the masses...
Is the first run specifically a block of 100 movements 320101 to 302200 or expanded from there?

 

[rrwatch]

All of the 302,XXX series in our database are Grade 992 and are listed above with nothing in between (including Karl's, 6 examples).
Serial numbers 303,113, 184 and 253 are listed in our database as Grade 971.

 

[rrwatch]

Here are photos of 302,125

 

[Karl Burghart]

Thanks everyone. I'll get more photos up tonight and confirm single roller.

 

[Jim Haney]

Question to the masses...
Is the first run specifically a block of 100 movements 320101 to 302200 or expanded from there?

The finishing record indicate

302101-302200 992 3-04-1903
302201-302300 990
302301-302900 992

 

[Jim Haney]

Karl,

This thread has the 5th and 25th 992 made,

They should be all single roller until 308701


Early Hamilton 992

 

[Karl Burghart]

Here are better photos. Needs major cleaning!

 

[terry hall]

The finishing record indicate

302101-302200 992 3-04-1903
302201-302300 990
302301-302900 992

Yep, thus my question. on what is 'really' first run....
Remember my 'mini' serial number list? it shows the same breakout... with the 990 grade in that 'slot'.

Finding examples in that first 100 is not easy...

I'm a bit surprised with the single sunk dial on Karl's...

 

[Jim Haney]

All 992 were produced with Double Sunk dials.so Carl's got a face lift along the way

 

[Karl Burghart]

All 992 were produced with Double Sunk dials.so Carl's got a face lift along the way

View attachment 511610

Jim, I'm not trying to be picky but the reference you posted says "almost all". That being said I doubt it is the original dial.

 

[John Cote]

Jim, I'm not trying to be picky but the reference you posted says "almost all". That being said I doubt it is the original dial.

It's a great watch and I agree with you Karl that it almost certainly is not the original dial. Even if it is, nobody will ever believe that it is and perception may or may not be important. Finding a proper dial should not be too big a deal though...if that's what you want to do.

 

[Jim Haney]

Jim, I'm not trying to be picky but the reference you posted says "almost all". That being said I doubt it is the original dial.

Karl,
The reason for the "almost all" statement is that Hamilton #1 Goal was to satisfy the customer, and in doing that if a company wanted their watch order to have metal dials. etc. they were more than glad to accommodate.

 

[Karl Burghart]

It's a great watch and I agree with you Karl that it almost certainly is not the original dial. Even if it is, nobody will ever believe that it is and perception may or may not be important. Finding a proper dial should not be too big a deal though...if that's what you want to do.

Jim, Could not agree more. I'm going to check my stuff for a dial first and it came with a beat keystone siveroide case that has extra screw marks I'll need to replace as well. It seems the 4 foot DS dials are not that hard to find. I hope I have one in my parts watches.

 

[179]

I think the " almost all " covers P/L dials, as many are single sunk. Hamilton was very active in the P/L market. Ken, have you checked the ledgers for the original purchaser?

 

[Karl Burghart]

I think the " almost all " covers P/L dials, as many are single sunk. Hamilton was very active in the P/L market. Ken, have you checked the ledgers for the original purchaser?

Yes, the buyer was Sterling Ellbogenler spelling? Looks like he bought 2. https://nawcc.org/images/stories/Hamilton/LedgerPages/300001-400000/302101-302151.pdf

 

[Rhett Lucke]

The handwritten entries are not always the easiest to read. I believe the agent would have been Stein & Ellbogen Co. out of Chicago.

 

[Rhett Lucke]

Here is SN 302156

 

[179]

Stein & Ellbogen co. was a large agent in Chicago who bought many watches from Hamilton, some could have been P/Ls. The most likely reasons I see for this watch are #1, a damaged D/S Hamilton Watch Company dial being replaced. #2 a undamaged P/L being replaced to possibly make it more salable. #3 a damaged P/L dial was replaced.

 

[Karl Burghart]

The handwritten entries are not always the easiest to read. I believe the agent would have been Stein & Ellbogen Co. out of Chicago.

Duh, I can't read!

 

[179]

The writing in the ledgers ranges from fair to downright unreadable. These entries were not made by the same person. This is a wonderful asset to have, and although he is no longer with us the thanks go to Arthur Zimmerla, who if I am correct dug them out of the trash. For many Hamilton P/W collectors this alone is worth NAWCC membership.