N. P. Nelson is the boss' great grandfather-if anyone has one that may come up for grabs I'd be glad to know about it!
Most visitors online was 1990 , on 7 Feb 2022
Hamilton Private Labels, Please add to the list
- Thread starter Jim Haney
- Start date
Not far from where I grew up. For those Warner Bros. Fans, also the home of the Wishy Washy Washing Machine Co.
This just arrived, so no further info yet. "Mac Keller" Lock Haven, PA 1894-1895 935 HC SN 3606
Question; did all PL's have matching dial to movement?
Question; did all PL's have matching dial to movement?
The answer is no. However, most probably did. We can't really know about any particular watch. However, with all that said, the dial on this watch seems period correct so it is certainly possible that this dial was sold with this watch.
There are all sorts of possibilities from:
1) The watch came from Hamilton with this dial
2) The watch came from Hamilton with a PL dial but the customer wanted a Hamilton dial so the jeweler switched it for him
3) At some point after the watch was purchased with a PL dial the owner decided to have the dial replaced for whatever reason
4) At some point in its history, for whatever reason, the PL dial was replaced with a period correct dial on purpose or by dumb luck.
There are many PL Elgins that the dial is signed, and the movement is
not. I have seen far too many examples in all sizes to know Elgin
sometimes did not mark the movement. As far as Hamilton PL's
which was your question, John's answer above is spot on.
Rob
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Paxton's Hamilton - 18 size, grade 936.
This one is marked on the dial only. I have seen photos of other Hamilton watches with Paxton markings on the movement, but I have not been able to acquire one yet.
The Paxton family owned several jewelry stores in Northwest Iowa, specifically in Storm Lake and Sac City. My grandfather was a watchmaker for Paxton's in Storm Lake in the 1950's and 1960's; that's him on the right. This watch has 14 service marks on the case, but I cannot attribute any to him. I would like to think he worked on it though.
Allan
This one is marked on the dial only. I have seen photos of other Hamilton watches with Paxton markings on the movement, but I have not been able to acquire one yet.
The Paxton family owned several jewelry stores in Northwest Iowa, specifically in Storm Lake and Sac City. My grandfather was a watchmaker for Paxton's in Storm Lake in the 1950's and 1960's; that's him on the right. This watch has 14 service marks on the case, but I cannot attribute any to him. I would like to think he worked on it though.
Allan
192524 - Grade 924 for C. F. Schwing of Warren, PA.
925 143167 18s marked Buffalo only on the barrel bridge, and sold August 22, 1901to the Vander Vort Bros. jewelers of, Buffalo N.Y.
This was a "movement only" purchase (bought late December 2021) as the watch had been broken up to the usual, hands, dial, movement, and, case for separate sale. I didn't see any Vander Vort Bros. dial associated with 18s movements on auction, and the dial, hands, and case came from on hand spares. I used a Hamilton salesman's display case for casing the watch, which was probably how the Vandervoort's showed their customers the 925 back in 1901.
The movement is in great condition and my replacement dial has a repair on the outer edge at the lever which is pretty much hidden with the bezel on. I also forgot to replace the mismatched screw on the barrel bridge.
I didn't find too much about the Vandervoorts online outside of some mentions in the Jewelers circular and their name being in records of a suit in 1901 against the Watch Trust for rigging pricing and locking out jewelers from purchasing.
This was a "movement only" purchase (bought late December 2021) as the watch had been broken up to the usual, hands, dial, movement, and, case for separate sale. I didn't see any Vander Vort Bros. dial associated with 18s movements on auction, and the dial, hands, and case came from on hand spares. I used a Hamilton salesman's display case for casing the watch, which was probably how the Vandervoort's showed their customers the 925 back in 1901.
The movement is in great condition and my replacement dial has a repair on the outer edge at the lever which is pretty much hidden with the bezel on. I also forgot to replace the mismatched screw on the barrel bridge.
I didn't find too much about the Vandervoorts online outside of some mentions in the Jewelers circular and their name being in records of a suit in 1901 against the Watch Trust for rigging pricing and locking out jewelers from purchasing.
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Paul
You have done the right thing by that interesting Hamilton private label movement. You have incorporated it into a most acceptable timepiece, once more.
Whilst I certainly do not approve of breaking down watches for the separate sale of components, we all know that it happens. I freely admit to buying loose movements and to experiencing considerable creative enjoyment whilst reinstating them as watches. The end products are not "original" but they can be highly attractive, items to treasured - used and enjoyed.
I think many of us who appreciate these artefacts experience an urge to save worthy examples. Putting loose components correctly together involves the specialised knowledge that we share with each other.
Keep up the good work!
JBS
You have done the right thing by that interesting Hamilton private label movement. You have incorporated it into a most acceptable timepiece, once more.
Whilst I certainly do not approve of breaking down watches for the separate sale of components, we all know that it happens. I freely admit to buying loose movements and to experiencing considerable creative enjoyment whilst reinstating them as watches. The end products are not "original" but they can be highly attractive, items to treasured - used and enjoyed.
I think many of us who appreciate these artefacts experience an urge to save worthy examples. Putting loose components correctly together involves the specialised knowledge that we share with each other.
Keep up the good work!
JBS
Thanks John.
For me the most important thing of any watch I buy is the movement and it's ability to be a practical timekeeper, still keeping decent (at least as good as the hour and minute on my cell phone) time. Most of the watch movements I pick up still have dials, and hands, but that's changing fast, so I still keep trying to add dials, hands, and cases (to my spares Bull Pen) so that I can still cobble a decent watch movement from the online PW scrap yards. Generally I look for 17j and up movements from the mid 1890's to the end of the pocket watch post WWII where well over 95% of my collection lay
I will say, one watch that I never buy as a movement only are Illinois, as their sold separate dials don't seem to be nearly as common as the other U.S. major producers, and sometimes exceed the price of the associated movement as compared to Elgin, Waltham, and even Hamilton "Railroad Special" dials.
For me the most important thing of any watch I buy is the movement and it's ability to be a practical timekeeper, still keeping decent (at least as good as the hour and minute on my cell phone) time. Most of the watch movements I pick up still have dials, and hands, but that's changing fast, so I still keep trying to add dials, hands, and cases (to my spares Bull Pen) so that I can still cobble a decent watch movement from the online PW scrap yards. Generally I look for 17j and up movements from the mid 1890's to the end of the pocket watch post WWII where well over 95% of my collection lay
I will say, one watch that I never buy as a movement only are Illinois, as their sold separate dials don't seem to be nearly as common as the other U.S. major producers, and sometimes exceed the price of the associated movement as compared to Elgin, Waltham, and even Hamilton "Railroad Special" dials.
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75096 - 'F. A. Harriman, Waterville, Me.', Hayden Wheeler grade.
Here is 76534, another early (1897) Hamilton 16s Wheeler watch for F A Harriman. All original and somewhat weatherbeaten but in perfect running order and keeping wonderfully accurate time.
37217 - Grade 929 for Armel Bros., Holton, Kan.
32028 - Grade 926 Dickinson Special, Geneva, O.
15607 - Grade 937 for Harry P. Holmes of Des Moines, Iowa.
26797 - Grade 928 for Patridge & Co., Wellston, O.'
154507 - Grade 936 for F. D. Day & Co., Duluth, Minn.
4968 - 934 for D. D. Williams & Co.
494304 - 944 for C. F. Howard of Wakefield, Neb. (Will be keeping an eye out for a proper dial for this one.)
Hamilton 18s, OF 15j 928 18171(#18171). Finished 1/21/96 sold 5/23/96 to jeweler A.L. Bonewell Creston OH. Dial marked with name only. Movement marked with name, town and state.
The balance bridge on the early 928/929s had the simple Bosley regulator and bridge and they were soon replaced with with the familiar Goldthwaite type indicator, but lacking the machining for the micro adjustment parts, so it was essentially a simple Bosely.
The balance bridge on the early 928/929s had the simple Bosley regulator and bridge and they were soon replaced with with the familiar Goldthwaite type indicator, but lacking the machining for the micro adjustment parts, so it was essentially a simple Bosely.
351801 - 975 for Mawhinney & Ryan Co., Omaha.
288647 - 940 for L. Furtwangler of Greensburg, Pa.
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