Hamilton serials and dating

[Peter John]

I have a couple of Hamilton 982’s, 19jewel movements. The serial numbers start with a letter of the alphabet and then a number. I cannot find any info on the letters and the year they were used.. help please? Peter

 

[Jim Haney]

Peter,
To save space some companies used Prefix letters to take the place of several digits of numbers.
Get a copy of the "Complete Price Guide To Watches" and in the pages listing serial numbers they tell you what the letters represent such as M-001-to M-201900-982M
Elgin also did this and maybe more...

 

[Peter John]

Peter,
To save space some companies used Prefix letters to take the place of several digits of numbers.
Get a copy of the "Complete Price Guide To Watches" and in the pages listing serial numbers they tell you what the letters represent such as M-001-to M-201900-982M
Elgin also did this and maybe more...

I have those books. The info is in the pocket watch section. Also includes the letter serial. Doesn’t give the dates however

 

[Jim Haney]

After you convert the Letter to a number you take the serial number and look up the date that number was made from the serial number chart.

 

[Jim Haney]

The 982 used the letter "J" to save room. They started the 982 in 1935 and ended in 1951,so for 16 years,so you have J-001 to J-677580 , divided by 16 years, knowing that the production was the greatest in the first years and slowed down towards the end.in 1951.

 

[Peter John]

Where’s the information to convert the letter to a number? I must be seriously overlooking something. The price guide only gives the letter J and numbers going up just past 600+thousand and only refers the letter J to the 982. I don’t see any chart to date from that.

 

[Peter John]

Where’s the information to convert the letter to a number? I must be seriously overlooking something. The price guide only gives the letter J and numbers going up just past 600+thousand and only refers the letter J to the 982. I don’t see any chart to date from that.

So as I was typing my reply you post yours. Much thanks. I can work from that. Peter

 

[coronado]

For Hamilton, the J prefix doesn't stand for any numbers in the serial number. It is just a letter that Hamilton assigned to the 982 grade.

There is a serial number list under the "Research" section (tab at the top of the NAWCC page), then go to "Company Records," then to "Lowell Halligan Records," then "Hamilton Production SN." The dates for the 982 movements are on page 22.

 

[Jim Haney]

There is a serial number list under the "Research" section (tab at the top of the NAWCC page), then go to "Company Records," then to "Lowell Halligan Records," then "Hamilton Production SN." The dates for the 982 movements are on page 22.

Thank you for this information, I didn't know it existed, I am a PW guy, but now I know how to track down Hamilton WW serials numbers

 

[gatorcpa]

Try this website for pocket watches:

Pocket Watch Database: Information for American Pocket Watches

Info, specs, and value American antique pocket watches, with serial number lookups for manufacturers such as Elgin, Illinois, Waltham, and Hamilton

pocketwatchdatabase.com

They have information for most American made Hamilton wrist watch grades.
gatorcpa