Great timing. I just open a package delivered by DHL from the Pook & Pook Auction. I won the Hamilton Model 22 Chronometer oo . Serial Number 2F9049 puts the production date in 1941. It now joins my Hamilton Model 23 and 4992B. Now on the hunt for a Model 21 and a 3992B. I'll post pictures when I get time to take them. Nutjob
As you can see by the number of posts I've made, I'm new at this game. I've used this website to see production information of my watches. Is there a better one? https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2F9049 Thanks for your help. Barry
Barry, those websites are useful but it's important to understand that they're based on a mix of: Imperfect records that the companies kept or published (e.g., serial number lists); Estimates/guesses/extrapolations made by various collectors at various points of time. The quality of the records that survive from different companies is variable (both across companies and across time within the same company), and the quality of the extrapolations also varies as well. So the databases are a starting point, but far from the last word. In the case of Hamilton, the company's detailed production ledgers survive, the NAWCC Library has them, and they are accessible to NAWCC members. See this page. I'm guessing that's what 179 used to date your Model 22.
Any idea what the Sold to Code represents in the Hamilton Ledger. Beside my serial Number I see 64-12805.
I don't believe that anyone has found the complete answer to the Hamilton "sold to codes" but the 64 prefix is believed to be a U.S. Government contract. As the Naval Observatory was purchasing chronometers at that time, for military service, that is probably the best answer until more information is found.