The Hamilton Pocket Watch Company
Look up your Hamilton serial number here.
The Hamilton Pocket Watch Co started its long life in 1874, then known as the Adams & Perry Watch Manufacturing Co. E.F. Bowman made the first production movement in April 1876, and the company concentrated on an 18-size standard watch. The first Hamilton Pocket Watch rolled off the line after Charles Rood and Henry Cain formed the company in late 1892.
Railroad Heritage
Testament to the quality of Hamilton's watches is the fact that most ended up being purchased for railroad use. By 1923 approximately 53% of total production was Railroad Grade. Most railroad watches are fitted with a 42-hour mainspring.
Wristwatch Production
Hamilton ventured into wristwatches in the early 1900s. They arrived later than rivals Elgin, Waltham and Illinois, but their initial small offerings are quite rare today and pre-1920 examples are highly sought after. After acquiring the Illinois Watch Company in 1929, Hamilton produced a series of watches that proved enormously popular with the public, establishing them as one of the top prestige watchmakers from 1929 to the early 1950s.
The 992B — Hamilton's Masterpiece
Hamilton continued producing fine quality pocket watches until about 1969, when it stopped production of its 992B 21-Jewel Railway Special — arguably the finest American railroad movement ever made. Hamilton still makes watches today, but all are Swiss-made.
Key Hamilton Railroad Grades
| Grade | Size | Jewels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 940 | 18 | 21 | Early railroad standard |
| 950 | 16 | 23 | Top-grade 16-size movement |
| 992 | 16 | 21 | The most common Hamilton RR grade |
| 992B | 16 | 21 | Final version; highly collectible |
| 950B / 950E | 16 | 23 | Rare and extremely valuable |