Projected Hamilton 992B Movement Numbers...


C001-C13000..............................1940-1941*
C13001-C37900..........................1941-1942
C37901-C62800..........................1942-1943
C62801-C87700..........................1943-1944
C87701-C112400 .......................1944-1945
C112401-C137500......................1945-1946
C137501-C175000......................1946
C175001-C199800......................1947
C199801-C254500......................1948
C254501-C281400......................1949
C281401-C310200......................1950
C310201-C352800......................1951
C352801-C385800......................1952
C385801-C408300......................1953
C408301-C415500......................1954**

C415501-C423600......................1955
C423601-C441700......................1956
C441701-C448400......................1957
C448401-C455000......................1958
C455001-C461700......................1959
C461701-C468400......................1960
C468401-C475000......................1961
C475001-C481700......................1962
C481701-C488400......................1963
C488401-C495000......................1964
C495001-C501700......................1965
C501701-C508400......................1966
C508401-C515100......................1967
C515101-C521800......................1968

C521801-C525300......................1969***

All with "4C Prefix".....................1970****


* According to a Hamilton sales catalog the new 992B was planned for public introduction October 15th 1940.

** Last Officially Recorded Numbers, compiled from Hamilton Factory Records on the John F. Gelson Listing.

*** Taking into consideration the highest known number C525258 which is also rounded to next hundred.


Colonel George E. Townsend stated that the last Hamilton Railroad Watch was a 992B bearing C525169 movement number. That one was reported to have been cased and presented to Hamilton Watch Company President Arthur Sinkler in December of 1969 marking the end of regular production. Interestingly, we have found a higher 992B production number C525258 thanks to Samie Smith, scroll down to see an image displayed. But as you'll read below neither C525169 or C525258 was really the end, there were post-production 992B movements assembled.

**** During 1970 the last American Railroad Pocket Watch movements were assembled. Although guestimates run as high as several hunderd we may never be certain how many or how few of the "4C Prefix" Serial Numbered 992B examples were put together at Hamilton using material essentially left over from the last 4992B U.S. Government Contract. To many collectors these "4C Prefix" 992B movements from that final "clean-up run" represent the last Great American Railroad Grade Pocket Watches. As such, they occupy a unique place in our hearts, minds and collections.

There are also a very few genuine "S Prefix" 992B examples that should be considered. Whether or not the "S Prefix" examples are genuine, when and where they were put together along with other circumstances surrounding them has long been debated. But indeed some correct "S-Prefix" examples assembled using left-over 950B pillar plates do exist and when they can be shown as having been properly assembled of correct components these should be included as well. Sound information on this and other matters of interest is always helpful in establishing and adding to the record.


NOTE: All number sequences from 1955 through 1969 are estimates open to re-interpretation.


Everyone,

The reason for formulating and publishing the above listing is to reference Hamilton information previously available and then also provide a year-by-year movement number "guesstimate" heretofore unavailable for the remaining years of Hamilton 992B Watch Production. Hopefully the above list and this forum will assist in spurring debate as well as additional sharing of information and any available documentation particularly for the post 1954 years.

We have plenty of room to push, pull and adjust the numbers. Anyone with recollections, receipts, invoices or any other information to contribute is encouraged to do so. Unfinished plates and the numbers on them are also interesting and they play a role in this fascinating subject as well. Your comments, questions and theories are always welcome here.

We are all learning something new every day,

Lindell

[Latest revision July 14th 2004]

Did I read somewhere that the last 992B made is in the NAWCC Museum?

The latest Hamilton 992B that I have in my collection is: Movement S/N #C505968 - Case #17 S/N #R689103 - Dial is Melamine, BM Numerical, "Montgomery" Hamilton Railway Special.

Here is the latest 992b i have movement s/n C525258 .the case is a model 15 s. steel s/n P583024 with a H.G. Melamine dial that's marked Hamilton Railroad Special.

If you have not noted, the dating has been 'tweaked' some from the first posting.
this was based on the following information ... note, the dedications cannot verify when a watch was made, but when sold...

C466548 R871459 Case 17 case back engraved "Sept 6, 1958"...

C457713 R797489 Case 17 379 DIAL inscription on back "O C Gibson Master Bessimer Lodge 458 1958-1959"

C435694 R598228 Case 16 HAMILTON WATCH CO DEDICATON DATED 6-23-56 SOLD WITH FLIP BOX

C423197 R511546 Case 16 1-24-03 LAST SEEN 379 DIAL SOLD WITH FLIP BOX 11-02 BACK ENGRAVED 'mae sellers winterfed sellers dated 1-23-56 +++++ 1-24-03 WATCH SHOWED UP AGAIN RECASED IN 16 CASE SERIAL NUMBER R230656, STILL HAS FLIP TOP BOX, AND 379 DIAL

C420469 R490789 Case 16 dedication engraved "7-10-57" "last trip from the crew"

The watch C440495 is the watch I am the second owner of, the original purchaser wrote in on the guarantee paper in his own hand "purchased 11-26-1956 parker miller " (Parker-Miller Jewelers, Lexington, NC) it has its original boxes, labels, etc..

4C145554 P583417 Case 15 1971 UNSOLD WITH PACKING SLIP DATED 12-01-1971

Terry, For your records, here are my two 992b's. (1) C-322,256, Case-R-187086. Case is model 15 SS. Dial is standard melemine Hamiliton Railway Special.

(2) C-175,495, Case-K-149,054, Model 11 case with porcelain SS Hamilton 080 dial. I have shown a pic of this on this mb.

I know both are all original, but can not substantiate when they were purchased.

Tom

Thanks a million everyone,

The watch on Terry's list shown in bold type was a big help. That one along with other such information that surfaced provided a "benchmark" toward the end of 1956 to help work movement numbers both ways. The post 1954 number listings in the big chart above will continue being "tweaked" as more information becomes available.

Lindell

Hey Guys,
This forum is a great addition to the 185 site. I hope in the future we can have a specific forum for other watches. Thanks Lindell.

Lindell,

The information I have is that Serial number C525,169 was presented to Hamilton president Arthur Sinkler in November 1969 in a presentation ceremony.

Thanks to Samie Smith's example we can see that production didn't end at the presentation watch.

This was not the end however as they had Military parts in stock to finish about 700 992B with 4992B parts and finished in November of 1970. The machinery was then dismantled and stored.

I would venture to say that many watches were made up of regular C------ plates past the C525,169 and the rest finished with 4C------. Also, white gold caps were used on the 4C------ movements.

Did the 4c number 992b,s that were finished from 4992b plates have the holes in the trian bridge ..In the 4992,b there is a small plate attached for the whell that runs the sweep second or hack hand.. I have saw several 4992,b that were converated to 992b,s but there will be the small holes in the plate by the center wheel...
thanks
samie

From what I have seen, these late "clean up run" watches used a standard 992B train bridge and lacked the additional holes for the SS bridge.

Yes, a converted old watch would have the holes where the SS bridge was removed... and some may still retain the hollow center pinion for the SS hand, depends on who did what.... (or am i wrong on this?)

Yes a CONVERTED 4992B would have holes in the plate, because of some unorthodoxed conversion. But the last series 992B's were regular production watches with a 4992B dial plate so the only noticeable difference would be the 4C------ serial number and White Gold caps.

Hamilton or some jobber made a conversion kit to convert 4992B's into 12 hour watches with a 12 hr. dial and hour and minute gears. I can't verify that it was Hamilton product, but I own some examples with this kit on them.

Enough of this stuff on the latest 992B I want to hear or see some of the earlist numbers! Any Cxxx or Cxxxx numbers out there?

Hey Jim,

I know there are earlier numbers than this, but I will get it started. Hopefully others will post. You can see the serial numbers on the early first signature movements use a smaller font than you see on later serial numbers.

Rob

Rob,

This is a very early number and I was wondering if the movement had any other markings. Some movements within several hundred of this have military markings such as U.S. Army or U.S. Govt.

This is within the first year of production. Thanks for documenting this for the group.

My earliest 992B.

No "military" markings.

i will post a few, but give me a day or so... been a snakin a drain.......

Rob,
please send some info to add to database .... unless you already have... i am behind in posting to the computer...

Jim,

No "military" markings. Just a standard 1st signature movement with the fancy script Hamilton Watch Co. U.S.A marking.

Terry, I will send the information on to you.

Rob

jim,
i believe terry has this information in his data base but i have #'s 3866, 6104, 8153, 8217, & 8926, as well as 4c145949 & 4c146586.
regards to all
fred

Fred,

You're the one who started us moving on establishing this forum when you posted the four basic non-military "992B Signatures" shown below.

Thanks for raising our awareness!

Lindell

Fred,

Thanks for those numbers. Are your 4C's in a blue pull apart box?

I talked to your Dad at the National and he seems to be doing much better. He had a good show and he was happy.

For everyone's information Fred's Dad deals in Hamilton military and if you need parts or help or complete timepieces or wooden boxes this is an excellant source.

Rob, thanks for checking on the movement markings.

Phil, that is an early number C8805. Thanks.

Within the next week or so I will post some numbers from the blue cardboard boxes that the 992B's and 950B's were packaged in with the yellow label on the end that has the watch number and case number and dial type etc.

These are empty boxes and all they need is a watch to match the numbers! I have about 24 of them and maybe we will get lucky and match a watch.

Keep the examples coming.

DOES ANYONE KNOW, WHAT IS THE EARILEST SERIAL# KNOW OR BEEN RECORED ON THE 992B..

DOES SOMEONE HAVE THE FRIST ONE MADE.

Samie,

I own C583 and I may have an C8xx number...

I lost a bid on C283 on ebay before I started my database ( i believe it was year 2000)

I think I know someone that may have C328........

And then there are the 'twins'.... I promise to post them soon.. just a bit disorganized right now..

C001.... Hmmmm wonder if it is at columbia?

Terry
I have always wondered if C001 was in a collection ,,or it may be at Columbia.

I would like to put a 500.00 bid in on C001 if you find it...do you think Lindell would bid again me..



I have a early one i belive it is number c204 i will go to the bank in the next few days ,when i do i will get the watch and post up a picture of it..

**** Samie, I would bid agin you on that one...

C 204... yes, by all means please post!

U remember me from Ft. Mitchell @ breakfast?

First of all I have to apologize for the poor images... will try to do better....

Here are the twins... C616 and C617 ... I believe Original movements to cases.... model 11's

Forgot I had this one... again a crappy pic...

Model 10 case..

TERRY
YES I REMENBER YOU FROM THE FT. MITCHELL SHOW..

ARE YOU COMNING TO THE LOUISVILLE KY. SHOW I WILL BE THERE..

no l ville for me, cannot schedule... next attempt will be chattanooga.. and will attend mid eastern regional in Oct.. (it is close!)

Interesting research... I have a question on the numbering.. Would the earliest number be C1 or C01 or C001 ??? Would it be C50 or C050...

John Pavlik

John,

No one can answer your question for sure until we see a single or double digit example.

All of the record book ledgers say C001. The same for all the B series watches. Ex:
K001-2974B
2K001-2974B
4C001-4992B
3C001-3992B
P001- Mod. 23
ETC.

I would venture a guess or speculate that this would hold true or why post it in the record books as they did.

I agree with Jim, ledgers show C001.... unless you have the one marked "model"

Terry, Not Yet, but I'll keep lookin ... It's probably located here in Wis, thats why you haven't seen it yet....

John