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Hampden 23j "NEW Railway" Hunter "Click" to Login or Register 
posted
Can any of you Hampden specialists enlighten me about my recent acquisition of a Hampden "New Railway" 23 jewel hunter. I have no info on Hampdens and the shugarts price guide shows an example of the New Railway 23j with a note (OF only) My serial number is 1056425. I am sure there must be a few more Hunters than just mine. What is the story?..........Thanks.......Keith
 
Posts: 198 | Location: Vermilion, Ohio in the USA | Registered: May 14, 2003
IHC President
Life Member
Picture of Lindell V. Riddle
posted

Keith,

The "Complete Guide to Watches" is not 100% complete but it is the best book of its kind ever compiled. Yep, you found one that simply is not listed. As you pointed out these watches do exist. However exactly how many were made will probably never be established.

Unfortunately the Hampden Production Records were apparently lost or destroyed (most likely destroyed) many years ago. But fortunately a group of Hampden collectors led by Bob Arnold and the late Jim Hernick compiled a data-base of serial numbers and descriptions that was published in their book "Hampden Watch Company" which gives us a pretty good glimpse at what was produced.

On page 133 of the aforementioned Hampden Book as part of their rather voluminous serial number listings we find two entries for 23-Jewel New Railway 18-size Hunters. Numbers 1056315 and 1056437 are the ones listed and of course your 1056425 fits in rather neatly between them.

Interestingly 1056031 is a 23-Jewel Special Railway 18-size Hunter and 1056551 is a 21-Jewel John Hancock 18-size Hunter. From that one is left with the impression your watch is probably not too common, which could probably account for why it does not appear in the watch guide.

Hope this is of help to you,

Lindell

Wink
 
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
IHC Life Member
RR Watch Expert
Picture of Ed Ueberall
posted
We have the following New Railway HC serial numbers in our database in the 1,056,XXX series: 246, 318, 397 and 437. The only other examples I could find were in the 1,151,XXX series, 728 and 884.
This does indeed seem to be a scarce movement.


Ed Ueberall
IHC Member 34
The Escapement
 
Posts: 620 | Location: Pooler, Georgia in the U.S.A. | Registered: November 23, 2002
Picture of Sheila Gilbert
posted
Hi Keith,
How about a picture of the movement! Please....
Please..... Please....


Sheila
 
Posts: 3094 | Location: La Plata, Maryland U.S.A. | Registered: May 22, 2004
posted
Sheila, Here are some pictures of the Hampden "New Railway" 23j Hunter. Please excuse the quality. I took them with room light and just holding the watch in my hand.

 
Posts: 198 | Location: Vermilion, Ohio in the USA | Registered: May 14, 2003
posted
DIAL

 
Posts: 198 | Location: Vermilion, Ohio in the USA | Registered: May 14, 2003
Picture of Tom Seymour
posted
Very interesting watch, Keith,. Thanks for posting it.


Tom
 
Posts: 2537 | Location: Mount Angel, Oregon in the U.S.A. | Registered: November 19, 2002
posted
I wonder if a Special Railway 23J 2-tone hunter may also be uncommon. I'm pretty sure I have one at the bank that I recased into a hunter case several years ago. I'll get the serial # and post it.
Tom Walker
 
Posts: 11 | Location: Forest City, North Carolina USA | Registered: April 14, 2006
Picture of Sheila Gilbert
posted
Hey Keith,
Great Watch!

I really like the look of this one.
I love the hands, those and Breguets are my favorite, and Fancy, and .......

I love em all I guess.
This one is especially nice to me. It looks so clean and well kept.

You should be so proud. Thanks for the photos.


Sheila
 
Posts: 3094 | Location: La Plata, Maryland U.S.A. | Registered: May 22, 2004
posted
Keith, Your 23J New Railway has the same neat frosted finish on the plates as my 17J version does. When clean, those frosted plates really sparkle.

Tom

 
Posts: 1060 | Registered: March 10, 2003
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