Internet Horology Club 185
Interesting Hamilton 940 Private Label (Fred McIntyre)

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/1173990967

December 29, 2011, 13:55
Jerry King
Interesting Hamilton 940 Private Label (Fred McIntyre)
Just received this one from my brother and would like to have as much info as you Hamilton experts can give me....

The watch dial reads Fred McIntyre on first line and second line it looks like "So. McAlester I T"....

What is interesting is my brother lives in Oklahoma and there is a McAlester to the East of where he lives and when this watch was made, according to the Gelson list, it was 1902 and Oklahoma was Indian Territory (I T) up to 1906 when it became a state....

Tom may be able to used his data base and see if he can find a 'Fred McIntyre' in McAlester, OK during this time frame....

Here is the dial view of the watch....

Regards,

Jerry


December 29, 2011, 13:59
Jerry King
Here is the movement view of the watch....

"Made Expressly for Fred McIntyre By Hamilton Watch Co."

Serial number is 160134....

Thanks.

Regards,

Jerry


December 29, 2011, 14:13
Tom Brown
Jerry, nice watch!

I will have to do some searching, I have run across that name before.

In the 1900 US Census for Distruct 83, South McAlster, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory there was a Fred McIntyre born Feb 1871 in Pa., he is listed as a jeweler. He is married to Lida W. (April 1873 Illinois).

Neat watch being marked with the Indian Territory dial!


Tom
December 29, 2011, 14:23
Tom Brown
Jerry

You might google his name, I did using Fred McIntyre jeweler. I found information showing he partnered with Charles DeLong (of the Delong escapement) and they formed the McIntyre Watch Company listed on page 318 of the guide.

Tom
December 29, 2011, 14:24
David Abbe
Jerry, that must have a story! What a nice piece for restoration.
December 29, 2011, 14:42
Jerry King
Thanks a million Tom, for the info and I agree Dave, this has a special story especially with the Indian Territory (IT) on the dial....

I will call you Dave....

Regards,

Jerry
December 29, 2011, 15:08
Mike LaForest
Jerry! That dial/movement is so COOL! I wonder if there are any other private label dials around like NM and AZ that are identified as "Territories"...
December 29, 2011, 15:19
Edward Kitner
Jerry, I like private labels and that one is unique! Cool
December 29, 2011, 17:03
Tom Brown
This is an ad for his business there in South McAlester. It is from a newspaper called Our Brother in Red & is dated May 4, 1898

01

December 29, 2011, 18:34
Jon Hart
Jerry -

Love the 18s Hamilton movements, and the 940 is just such a nice movement, and then a private label on top - lucky you.

Today, I stumbled across a 18s Hamilton with a very interesting name (Hart) on the movement. I would like to share in your post. Hope it is ok...


December 29, 2011, 20:25
David Abbe
Nice looking! Any Relation to our welcome new member Jon?
December 29, 2011, 20:59
Jerry King
Very nice looking Jon and David beat us all to it....as he always does Wink,that would be an interesting tidbit if true...?

No,Jon, I don't mind that you showed yours as well, perfectly ok....

How does the dial look...?

It looks like both watches need work from the position of the regulator on both....in the same position....

Regards,

Jerry
December 29, 2011, 21:08
Lorne Wasylishen
It makes me happy to see someone acquire a nice piece like that, good for you Jerry.
As usual, superior sleuthing by Tom.
December 29, 2011, 21:22
Tom Brown
Jon

If it helps to determine if Frank might be a relative, he had his store in Tacoma, Washington. According to census data he was born about 1864 in Illinois.

Also it appears he purchased serial numbers 418201-418204 and is listed as Frank C. Hart Tacoma Wa.

This image is from the 1895 Tacoma City Directory

Tom

Tom

01

December 29, 2011, 22:22
Jon Hart
Jerry -

The movement caught me by surprise because the dial on the watch was a standard Hamilton double sunk dial.

David -

Not sure, but it made me do a double take today Smile

Tom,

Born in 1864 in Illinois sent chills up my spine. I am going to guess Northern portion of the state. The bulk of our family (Dad's side of course) is from the upper Western Portion of IL. WoW! Does your data provide a city within IL?
December 29, 2011, 22:45
Tom Brown
Jon, after I realized it shows you are in Illinois it got me to wondering.

In the 1900 census in Tacoma Frank is listed as being born July 1863. His father is listed as being born in Vermont & his mother in England.

Another person shows his father as Charles but I have yet to confirm that by any records. No city yet in Illinois.
December 29, 2011, 22:51
Tom Brown
Well it appears that in 1910 his father was a widower and had moved to Tacoma & was living with Frank. His father is listed as Charles F. Hart born about 1824 in Vermont & both of his parents were from Connecticut.

Also for the record Frank is married to Jennie & in 1910 they had the following children;
Walter A 1893 Wa.
Joyce M. 1895 Wa.
Vincent S. 1898 Wa.
Ellena J. 1902 Wa.
Clinton F. 1904 Wa.
December 29, 2011, 23:01
Tom Brown
Frank might have been from Harlem, Stephenson, Illinois.

Tom
December 30, 2011, 17:55
Lorne Wasylishen
I would never think to look up a private label in the Fat Book but after looking at the presentation, page 318 is about the McIntyre Watch Co.
December 30, 2011, 20:07
Jerry King
The information that is given on pg. 318 is not regarding private labels it is regarding the watch company that Fred McIntyre and Charles DeLong formed and produced only a very few watches. That is why everything is 5 star watches on their page.... but according to information in the Power Point Presentation Tom Brown found earlier today, they also made 14 size watches and nothing was said about 12 size....

Here is that presentation of the McIntyre/DeLong in The McIntyre Watch Company....

Regards,

Jerry
January 01, 2012, 12:30
David Abbe
Jerry Thank you for bringing forth a most entertaining and informative presentation.