Here is a 992B I recently came across that has stirred my interest and I wanted to post it for your comments and observations.

No tricks here, I just want to know what you think.

The case back is engraved "In Memory Of The Employees On The L.S.&I.R.R." I believe this would be the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad.

Wadsworth case #H416967. Movement #C65284.

I don't want to post any of my own thoughts yet. Just seeking yours. So what do you think?

Very nice watch, interesting hands.

Hello David,
I believe the cross bar and diamond hands have shown up enough in the early 992b runs to be a legitimate original... if not an original request.

The I.R.R could be for Interlocking Rail Road ... as far as the LS...? Very good looking watch

David,
Thanks. The case and movement looks great. Although different than what we nornally see on a 992B, I think the hands also looks very nice.

Thanks for sharing.

Robert

As nice an example as this is, I'm more interested in the engraving. "In Memory of..."?

What an odd thing to have engraved on your railroad watch! I sure would love to know the rest of THAT story.....

Regards! Mark

L.S. & I.R.R. is probably the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad.

One other thing I noticed about this watch was that it's got the second signature movement markings, which is the least common of the four signatures.

FWIW I have a second signature 992B in my collection with the same diamond-crossbar hands and I've seen diamond-crossbar hands on a lot of other WW2-era 992B's as well, so I'm inclined to think they could very well be original.

Just for reference, I have C65718 in my collection. It is also in a Model 2 case which has serial #H620552. In contrast, the dial on my watch is the same as that on most, if not all, 2974B watches (the so-called #082 "Export" dial), including the baton hour, minute, and second hands.

What I'm seeing, in line with the comments from Lindell, Ed, and others, is a mix of components during the 1943-1944 time frame, which would be consistent with the theory of Hamilton using what it had on hand due to wartime shortages.

Best regards,

Mark

This is a very interesting watch to me because of the apparent use of leftover and "make do" parts during the war emergency. Very educational.

Like Mark, I'd love to know more about the inscription, too.

I found this factoid on a website for the LS & IRR Railroad-- the name was changed in 1949:

"The name was changed from Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad Company to Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad Company. Also this year, the LS&I acquired one-half interest in the C&NW"

Here's the website: http://www.i2k.com/~dpierce/LSI/

So far no luck on finding a tragedy or anything about the line that might relate to the inscription.

The diamond cross-bar hands were evidently used by Hamilton sometime prior to 1932 as they are listed in "Swartchild's Catalog" with a Hamilton part number (589).

Robert

Everyone. Thank you for your comments. I am actually considering this watch as a wholesale purchase to re-sell. The watch is stored in a ivory cig box as well as a cardboard outer box. There is a normal label on the outer box but no numbers and on close examination, the numbers actually appear to have been removed so I am obviously not about to assume the boxes to be original, albeit, they are certainly correct. My suspicion would be that the current owner thought the watch worthy of storing in a box and found this combination along the way to keep it in.

Condition wise, this is a very clean, crisp example showing very light signs of wear. The engraving is bold and sharp.

When I first saw the watch, the hands struck me as odd. Like most of you however, I have seen this dial/hands combination before but wasn't certain that they would be considered acceptable in this combination. Hence, my desire to post it for your consideration.

Secondly, like Mark stated above, that is an unusual engraving statement on the back. The fact that it was posted in "memory" of the employees certainly entertains the posibility of some sort of tradgedy. Unfortunately, I have been very hard pressed to find anything in my research that lends itself along these lines.

I don't have any interest in collecting this piece personally. I am considering its purchase along with several other pieces, as a grouping, and will probably re-sell it. If any 185er's have an interest, I will be glad to give them first shot at it. Feel free to contact me.

Thanks again for your comments and any additional thoughts are certainly welcome.

David,
Would you care to post a close-up image of the outer box label?

Thanks,
Robert

Hi Robert,

I'll be glad to. I am at work right now and won't be able to do it until this evening once I get home. Will post a shot ASAP then.

My father has worked for the railroads for over 43 yrs now and he often refers to the good old days, saying everyone was considered a family. Fathers got their sons, and grandsons jobs with the rail company in question because they were familiar with the schedule of a railroadman.

My thoughts on the inscription is that maybe the Railroad company in question bought a small run of watches from Hamilton to present to the wifes and children of the employees of the LS & IRR that lost their lives in action during WWII. I know this was a common pratice for companies after the war. It would make ones children much more willing to begin a career with dad's former employer.

I like that idea, but considering the timing that this watch was supposedly made during the war and the shortages we KNOW took place, was Hamilton accepting these kind of orders for non-war related watches? They were having a hard enough time meeting the requirements of the war effort, let alone having the time and materials to make memorial watches for a railroad. With this watch being made in 43-44, we were getting hammered during that time period, so there wasn't much room for this kind of work, I would think.

To me, that scenario would make more since if it was made in, say, 1946 or 47, AFTER the war was over.

Just thinking out loud.

Regards! Mark

Here is a picture of the outer box with label that the watch came in when I received it.

David,
What are you asking for this 992B?
Tony

David,
This is a box for a No. 16, R.G.P. (rolled gold plate).

Thanks for sharing.

Robert

The typed information does appear to have been erased, but the R.G.P. (rolled gold plate) marking printed on the label tells me this outer box doesn't match the Case #2 this watch is in, since that is 10K gold-filled.

This label/outer box would have to go with a 992B in a Case #16, which was rolled gold plate and came out in 1951.

Oops, I guess Robert and I were typing at the same time!

I had noticed the RGP markings on the dial which increased my suspicion that it wasn't original. Nice to know what case should be with this box.

Tony, the watch alone is $700.00. As a package, with the inner/outer boxes, I need to get $1,100.00. Currently, it is on hold.