Internet Horology Club 185
Hamilton 912 Secometer with Rotating Seconds (And Others!)
June 24, 2009, 04:03
John J. Flahive IIIHamilton 912 Secometer with Rotating Seconds (And Others!)
Recent purchase. This is a Hamilton 12s with a digital rotating seconds. Serial number is 3398475. What I liked about it besides the rotating seconds was the like new condition of the case. The dial has a few age spots, but I was happy to pay $155 for this beauty.
John III
June 24, 2009, 04:04
John J. Flahive IIICase Back
June 24, 2009, 04:04
John J. Flahive IIICuvet
June 24, 2009, 04:05
John J. Flahive IIIOutside Case Markings
June 24, 2009, 04:05
John J. Flahive IIICuvet Markings
June 24, 2009, 04:06
John J. Flahive IIIBow and Crown area
June 24, 2009, 04:08
John J. Flahive IIIMovement
June 24, 2009, 08:15
Dr. Debbie Irvine
Nice watch John!
June 24, 2009, 10:28
Phillip SanchezJohn, I was looking at that thing. I am proud that you have it.
It is interesting and the price was right.
June 24, 2009, 10:34
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.Cool watch John!
Best Regards,
Ed
June 24, 2009, 19:04
Mary Ann ScottThat's a neat watch, John. You don't see many with that rotating seconds. I like it!
June 25, 2009, 00:07
Jerry KingVery nice looking watch, John, and the seconds bit is very unusual....Instead of a hand moving on a seconds dial, the entire seconds dial moves against a stationary indicator....very quaint, indeed....
Regards,
Jerry
June 25, 2009, 00:36
Lindell V. Riddle
These are interesting watches.
Hamilton began producing them in 1929 and sold this "Secometer" dial configuration as both Illinois and Ball-Illinois in addition to Hamilton brand examples. Not long after Waltham introduced their version, all four makes were sold into the early 1930s popular then and fascinating today. South-Bend had a fully digital pocket watch in development at the point when they closed production at the end of 1929 and we believe less than 100 were actually finished.
Below, a page from the 1931 Hamilton "Time Book for Railroad Men" where one of these is promoted 
as an "Off-Duty" choice in dress pocket watches.June 25, 2009, 06:38
Cecil McGeeI also have the Waltham version. It is also in a Wadsworth case,but it reads Waltham,Wadsworth. It has a rigid bow,and nice artwork on the case. I was trying to get one of each,Waltham,Hamilton,Illinois,Ball,and I even have the Dollar watch version,called the Sentinal Click,by the E. Ingrahm Co. I didn't have any luck finding either the Illinois or the Ball versions. I guess they are pretty rare.
June 25, 2009, 06:39
Cecil McGeeThe back
June 25, 2009, 06:40
Cecil McGeeThe movement
June 25, 2009, 07:37
Steve MiddlesworthNice watches,
I have seen a few of the Illinois ones...... anyone have a picture?
Steve
June 25, 2009, 08:58
John J. Flahive IIICecil,
Nice Waltham. The area where you read the seconds is, I think, a little easier to read than the Hamilton.
John III
June 25, 2009, 14:38
Cecil McGeeHey John,
Thanks. I kinda like the Waltham a little more than the Hamilton,plus I have had it for a long time and kinda attached to it a little more than the Hamilton. The Hamilton is worth more,according to the book,but I guess my values don't always follow book values. I think this is the last Hamilton that I have. Seems hard to believe that less than a year ago I had over 30 Hamiltons.
June 25, 2009, 17:35
Robert SchusselFor a short period of time Hamilton,Waltham Illinois and Ball offered watches with rotating seconds.
I think one reason that they were only a fad is that they are harder to read .
Below are two pictures of some of these watches. The first is of Illinois and Waltham I own.
Most of the rotating seconds Illinois came in this unusual shaped case. Also what is unusual is the condition of the dial--most show a lot of oxidization.
The Waltham looks brand new except for a small ding on the back of the case.
June 25, 2009, 17:49
Robert SchusselBack cover of Waltham
June 25, 2009, 17:52
Robert SchusselIn original box
June 25, 2009, 23:23
Ethan LipsigHere are photos of my Waltham and Hamilton rotating seconds watches. Starting with the Waltham, here is the dial of a circa 1923 21j Colonial-B in 14k.
June 25, 2009, 23:24
Ethan LipsigMovement
June 25, 2009, 23:25
Ethan LipsigHere is the Hamilton in a Farragut 14k wgf Wadsworth case.
June 25, 2009, 23:56
Robert SchusselEthan
You always have nice examples.
My experience is that the Hamiltons were most likely to come in a white gold filled Farragut case--I have also seen a few in green gold.
Bob
June 26, 2009, 00:35
John J. Flahive IIIBob/Ethan,
What beautiful examples as usual! Pristine as the day they were made. Gorgeous!
Here is my other Hamilton 912 with rotating seconds. Serial number is 3404437. The dial on this one also has some spots, but the case and movement are nice.
June 26, 2009, 00:36
John J. Flahive IIICase Back
June 26, 2009, 00:38
John J. Flahive IIICase Markings:
Wadsworth
Quality
14 Karat Gold Filled
0403866June 26, 2009, 00:43
John J. Flahive IIIMovement
June 26, 2009, 06:54
Ethan LipsigNice, unusual case!
June 27, 2009, 17:52
Lindell V. Riddle
Here is the Ball-Illinois with Secometer or as Ball called it "Rotor Second" dial.
Of the something like 5,000 watches completed as Ball-Illinois apparently only a small number were sold with Secometer style dials because they rarely surface. The one shown below, movement number B402366 is in a seldom seen case design which features the hour numbers enameled onto the bezel rather than the dial.
Ball-Illinois Rotor Second with unique design case...June 27, 2009, 19:10
Ethan LipsigLindell's just posted Ball Illinois 12s watch is the only the second example I have seen.