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
Posts: 1755 | Location: Colorado in the USA | Registered: October 17, 2005
Very 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
Posts: 2828 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: June 23, 2008
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.
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
I 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.
Posts: 475 | Location: Gainesville, Florida in the USA | Registered: January 22, 2009
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.
Posts: 475 | Location: Gainesville, Florida in the USA | Registered: January 22, 2009
For 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.
Posts: 621 | Location: Vallejo, California U.S.A. | Registered: July 10, 2004
Here 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.
Posts: 1414 | Location: Pasadena, California USA | Registered: November 11, 2005
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.
Posts: 1755 | Location: Colorado in the USA | Registered: October 17, 2005
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...
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
It is interesting and the price was right. 
as an "Off-Duty" choice in dress pocket watches._.jpg)
