992E

December 21, 2007, 15:17

Jerry Freedman

992E

I came across a 992E #2606551 in a base metal Defiance case. Don't jump on me too hard, but I switched the movment into a #10 Hamilton case. I think that the movement dates to 1936-37, and that the #10 cases were available in 1936. The dial is marked Hamilton only, and the numbers style is the same as is used on the Hamilton Montgomery dials of that era, but is not a Montgomery dial. This type of dial was shown in Hamilton's ads as late as 1934. Did I get the combination right, or have I created a Frankenwatch?

December 21, 2007, 17:34

Lindell V. Riddle

Jerry,

Your dial also sounds right. If I understand your description correctly that is the "BM" or "Blind-Man's Dial" as shown on left side in the image below this posting.

On the case, some are strong on keeping everything in "as-found" but like you, I would have made the change. Think of it this way, you buy a collector car that someone installed bucket seats from another make and put a scoop on the hood but you want it as close as you can get it to being the way it originally came. So you find a proper interior, the right hood and other correct components. Now, you have the real-deal. To me restoring authenticity is the way to go.

To my mind you made a real improvement.

Let's see what others say.

Lindell

Is your dial like the one on the left below?

December 21, 2007, 20:35

Edward L. Parsons, Jr.

By restoring the watch to a correct configuration, as it might have been originally sold, you made a definite improvement.

December 22, 2007, 11:22

Jerry Freedman

Yes Lindell, the dial on the left is the one on the watch.

Thanks guys.

December 25, 2007, 17:44

Clyde Roper

Jerry that sounds like a nice watch and I wouldn't lose any sleep over the case change either.

If my father had carried the watch with the other case for many years it would be different, but in this case- excuse the pun- I would make the change and not look back!

An image of the watch would be nice, too.