Could someone tell me how often 23 Jewels appears on a 950B dial. Was it standard or optional?? Early or late ??

Thanks
John Pavlik

THANKS Lin.....

Lindell,

Have you ever seen the 950B in this style case (Model 11)?

I have seen the 17 and A [on 950B], and also the mainliner for the 950E

V/r

Jon

Although anything is possible, I don't think so. I don't recall any of the 950B advertisements floating around advertising anything other than A & 17 for the "B".

Does case/movement year match? Dial and shoulders suggest are pre-1948 so that's a good sign. I'm interested in what others have to say.

Different watch - same case

and the wrong second hand (hard to find)

Jon and Lindell, nice watches!

That looks almost like an Elgin second hand Jon.

I just may have the correct one. Shoot me an email.

Regards,
Larry

The 950B was also available in the #2 case. Here is a portion of page 24 from the Hamilton 1952 catalog.

Robert,

So, there were at least 3 cases for the 950B

#2, 17, and A

Jon,

The model # 2 cases in the advertisements for the 950B are 14K Natural Gold not gold filled. If Hamilton ever put a 950B in a model # 11 case the only way to verify it would be by a matched box set. Early on Hamilton did not advertise the 992B as being available in a model A case but we know by original boxes serial numbers that it was possible to get that combination long before it was advertised. It appears one of your 950B watches has a porcelain-enamel dial so most likely the only option, to put together a correct combination, is a model A case depending on if the dial is correct for the movement.

RR

Thanks Richard,

The 1st picture is one I purchased, and the second photo was found searching the internet.

The #2 solid gold case would be a huge factor for 950B. Therefore, the % of them in that specific case would be low - I would think

Thanks for your information!!!

V/r

Jon

Nice to see this very interesting topic with additional insights, hope this helps...


Jon,

For clarification, please insert the movement numbers and case numbers in your post in this topic or provide them in a separate response.

In answer to your question, the two 950B in Case 11 you shared above are the only two that I have seen, we have no such combination recorded in any of our data. That is a big part of why we need the numbers and recommend the movement and case numbers always be posted when we discuss a watch, particularly ones such as yours from the "factory cased" time-frame. The fact your cases have "high shoulders" is important as that puts them as being from 1948 or earlier ("No High-Shoulders after about K220000 in 1948")and therefore having movement and case numbers is the first step toward authentication.


Robert,

Your advertisement makes it clear that in the early 1950s it was possible to purchase a 950B fronting a "Numerical" dial. We presume that means a "Blind Mans Numerical Dial" number 379 (see "Case & Dial Identification") which in 1952 would be of melamine composition. But I still think most collectors will strongly prefer a "23-Jewels" marking on a 950B in their collection. I sure would enjoy seeing and recording an original label verifying an authentic 950B with a "Numerical" style dial.

As I posted in 2004 at the beginning of this topic... Generally speaking, most collectors will tell you the Hamilton 950B should be equipped with a dial marked as "23-JEWELS" to be accepted as correct. Whether or not there were any were actually sold with unmarked dials is debatable.

Here we are more than eight years later taking the same position.


Richard,

Your reasonable conclusion is based upon the way it is expressed in that 1952 advertisement, but for what it's worth we do have two recorded examples of 950B in Case 2 as follows...

950B number S5258 in RR Presentation Case 2 number J114374 shown below (Dates to 1949)

950B number S8363 in 14K Solid Gold Case 2 number J273366 (Dates to 1950)


Be well my friends,

Lindell



Interesting 950B in YGF Case 2 from 1949 production...

I had a 950B in solid 14K gold #2 case pictures should be here somewhere as I had it listed here and Fred in Daytona bought it. Link

That's right Rob!

With your example we then have 1948, 1949 and 1950 which could indicate they may have sold a few 950B movements in Case 2 during that time frame.

950B number S4105 in 14K Gold Case 2 number H999100 (Dates to 1948)

We will be updating the database with added sightings including the one you referenced.

Lin and/or Richard et all;

Do you think by "numerical dial" they may be referring to the "Railway Special-23 Jewels" numerical or Blind Man's 950B dial above in this post rather than the 992B numerical dial? Did they make this dial available in 1952? Just a thought...

Lindell, I have a 1955 950B with that numerical dial in #17 case I believe to be all original. Even the case is minty on the watch with the original brushing. I don't believe it was ever carried. Its identical to the one you posted.

How do we know that dial in your post wasn't available until the 60's?