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4 Footed vs 3 Footed Hamilton Dial question. "Click" to Login or Register 
IHC Member 1610
Picture of Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
posted
This is about the 4 footed Hamilton 16s dial. Did Hamilton make a DS 4 footed porcelain 16s dial with the block letters?

I have seen plenty with the "Hamilton Watch Co." in script and I have seen plenty of 4 footed dials with "Hamilton" in script. Now I have seen one 4 footed dial that is signed "Hamilton" in block letters. Would that be an after market dial?
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Georgia in the USA | Registered: September 22, 2011
IHC Member 1508
posted
Hey Harry! Good to hear from you again. According to Lindell, Hamilton didn't begin using the block logo until 1918. I am pretty sure that they went from 4-footed to 3-footed dials before then. (But, I could be wrong...again). So I would be a little suspicious. Regards, Brad
 
Posts: 956 | Location: Wenatchee, Washington in the USA | Registered: December 14, 2010
IHC Member 1291
Picture of Buster Beck
posted
Hamilton inventory included 4 footed SS & DSD's with the upgraded BLOCK signature thru the 1920's era.

regards,
bb
 
Posts: 6376 | Location: Texas in the USA | Registered: July 27, 2009
IHC Member 1610
Picture of Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
posted
Thanks Brad How you been doing. I thought as you did about the 4 footed dial until I saw one and I was leery even though it looked like the real McCoy.
Buster says they made the for footed dial into the 20's and since they switch to the block letters in 1918 then I guess it was the real McCoy.

Thanks Buster.
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Georgia in the USA | Registered: September 22, 2011
IHC Member 1508
posted
I've been pretty good Harry. Just got back to work after a 5 month hiatus. Wifey put her foot down on my buying anything watch related for awhile. I've got 2 that I need to send down to our friend Chris for COA's, which I'll do after I get a cash reserve built up again. And I noticed you were gone for awhile. Like I said, I could be wrong on these dials. Hamilton must have made some 4-footers later on for replacements on their older watches that took them. Regards, Brad
 
Posts: 956 | Location: Wenatchee, Washington in the USA | Registered: December 14, 2010
IHC Member 1610
Picture of Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
posted
Hi Brad yes I was gone for almost two months getting ready to do a gem show doing the show and then putting everything away again. The show did not do well at all for anyone. I will not be trying that again for a while.
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Georgia in the USA | Registered: September 22, 2011
IHC Member 163
Picture of Mark Cross
posted
A seemingly silly question, I know, but I'll ask it just the same....was the change from a 4 footed dial to the 3 footed design due to cost cutting reasons, or a movement design change?

Regards! Mark
 
Posts: 3838 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
IHC President
Life Member
Picture of Lindell V. Riddle
posted

I think simplicity had a lot to do with it Mark.

To my knowledge no other watch manufacturer used four feet on their dials and the 18-size Hamilton movement, which was their first product had three-footed dials. On their Hamilton 18-size the Open-Face and Hunter dials interchanged and the change-over of 16-size to three-foot configuration permitted the same flexibility* there. The change-over began around number 872000 for the Grade 992 during 1912 production and not long afterward three-footed dials were phased-in for all 16-size movements.

Those later "Hamilton" block-letter signature dials produced in the late 1920s that Buster correctly referred to were made for replacement-in-service on older watches as Brad surmised. Hamilton was always good about supplying replacement parts but at times some of them can cause confusion.

*What was used on early hunters escapes me Roll Eyes at the moment.

Lindell

Wink
 
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
I have a 1907 HC Hamilton 991 number 361246 with a 4 foot dial that is in rough shape.

I have another 4 foot dial with the script, but the problen is that the 991 has "Hamilton Watch Co" on the dial, not just "Hamilton"

Did Hamilton make a dial that just said Hamilton on the 991?

Regards,
Larry
 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Member 1610
Picture of Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
posted
Larry there are a lot more members more knowledgeable than I but here is my understanding. I understand Hamilton made the switch from "Hamilton Watch Co." signature to "Hamilton" in 1904. I would not be surprised to see an early 1905 Hamilton with the HWC signature but I would think by 1907 they would have switched over. The 991 takes the same dial as the 992 and as far as I know the 992 signature was switched over by 1907.

I would think one of two things could be wrong here with your dial (or nothing), The date archive could be wrong and your watch may be made in 1904-1905 or maybe someone changed the dial.

A watch over 100 years old live a long time for things to get changed on these beautiful old watches.
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Georgia in the USA | Registered: September 22, 2011
IHC Life Member
Picture of Larry Lamphier
posted
Thanks Harry for that info.

I have a perfect 4 foot script Hamilton dial that will look GREAT on it and make it a very nice looking watch!

With only 2500 of them made it will be a keeper for someone!! Smile

Regards,
Larry
 
Posts: 2733 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: February 28, 2010
IHC Member 1610
Picture of Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
posted
You are welcome Larry. Yes I think the 4 footed "Hamilton" script DS dial would be better on it. I can't wait to see it.

Harry
 
Posts: 3858 | Location: Georgia in the USA | Registered: September 22, 2011
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