And to make this even more fun, (For me at least), I shall forever and always refer to Stainless Steel as "BASE METAL."

Some time ago, I acquired a Very Nice 1946 Hamilton 992B in a No. 3 Two-Tone Wadsworth Case. As I found out, (along with many who already knew), the bezel and the back of this watch's case was "Stainless Steel." Inside of the Back, however, it is marked as "BASE METAL." This always seemed sort of "funny" to me because I always thought Base Metal to be "Pop Metal" as in chrome trim on earlier automobiles. This was just one of the "different" things I found with this watch.

The other "different" thing was that watch faced up with a 080 Dial. Since acquiring it, I read somewhere on the Site here a Factory Memo that explained the presence of a 992B Factory supplied with a single sunk "HAMILTON" block lettered dial. Having this Dial made it more attractive to me because it is "different."

This Dial is Porcelain, (Probably because there wasn't Melamine in use in 1946). It intrigued me because somewhere in the back of my mind, I sort of "knew" all 992B's had "Railway Special" dials when they came from the factory. I was wrong!

If someone knows where that Factory Memo regarding the use of Single Sunk Dials due to a shortage of Dials, could you please Post It Here?

Here is a picture of the movement with the Serial Number, (1946), to view.

Now to get to the Title of this Post, here is a picture of the Maker's Mark on the inside of the back of the Case. Also the Case Serial Number is plainly viewable, a match for the Movement's year.

The Two Words, "BASE METAL" can also be seen.

Okay, I'm Old Now so I use that as an excuse to be "Slow" on occasions such as this, (allowing me to sometimes Save Face). Since I got this Watch, I have never been quite able to believe it is "Base Metal" but being clearly marked as such, I figured the factory knew more than me. But, today I am able to "Prove" Stainless Steel Really IS "Base Metal."

I owe some credit here to Lorne Wasylishen, who posted the

"Code of Fair Competition/Watch Case Mfg. 1933,"

in which he posted this excerpt which explains it! Stainless Steel is "Base Metal" because according to this Code, it is not identified as anything else. Simple as That! And, Now WE ALL Know What "BASE METAL" is. It is something other than what is defined as something else in this Code.

I can easily see how the "Lawyers" of that day being careful to comply with Rules and Regulations and Pledges and Promises could easily identify Stainless Steel as "Base Metal." Can't You? And NOW I have the COMPLETE STORY of this Watch, another reason this Hobby is "FUN!"

And I thought no one would ever read that publication.

The case makers also did not live up to the letter of the law for too long as the case pictured below is one of the few I have seen with BASE METAL on the outside as required by:

'he shall stamp the words "Base Metal" legibly and indelibly on the outside surface of said watch case'

Unless of course the law was amended a few years later omitting this requirement.

Lorne, It's really Great when you find the ragged end of a piece of the web that was spun over time as these Wonderful Machines were churned out by the Untold Numbers of Men and Women raising Families and providing for them by their labors! I find it hard to imagine just how many folks lived and prospered because of these Mechanical Marvels! Thank you for posting the piece to complete the Hamilton No. 3 Case and the 992B!

Thanks, Lindell! I'm sure you also at some time or another have heard someone mention they didn't know why Stainless Steel was marked "Base Metal." Given what we have here, its very easy to understand what at first seems quite confusing. Appreciate much your contribution here.

Lindell, why do you say that Case 3, combining a gold-filled frame with a stainless bezel and back, was an "ill-fated" design?

Lindell, the link above to Phil's three No. 3's is "mandatory" reading. Perfect chance to see all we have been talking about here. Wish I would have been around at the time he sold these. I would have made an effort to have owned them.

Attached here is a couple of pictures of the 6 o'clock Position of the Case Frame on my No. 3, showing the required mark. There is a Large "W" for Wadsworth, then the words, "10 K GOLD FILLED." (Hope I got that right). Lettering is very small. Surprised the camera did as well as it did capturing the Mark.

Here's another Angle. . . .

I had always assumed that base metal was that stuff used for cast products.

Turns out that is pot metal. The term came from the practice at automobile factories in the early 20th century of gathering up non-ferrous metal scraps from the manufacturing process and melting them in one pot.

For the purposes of marking watch cases if it is not a precious metal (Gold, Silver or Platinum) then it is a base metal.

Ethan,
Myself having one of these watches, and also having had several opportunities where I inspected others, an interesting phenomenon sometimes presents itself. And, sometimes it is NOT good.

Fortunately, my watch doesn't have the common problem that develops over time with this particular model case. However, with continued use, it would probably develop the problem

The Gold Filled Case Frame is much, much softer than the Stainless Steel Bezel and Back. The Threads on the Back and Bezel are very sharp and extremely hard. The Case Frame threads are much softer and wear very quickly because of being meshed with the very hard Stainless Steel threads. Also, where the surfaces of the Frame meet with the surfaces of the Back and Bezel, as they are being screwed onto the frame, much wear is instilled onto the frame's surface from the rubbing which occurs when they are tightly closed. After the threads are closed, (tightened), when the Back or Bezel is un-screwed, some rubbing of the surfaces occurs and this causes rapid wear to the gold filled frame surfaces. Much opening and closing makes for considerable wear which in turn causes sticking, rough threads and surfaces. Hence, the covers become sloppy feeling and difficult to manage.

Because of this difference in the hardness of the threads and mating surfaces, I have applied a tiny amount of Watch oil to the surfaces and threads. When these watches were used in daily service, this was a very big problem. These No. 3 cases were discontinued supposedly because of this "defect." Although they were very pretty and unique, in this case, "Pretty Is As Pretty Does." These did NOT do well in daily use. Hope my view helps explain this problem with the No. 3.

It does. Thanks.

According to the contemporary Swiss watch market, stainless steel is now a "noble metal" along with platinum, gold and silver. I guess it makes $10,000 ss Rolex's (insert your favorite Swiss brand) more acceptable to the masses that revere them.

Very Interesting! Now I know why I feel so "Noble" at lunch with Restaurant "Stainless" Tableware. . . . Thanks!

Many of us could say we were "born with a stainless steel spoon in their mouth."