I thought I would post photographs of Hamilton grade 938 ser. no. 6639 of the first run. It is all original (except I fitted a white alloy mainspring). The movement is highly finished and finely fitted throughout. It is closely adjusted in six positions.

I would be interested to see images from others of more of these grade 938 movements.

This is the dial of Hamilton grade 938 ser. no. 6639.

John nice early Hamilton Grade 938, Serial No. 6639 would have been in the first 40 manufactured. I have two examples one Serial No. 13788, finished April 29, 1898, the other is a marked movement Serial No. 290956. I have read research that stated the first one to the finishing room was Serial No. 6601 on May 17, 1894, and the last one to the finishing room was Serial No. 290901 on January 6, 1904. The last run of Grade 938's ran from 290801 to 291000 so my watch would have been in the last 50 manufactured.

Larry

Canadian 24-hour dial

I found some more information on these Hamilton Grade 938 pocket watches.


The Hamilton factory ledgers show that Grade 938 Serial No. 290956 was finished on December 3, 1907 and sold on April 15, 1912 to the Eisenstadt Manufacturing Co. John your Grade 938 Serial No. 6639 had an interesting history in was finished March 21, 1895 and sold April 28, 1895 to E.M. Beckwurth of Tarrington,Conn it was returned on June 12, 1895 resold to D. Moore Newcastle Pa. and returned February 12, 1895 finally sold to A. Paul & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts

Additional info on serial # 6639, the A.Paul and company is most likely Andrew Paul shown below from the 1885 city directory.
"Paul Andrew & Co. (William Paul), jewelry, watchmakers' materials, &c. 8 Bromfield, h. 161 West Newton"

Also shown in the 1904 directory at 373 Washington St.

Larry, if you have the ability can you look up my Hamilton serial # 5468, i'd be interested in the finishing information on it.

Here is a photo of the store of the 1st jeweler the watch was sold to, it was actually E.M. Beckwith from Torrington Conn. He opened his own store there in 1894

The next owner may have been Edwin D. Moore a jeweler in New Castle Pa., he is listed in the 1890 New Castle City Directory, he was born about 1855 in Pa., he is also in the 1880 census for New Castle as a jeweler.

Larry, Ray and Tom - Those are wonderful contributions. These grade 938 movements were not inexpensive and Hamilton was then new. I suppose the railroad man would go for the grade 936 and would not see much point in going higher for a grade 938. Having closely examined 6639 I know that it would have been worth the extra money.

I suppose the movement was too valuable to keep unsold for long, so Hamilton would have been obliged to facilitate a return. The same happened to others of the same run.

I doubt whether 6639 ever saw the rigours of RR service as it has few blemishes and even seems to have its original (double roller) balance staff. These were the first hamiltons to have the double roller feature. Movement 6639 also has a steel escape wheel with oil grooves.

Larry's 290596 makes a fascinating comparison. Clearly, many characteristics of the early grade 938 movemens and dials were maintained over the period of production, whilst some changed. The Canadian dial is very interesting. The style of script on the dial of 6639, especially the upward flourish of the "H" in Hamilton, seems to be a bit special, even for the period.

According to the records, after two returns to the factory at Lancaster PA, the watch was finally sold to A Paul & Co, Boston, MA on 1898-12-20. I guess it became a Christmas present, and a mighty fine one, too.

Ray,
Looks like #5468 is a Hamilton 934 completed on 12-31-1895 and sold on 5-1-1896 to E.J.Havenly(hard to read)of Sayre,Pa.

Thank you Burt, I found the information that Tom had already given me but must've had a memory lapse as I had forgotten it. I did however expand my search for Mr. Haverly (quite the elusive person I must add). But have not found any pictures or advertisements yet..Thank you everyone.

Ray

Just so you know, I have looked for him too but no luck yet.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I believe he could actually be Elmer J Haverly listed in the 1907 city directory as a Jeweler / Watchmaker. Poss born Jan 4, 1862 and deceased Dec 18, 1912.

Ray

I couldn't find Elmer but in the 1900 Federal Census for Sayre, Bradford Pa. there was a Edward Haverly born Jan 1864 listed as a jeweler, he was born in New York State, he is shown as married to Belle born Jan 1870 in New York.

Tom

Hamilton Grade 938, Double Roller, Adjusted 5 Positions, Serial No. 13788 was finished on April 28, 1898 and sold to H. Koester & Co. Detroit, Michigan April 29, 1898, returned and sold to HW Wheeler & Co. New York, NY on July 13, 1898. This movement was from the sixth run of Hamilton 938's

Roman Numberal 24-hour single sunk dial

Larry

Looks like your H.W. Wheeler would be Hayden W. Wheeler, he was born Nov. 25, 1827 in NY.

Just a brief look shows him in the 1870 census for Brooklyn NY as H.W. & a jeweler. He is also listed in the 1900 census as Hayden Wheeler & married to Adulsia, he is 72 at the time & still listed as a jeweler & living in Brooklyn, he also has a son Willard H. born March 1868 living with him & he is also listed as a jeweler.

This is from the 1877 city directory.

Tom

Referring back to Hamilton 6639 (at the start) I just found the following on the internet: -

"1898
EM Beckwith, who has conducted a jewelry store in Torrington for the past five or six years, has just sold the business to George Otis. Mr. Beckwith has a drug store at Niantic, to which he will devote his attention."
- Jewelers' Circular and Horological review, Vol. 37

More info on Elmer J Haverly b Jan 4,1862 in Berne, NY and died Dec 18, 1912. Held 2 US Patents, one for an improved Seperable Buttun # 671,958 issued 4/16/1901 and this one for an improved "Roller Pin fastening for watches” # 639,698 issued Dec 19, 1899.