March 17, 2011, 16:50
Lindell V. RiddleI see what you mean Brad,
They are both 17-jewel, Double Roller, Adjusted to 3 Positions movements but there are differences.
During the 1920s the folks at Hamilton replaced their 910 with the less elaborately finished and therefore less expensive to produce 912 which is also a thinner, more modern style movement. By that time Gruen had made marketing inroads with their "Veri-Thin" and a "thinner" movement was a better-selling movement, all the companies were pushing "thin" gentlemen's dress watches. That is also a big reason Hamilton dropped all their 12-size and went to a 10-size movement for 1936 and subsequently. Those of us who so revere our Railroad Watches find it hard to accept that beginning early in the 20th Century and continuing until the end of production the highest grade and therefore the highest priced watches were not the ones we so obsess over today.
As an example, during the early 1930s a 12-size 23-jewel 922 in a Gold-Filled case was $120.00 and a 23-jewel 950 was only $60.00 in a Gold-Filled case, same price as a 12-size 912 with Secometer dial.
Oh if we could only jump in the "Time Machine" and take a little trip!
Lindell
Similar movements 910 on the left and later 912 on right...