I have no idea, think it's small or large? case, good or bad, would you bid on one like this?

Tell me what you think.

and yes, I did buy it, too cheap not to.

Only wish I knew what it was. I love a mystery!!!

hi sheila its looking like an 18 size 17 jewel hamilton hunter from here

Don, that's what I thought too!

I had just been looking at the Hamiltons in the 2006 book, and then ran across this one. I don't know anything about Hamiltons, so I was not sure at all, if it was one, but I will let you know when I get it.

I got the watch today, and it's pretty nice!

I think it may be a Hamilton 925 SN 101922

How can I tell if it's a Hamilton when it has a private label like this one.

J. Will Kirk Adrian Mich. on Movement and Dial.

Pictures are not that good, sorry. Can't seem to get them right these days.

Take a look:

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Sheila, That is a PL Hamilton, and it is a grade 925. Those of us with experience on looking at many watches can tell by the plate design, the regulator and the overall finish. Looks like a great buy. It is running?

Tom

Tom & Lindell,
Thank you so much for the information. I was praying that it was a Hamilton.

It doesn't work, but is much nicer than the photos, for only $49.99 I think it's a good find, especially since the movement is really clean and nice.

I have few Hamiltons, and this was the right price.

My list of "Fixers" is getting pretty long.

Guess what I think I have found out about this watch.

I found a name that matches the one on my watch.

The dial and movement are both marked:

J. Will Kirk Adrian Mich.

He is listed as one of the MAYORS of Adrian, Michigan from 1897-1899

My watch has an 1899 production date too!

I may be wrong, however, it could have been his watch! Great!

History of Lenawee County, Michigan

http://www.lenaweehistory.com/lenawee-ch31.html

I love to find information on what I have purchased.

Sheila, what are the odds of you owning a watch of, not ONLY the correct year to this man's time in office, but his name AND town he lived in DURING this time period???!!!

I'd love to have those odds in Vegas!!

I'd say all probability points to this indeed being once owned by the Mayor of Adrian, MI in 1899, and by special order. NICE find!! Personally I'd put it at the top of the 'to fix' list if it were in MY collection!

HIGH regards! Mark

Greetings Sheila,

Quite remarkable that you were able to track down information on the name on the private label Hamilton 925. Of course it cost more to have Hamilton not only provide a privately marked dial but also similarly private label plates and given that the markings are those of a man who your research indicates was a local mayor in the same town indicated on the dial and movement, there is a pretty good chance that it could be a one of a kind special order for a presumably well to do client such as a town mayor. To further clarify this you may want to do an internet search on US Census records from the 1890 and 1900 census as one of the pieces of information recorded on the census for heads of households was their "occupation". The private marking on your watch just might also be for a local jewler who happened to also serve as the town mayor. Even if so, odds are he may at most have ordered a handful of privately marked watches from Hamilton to sell at his business--or it still may be a one of a kind that he special ordered for himself.

Earlier this year I won an ebay auction on a very nice Hamilton model 940 from about 1907 that was privately marked "E.Y.Stinson, Benton,Ark" on both the dial and plates (ironically from a seller in New Hampshire!!)which I initially believed was probably a one of watch, especially after my initial research on the internet found that this individual was for a time a local circuit judge. (Benton is a southern suburb of Little Rock, where I live). One could easily assume then that Mr. Stinson was probably a lawyer by profession. Then one day I searched the US Census records from 1900 and 1910 looking for Mr. Stinson to try and confirm this and to my amazement discovered that his listed occupation was as a "jeweler". Thus I now think my watch may be one of a small number that he purchased to sell to the railroad trade or it still could be one of a kind special ordered by the man himself (lord only knows how it wound up in New Hampshire). Needless to say I am proud to have returned it to Arkansas where I will be its custodian for a while anyway. I keep meaning to drive down to the courthouse in Benton to see if I can track down anymore information on Mr. Stinson but life too often inserts itself into tht time allowed for my hobby pursuits.

Congratulations on your acquisition and good luck on finding out more about its origin.

Greg Hall
Little Rock, AR

Mark,
I thought it was pretty great too!

Gregory,
You may want to check out this:

http://inman.surnameweb.org/documents/harper1.htm

Gregory,
The link is all about Mr. E.Y. Stinson, he even built a building that has passed down in his family, and still stands. It's listed as a historical site too.

From the page:

The Odd Fellows building, located a half-block from the Saline County Courthouse, reportedly was built by E.Y Stinson.