Internet Horology Club 185
Ok Hamilton Experts ~ Here's one I haven't seen before

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/63510127

April 22, 2009, 17:36
James Shutts
Ok Hamilton Experts ~ Here's one I haven't seen before
Hello Group,
Here is a Hamilton 925 I picked up. If you'll notice the movement is marked "TESTED". I have not seen this on a Hamilton before. I thought it was quite interesting. Has anyone seen this before? Any thoughts???? Thanks, Jim


April 22, 2009, 17:36
James Shutts
back cover


April 22, 2009, 17:37
James Shutts
dial


April 22, 2009, 17:38
James Shutts
movement1


April 22, 2009, 17:40
James Shutts
movement2


April 22, 2009, 17:41
James Shutts
movement3


April 22, 2009, 17:55
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.
Yes Jim, it is interesting. I've never seen anything like it before.

The uneveness of the letters suggests that "TESTED" was stamped into the barrel bridge rather than engraved.


Best Regards,

Ed
April 23, 2009, 00:03
Mary Ann Scott
I'm going to take a very wild guess and say that it was used like a "control" movement during production?
April 23, 2009, 00:29
David Abbe
For a watchmaker to mark "tested" is sort of an oxymoron, so I think that Ed's observation about the uneveness of the stamp indicates that it was be added later. As it is light in the middle, and as these steel die stamps are Glass hard steel, I speculate that the stamp may have been meant for something else with a curved or cylindrical surface, and was used here to add "merit" to the Movment by who ever was selling it. I show below a 974 that was factory marked "Limited" on a 974 and you can see the difference in marking quality. Hamilton was very proud of such things.