Hi All,

Could someone please advise if a Hamilton CPR Dial (#525) would be correct for a 996L Serial#1179944, went to the finishing department in 1916?

Regards,
Bila

The 577 CPR [12hour dial]is generally found on 992 movements. The 525 [24hour dial] was later generally used on the 992 and 992B. So let's just say, I wouldn't want it on my 1916 Hamilton 992 !!

[Hamilton double sunk dial #577 is the double sunk 12 hour dial first seen in ads in 1922 while Hamilton double sunk dial #525 is the double sunk 24 hour dial with the 13-24 hours in BLACK first dated in a Blueprint 5/25/1933].

The earliest reference to the earlier CPR 12 hour Hamilton dial #577 is an illustration of the dial dated 1922 from The Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman & Enginemen's magazine. [see attached picture]

All that we have to go by on dials for referencing are; Factory Blueprints/RR Timebooks/Advertising. The later CPR 24 hour #525 dial, from a drawing of a blueprint, was first linked to a date of 5/25/1933.

In retrospect the earliest I would expect to find the #577 dial on a Hamilton movement would be 1922.

I would possibly allow Hamilton dial #525 to be on a movement in the late 1920's maybe [with raised eyebrows] BUT....

There would be a lot of disbelievers. Therefore I wouldn't want "my" watch to come into contention or be downplayed by the disbelievers so....

I would use the Hamilton dial #525 on a movement dating from the early 1930's and could continue using it on Hamilton movements up to the era of the melamine dials.

That's IMHO so what is yours ??

regards,
bb

I have a 577 dial on my 1924 992 with a crossbar case and it is correct, there's some reference to it here.

The 525 dial would be even later as Buster says.


But for a 1916 996, neither the 577 or 525 dial would be correct. The 577 are 992 dials, (referring to the dial in Buster's Hamilton ad above) at least every ad I have seen had a 992 under them. (Reference Richard R's guide in the hamilton section below) 1922-1928 range IMO.

Richard Romero's well Illustrated and detailed Hamilton Dial post;

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...4108073/m/1743914067

puts the 525 (melamine?) at the Post WWII end of production. Your beautiful 19J RRG 996 probably needs something older.

"992B Melamine Dials...

NOTE: Hamilton began phasing-in the melamine dials in 1948 and by 1950 the change-over was complete. The earliest melamine dials were smooth and shiny but gradually the surface became increasingly dull and of greater porosity. Many survivors have surface cracks and loss of intensity on the numbers and letters."

Thanks Gentlemen for your valued input, I have decided to leave the original dial on it, has repaired damage but hopefully correct, (double sunk, montgomery with hamilton in fancy script).

Regards to All,

Bila