Very good question, this is often confusing...

It's fairly easy to spot the original porcelain version, so let's concentrate on views of the melamine versus the reproduction. To begin with, if you can examine the back, an original melamine dial will have a dull black finish on the back.

Here's how you tell with the dial on the watch. Start by looking very closely at the Red 5-Minute Track or R5MT in-hand or closely examining available photos. On LaRose reproductions, the red numbers are out somewhat further than the black numbers. Compare very carefully the next two pictures below, once you know what you're looking for it's far easier to spot.

Two more things to look for. In the genuine melamine dial below, you'll see a curve on the downstroke of the marginal-minute number "7" where in the LaRose reproduction it is nearly straight. You'll also see a "hook" at the top of the 7 in the reproduction. Finally, the words "Hamilton Railway Special" and the black outer track numbers are somewhat heavier on the reproduction. The LaRose reproduction dial is a very bright white where melamine dials are usually somewhat drab by comparison.


IMMEDIATELY BELOW, ORIGINAL HAMILTON MELAMINE DIAL...

lindell,
having a hard time spotting the difference in the two dials other than the bolder lettering and numbers. could you post a picture of the difference in the number "7". humor me--my old tired eyes must not work as good as they used to.
regards
fred

fred,
this has also been one of the hardest things for me to grab a hold of also....


concentrate on the leg of the 7..... note the curvature of this leg.....

so far seems to work......

Fred,

Like Terry said, this is not a simple one to grasp immediately. It does take some concentration, but once it all settles in you'll then recognize it easily. Scroll into those two pictures so you can look at and compare the numbers in the marginal-minute outer track on the screen together.

Compare the little numbers on the outer track, 2, 3, 4, the very different position of the big red 5, then 6 is quite different between the two, and the differences in the "7" are the easiest to commit to memory. If you remember the 7 then as long as you can see it in the auction photos you'll never be fooled.

Lindell

DUH!!
I WAS COMPARING THE 7 "HOUR" MARKER ON MY KNOWN ORIGINAL DIAL WITH THE ONES IN QUESTION, NOT THE SEVEN " MINUTE" MARKER. PLAIN AS DAY, NOW THAT SOMEONE HAS TURNED ON THE LIGHT. MANY THANKS!
FRED

Maybe it was mentioned but it appears the original dials have red numbers that are not centered between the adjacent black numbers. The repros are better centered.

John D. Duvall
Rosamond, CA.
NAWCC Member 0144772
NAWCC IHC Happy Camper 192

Good point John, the repro is a great looking dial, in several respects an improvement over the melamine. In fact, the S. LaRose replacement is the dial of choice for a daily carry-watch. But alas it is not original, that brings us to an important and fairly obvious point...

The original will always be far more desirable to a collector.

Lindell

Lindell,

I would agree, and of course I was pointing out a distinguishing feature, not that I would personally favor the repo version. Repo's have their place in restorations when an OEM is unusable or unavailable at a reasonable price. Whenever I modify a collectable watch, I try and keep the original parts that were changed out in a little baggy that stays with the watch.

John D. Duvall
NAWCC Member 144772
NAWCC IHC Happy Camper 192