992E Questions

December 15, 2010, 10:45

Brad Richardson

992E Questions

Hi! I'm gonna just jump right in here with a question that I'm curious about (especially when I go to ebay). I know that Hamilton started using Elinvar in the 992 in the mid 30's. However, they discovered that it had some problems, so they made their own, Elinvar-Extra, which was far superior to anything manufactured to that date.After 1940, everything Hamilton produced used an Elinvar-Extra hairspring. My question is: since Elinvar-Extra is so much better than the first Elinvar, why are the 992E's commanding such astronomical prices? Some are absolutely rediculous!!

December 15, 2010, 12:27

Michael Loggins

relatively few produced compared to the elinvar extra equiped 992b or 950b.

December 15, 2010, 18:29

Brad Richardson

Thanks, Michael, I appreciate it.

December 15, 2010, 18:33

David Abbe

One of the most Hilarous parts of the highly "secretive" (to watchmakers) "Elinvar" is that it was simply a High-Nickel Alloy that was originally developed for the Glass/Metal sealing pass through wiring used on Lightbulbs and Vacuum Radio tubes. The nearly "0" thermal modulus of the material made it an ideal "prospect" for watches as well. The "higher grade" made by Hamilton was more than likely more highly refined to reduce troublesome inclusions.

Going a little further, "Elinvar" was also "re-refined" into "Hi-MU" materials essential to the early developments of higher frequency Magnetic read/write heads which led all the way into the higher performing Rotating Disc memories that "escaped" that material only recently with Semiconductor Technology based designs.

December 16, 2010, 11:10

Larry Lamphier

Brad,

Hamilton made close to 550,000 992's and only around 61,000 Elinvar models. To most Hamilton collectors that will drive the price WAY up.

I only started into this about a year ago, and the Elinvar was the first thing that REALLY got my attention. That and the fact that most prople will pay a LOT more just to get one.

Regards,
Larry

December 16, 2010, 12:41

Jerry King

The 992E, marked Elinvar,with a GJS and Gold Center Wheel is a one * rated watch....which means 2500 or less made....

Regards,

Jerry

December 16, 2010, 13:57

Lindell V. Riddle

Actually Larry is close on 992E production numbers.

There were more than 60,000 produced, if memory serves nearly 64,000 of which there were somewhat less than 2,500 early ones with the narrow damaskeening, like that used on previous 992 which were non-Elinvar movements. Those early narrow-damaskeened 992-Elinvar movements would properly be "one-star" in the "Complete Guide to Watches" and that correction is among those we have suggested for the 2011 Edition.

In the image below this post you will see my marginal notes work-up referencing the runs of both 992-Elinvar and 950-Elinvar movements. From this you can determine how long they were produced and how many were originally made. This basic information is from page 20 of the Hamilton Movement Numbers Preserved by John F. Gelson which is vital to any serious Hamilton research. And this page may also help to illustrate that movement numbers were not necessarily used in chronological order. One more point, to my knowledge every 992-Elinvar originally came with a polished gold center wheel, but that has been debated over the years.