I have a question about the Canadian 24 hour dial. This one is a DS 18s Hamilton dial. Did the Canadian Rail Road allow hunter case movements? I have a Hamilton 935 with a Hamilton 24 hour dial like the ones on the Canadian RR watches.

If they did then I will keep the dial on the Hamilton 935. If they did not I will put the dial on an open face watch.

Thank you,
Harry

The 24 hour dial was undoubtedly an affectation of new watch buyers in the closing days of the 19th century due to the major push for world time standards and time zones. Fortuitously, Canada acted well before the U.S. and by 1886 CPR had adopted hourly time zones and 24 hour clock. In my collection, 24 hour dials were prized First on Canadian RR watches, but also on Canadian-cased Hunters for the "extra" effect. In this case, I would have left the watch as-is.

Yes, hunter movements were accepted, at least on the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern railways.

I have rulebooks for both, 1911/1909 respectively and they contain a CERTIFICATE OF WATCH INSPECTOR which has on one line:

Open or hunting case ……………………………………………………


This is the thread, Canadian RR Requirements

Thank you David and Lorne. I will leave the 24 hour dial on the Hamilton 935. Thank both of you very much.

Harry

Here's the 18sz Hamiton grades and their adjustments.....

regards,
bb

Thank you Buster. This is very handy.

Yes, thank you Buster. I have this info somewhere but have put this in a special file so I can find it again.

So it appears that even though hunter movements were accepted into service the 935 would not have "made the grade".

PS Buster, are you aware if is this posted in the Hamilton forum?

Here is a photo of one of my Canadian private labels with a Roman Numeral 24-hour dial marked Armstrong's Railway Special, he was a Railway watch inspector in Vancouver, British Columbia

It is a Hamilton Grade 941 Serial No. 233603

Thank you Larry that is a beautiful 941. Here is my Hamilton 935. Recased from an open face silveroid case to this GF case. Serviced, new Balance staff, new mainspring, new shipper spring, and correct hands. Dial has been repair (had a edge chip at the 26 minute mark).

Harry

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Harry,

Those are the correct Hamilton 24 Hour Hands for their 24 Hour Dials of that period, collectors pay good money for that attractive dial and hands combination.

Although Hamilton did not consider the 924 and 925 as Railroad Grade (nothing below a 936 or 937 was RR Adjusted as shown on Buster's correctly drawn chart) it is conceivable they may have been accepted in Canada. Or it could be someone just wanted a 24 Hour Dial on their watch, after all these were available in the US through Hamilton retailer jewelers. Notice the small seconds register, which is also on Larry's dial. I recall Lindell explained that unusually small seconds register is in order to make room for the 17 and 19 hour markers. Here is one of his watches, a Ball-Hamilton number 644007 with what is at this time the only known 24 Hour B of LE Dial:

Ball-Hamilton 21-Jewel 644007 with matching BofLE dial

Don

Thank you Donald for the added information. This watch had the tab broken off the lever. Instead of replacing the lever someone purposely chipped this beautiful dial at the 26 minute mark so that they could grab what little bit of the lever that was left so that they could set the time.

Seems I saw a 24 hour dial a while back on a Hamilton 924 and I asked if they used the 924 in Canada and one or several of our Canadian members told me that the Canadian rail roads did use the 924. I was not sure if they used a hunter and that was the reason for asking. The hands were not on this movement but I had an extra set so I put them on.

Harry