December 22, 2007, 17:30
Lindell V. RiddleInteresting question Bill,
And something I've tried to figure out over the years.
From what we're seeing, the phase-in of melamine on Ball-Hamilton 999B watches seems to have begun in the 1950 time frame. For example number B17909 from 1950 production has an apparently original melamine dial.
However we do find porcelain-enamel dials on a few of the later watches, most notably some of the very last ones which have straight-line damaskeening in the B27000 plus number area. That leaves the impression there may have been left-over porcelain-enamel dials located around 1955 or perhaps there may have been some "upgrading" taking place.
This is one of those mirky questions, let's see if there are other opinions.
Lindell
