Below is some information on Hamilton's marked Electric Special, Electric Railway Special and Electric Interurban Special watches.
If anyone has one of these watches and would like to contribute their information please post it here.
The dates came from the Gelson listings.
Thanks
Ed

HAMILTON ELECTRIC SPECIAL

1569926- L/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL - 972 (Dial not original to movement should be on 974 only.)
1592161- P/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1592380- P/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL
1592388- P/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL
1611412- P/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1626013- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1626825- P/S- 1922- - SS DIAL - 974
1626919- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1629919- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1637233- L/S- 1923 - SS DIAL
1637455- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1645094- L/S- 1922-1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1645590- L/S- 1922-1923 - DS DIAL
1650590- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1650831- P/S- 1921-1922 - SS DIAL
1663017- L/S- 1923 - SS DIAL
1665989- P/S- 1922 - DS DIAL
2540814- P/S- 1930-1939 - SS DIAL -974 SPECIAL,
2540816- P/S- 1930-1939 - SS DIAL
2566057- L/S- 1937-1939 - SS DIAL -974

HAMILTON ELECTRIC INTERURBAN SPECIAL

1229714- P/S- 1917 - SS DIAL - 974
2322532- L/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
2322675- L/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
2322856- L/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
2322986- L/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL
2333475- P/S- 1925 - SS DIAL - 974
2334438- P/S- 1925 - SS DIAL - 974
2338199- P/S- 1925 - SS DIAL
2339347- L/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL - 974
2339797- L/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL - 974
2340253- P/S- 1925 - SS DIAL - 974
2346636- P/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL
2356916- P/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL
2357671- P/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL
2364639- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2374966- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2378095- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2378403- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2378698- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2378929- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2379825- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2379622- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2385282- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2385780- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2378808- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2379055- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2379658- L/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2390686- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2393166- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2393223- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2393640- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2393782- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2397172- L/S- 1926-1927- SS DIAL - 974
2407811- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2408469- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2408836- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL
2413974- P/S- 1926 - SS DIAL - 974
2414118- L/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2414324- L/S- 1927 - DS DIAL - 974 - MARKED-B.C. CLARK OVER SECONDS CHAPTER
2418435- P/S- 1926-1927- SS DIAL - 974
2418935- P/S- 1926-1927 -SS DIAL - 974
2422196- P/S- 1926-1927- SS DIAL
2432362- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2434017- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL - 974
2434061- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2434349- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL - 974
2437796- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2451192- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2455196- P/S- 1927 - SS DIAL
2527204- P/S- 1929 - SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL - (BOX AND PAPERS)
2535073- P/S- 1929 - SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2539633- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2541406- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2541436- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL
2548179- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2549694- L/S- 1936-1937- SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2608194- L/S- 1936 - SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL

HAMILTON ELECTRIC RAILWAY SPECIAL

1221351- P/S- 1917 - SS DIAL ??
1229787- P/S- 1917 - SS DIAL - 974
1397085- L/S- 1920 - SS DIAL - 974
1564140- L/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL - 974
1567843- L.S- 1921 - SS DIAL - 974
1581118- L/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL - 974
1590035- L/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1590334- L/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1590931- L/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1592446- P/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL - 974
1592447- P/S- 1921-1922 -SS DIAL - 974
1592536- P/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL - 974
1611672- P/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL
1592536- P/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL - 974
1611672- P/S- 1921-1922- SS DIAL
1614994- P/S- 1921 - SS DIAL - 974
1626636- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1626649- P/S- 1922 - DS DIAL
1637059- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1637482- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1637597- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1637746- P/S- 1922 - DS DIAL
1644685- L/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL
1645979- L/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL - 974
1649487- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1651067- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1651465- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1651488- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1654180- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL
1655286- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1656486- P/S- 1922 - SS DIAL - 974
1663015- L/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1663051- L/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1663434- L/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1672033- P/S- 1923-1924- SS DIAL - 974
1672149- P/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL - 974
1673216- P/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL
1673757- P/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL - 974
1674301- P/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL - 974
1675795- P/S- 1922-1923- SS DIAL - 974
1679602- L/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 974
1679643- L/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 974
1679930- L/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 974
1681335- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1681335- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL
1681826- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL
1681921- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL
1683549- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1683884- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1684393- P/S- 1923 - SS DIAL - 974
1695633- P/S- 1923-1924- SS DIAL - 956
1695833- P/S- 1923-1924- SS DIAL - 956
1699079- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1699765- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1700370- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL -974
1700429- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL
1701789- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1702900- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1704161- P/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 956
1704465- P/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 956
1705629- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1714017- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL
1714983- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL - 974
1714134- P/S- 1924-1925- SS DIAL
2311008- L/S- 1924 - SS DIAL
2311612- L/S- 1924 - SS DIAL - 974
2357810- P/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL - 974
2357810- P/S- 1925-1926- ss DIAL - 974
2357938- P/S- 1925-1926- SS DIAL
2490403- L/S- 1928-1929- SS DIAL
2535915- P/S- 1929 - SS DIAL - 974
2539110- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL - 974 SPECIAL
2539690- P/S- 1930-1939- SS DIAL
2547219- P/S- 1931-1939- SS DIAL
2608415- L/S- 1936 - SS DIAL

LATEST UPDATE IN AUGUST 2017

I just found this interesting (to me) tidbit about the trollies in my home town.

Updated on 02Feb2012

Ed,
I have a Hamilton Electric Railway Special, serial no. 1,663,051, ss montgomery dial, lever set, movement is a 974...

Thamks, I will add it to the data base.

Please add s/n 1679643 Hamilton 974L Electric Railway Special SS Montgomery dial to the list.

UPDATED

Have a 974 pw/ps S/n 2357810=1926 with electric railway special Montgomery dial ss
Roger

Thanks Roger, how about some pics!

Ed,here are a couple of pics.

movt.

Nice looking dial Roger!
I was watching a Hamilton Yakima Electric Special on the bay a few days ago. It went for the crazy price of $699.

Ed,
Here's one more for the list: 974 pendant set #1626636 SS dial from about 1922.

Steve

Thanks Steve, I have more updated to add to the data base when I find the time.

Ed,

One more, serial # 1567843 974 Lever set SS dial from 1921.

Steve

Thanks Steve, added!

UPDATED DATA BASE 1/1/2016

Something that is forming that I believe is not a quirk or switching of parts.

From #2527204 through #2608194 7 HEIS watches showed up being made between 1929-1936 with the 974 Special mvt.

Six of the seven could have been made in the 1929-1930 time frame. I have been unable to find any documentation to confirm this situation.
I would appreciate any input you might have!

Ed

I have Hamilton 974 s/n 2393640 with Hamilton Interurban Special Montgomery Dial

Thanks Michael I will add the information.

Thanks Steve, I will add it to the data base.

Ed,

Here is another Hamilton Electric Interurban in the later sequence: s/n 2560412, circa 1931.

John

Thanks John, I will add it.

John, I had to recheck your pic because your watch falls within the 974 Special movements on the data base. Your watch mvt. is a 974 Special.
See my post about these Hamilton's above.

Ed,
Sorry I didn't mention in the post that it is a 974 Special. I did realize that it falls within the later run that you have identified.
Best,
John

Ed,
Just wanting to help with the list, and of course show off my watch...
I've cleaned up this Hamilton 974 Special, the only non-original part is the really nice Dueber case.
HAMILTON ELECTRIC SPECIAL
2533763-LS-1929-SS Dial-974 Special

I just noticed your post Mark.
I will add your watch to the DB.

Mark, what does the inscription on the dial read?
Ed

Hamilton Electric Railway Special is what I can see.

Steve

Thanks Steve, you have better eyes than mine!

I was wondering if any of the Hamilton “Electric” series variations included any additional features not already present in other railroad watches. From reading the interesting thread on “antimagnetic “ construction, it seems that the Elinvar hairspring, invar balance wheel, and stainless steel case (maybe to a lesser degree a gold filled case, as well) provided excellent antimagnetic protection.
Put another way, was the only differentiating feature of an “Electric” Hamilton the wording on the dial?
Thanks.

Steve,

Hamilton made "Electric" battery powered wristwatches beginning in the late 1950s but there were never any Hamilton Electric Pocket Watches.

Clearly, you are thinking of "Hamilton Electric Railway" 17-jewel Pocket Watches featured in Ed Kitner's Database which were intended for use on interurban commuter trains and trollies.

They were correctly a Grade 974 or 974 Special which were not Elinvar Equipped nor were they shielded in any way. They featured only 3 Adjustments, (Heat, Cold and Isocronism) so they were NOT accepted in Railroad Time Inspection Service. (Read the complete explanation in advertisement below this posting.)

Follow this "Find-Or-Search" link to read more about them:

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...rum_scope=3006013713

Read all the posts at that link for a lot of information.

As you see above, our IHC Member Ed Kitner is building a fine Database of known survivors.

GOOD WORK ED!

Don




Here is an early advertisement showing the specially marked dial makes
a 974 and only a 974 designated an Electric Interurban Special:

quote:

was the only differentiating feature of an “Electric” Hamilton the wording on the dial?

The answer to your question in a nut-shell Steve is "Yes", that was the only thing.

Thank you, both, for responding.