992B Gold Center Wheel?

January 22, 2005, 10:14

Lenny Wunsch

992B Gold Center Wheel?

Hello, haven't owned a B model for a while but i had an early s/n one with a gold center wheel. Was it for real?

January 22, 2005, 12:41

Lindell V. Riddle

Very much for real Lenny,

The highly polished gold center wheels are found up to something above the C100000 area. Terry Hall and others are charting the numbers and may have more precise references on that. In the image below you'll see the four "signatures" on civilian 992B watches. Fred Hougham put together that image which helped lead us toward establishing this research forum. In Fred's image you'll see the first two, C30898 and C65532 have a highly polished gold center wheel.

Lindell

The four 992B signatures are an important reference for collectors...

January 31, 2005, 20:32

Terry Hill

Here is how I have it narrowed down so far, but have many more serial numbers to enter in database.....

c118604 h665396 2 GCW

c120586 H665663 2 2-8-03 NON GOLD CENTER WHEEL... PATENT DATE IN CASE

This watch is owned by a chapter member, maybe he can look it up to see if it is a GCW...
c120365 1359936 11

January 03, 2006, 13:02

Jim Hanie

Terry,
I don't know if I gave you this information before, but I have a boxed set serial number C119006 that does not have a GCW

January 24, 2006, 21:50

Gary Morgret

Hello All
Can you tell me what material is used after the gold? Seems like all e-bay sellars claim "the gold center wheel" Also where can I find info for 950's and 950B's and Elinvar dates for GCW? Did they have them also? Getting a start on building my Hamilton info.

Regards
Gary

January 24, 2006, 23:52

Charles R. Sides

These are some rough numbers but just to give you a start:

992 - later production had GCW, early production was brass.

992 Elinvar - I assume all to have GCW ???

992b - early ones to around C118000 had GCW, later production is brass.

Confusion comes from people looking at the price guide that shows GCW at a premium and they look and it is a gold color. BINGO, Gold Center Wheel.

950 - all were full gold gear train including center wheel (someone please correct if I'm wrong here.)

950 Elinvar - mixed bag. Some with GCW, others with Brass. Apparently no 950e with full gold train.

950b's - early ones were full gold train including center wheel up to around S3900 - S4000 range. over that, all brass wheels. 2B747 from 1943 has full gold train.

here's a link to the 950 GCW discusstion.

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/3496002012
Charlie

January 25, 2006, 20:05

Gary Morgret

Thank You Charlie, gives me a start.

Regards
Gary

January 27, 2006, 20:23

Mike Camelin

Just another number to add to this subject, I saw # C119,700 at the Lexington show and it did NOT have the gold center wheel which is consistant with Jim's watch, so maybe we can make some headway on this and narrow it down to a very close cutoff point sometime soon in the future.

Looks like so far, the change happened between C118604 and C119006, so we have it down to around 400 numbers give or take, Any other info out there, or does anyone have one any closer? Happy Hunting!

February 01, 2006, 12:58

Lindell V. Riddle

Hmmmm,

I have C118979 from 1945 in my collection which does not have a polished gold center wheel. Perhaps that might help narrow it a just little bit closer. By the way, it's a third signature movement.

February 01, 2006, 13:50

Robert M. Sweet

What is the gold content of the "gold center wheel" being discussed?

Thanks in advance.

Robert

February 01, 2006, 17:41

Charles R. Sides

Some of the pros say its not solid gold. Steve Maddox a few years ago said he could prove it, but no one offered up a GCW for destruction.

Should be able to find it via search.

February 01, 2006, 18:59

Terry Hill

uh.. did i miss the details on c118979? case, dial, original?

February 10, 2006, 12:17

Robert M. Sweet

Charlie,
Today I received an answer from Don with regard to the "Gold Center Wheel" question.

The 992B center wheel is brass with a 24K gold plating. This information comes from the Hamilton blueprints and the operation sheets that describe the step by step process by which they are made.

Robert