Hamilton ads from National Geographic Magazine

May 25, 2010, 21:55

Mark Cross

These are GREAT! Thank you for posting them!!

What I've found absolutely fascinating is that in all the ads published showing railroad men in their element, almost every watch protrayed has been a 12s thin watch....none of which were EVER railroad approved! Weird!

Regards! Mark

May 26, 2010, 06:47

Lindell V. Riddle

They are really wonderful advertisements.

I think we need to consider this is the "National Geographic" what was and is an upscale, somewhat intellectual magazine. Since the clientele' of this particular journal were not likely railroad workers we see that after about 1922 the reality of Hamilton being the foremost producer of railroad watches is stressed while showing this demographic audience the dressy 12-size and wristwatch examples. If this was a Railroad Brotherhood magazine, then it would be geared directly to that particular demographic.

What we are seeing in this group of ads is the general Hamilton line, something that is all but lost today with the intensity of narrowly focused interest so many of us have in railroad grades. This is not unlike the automobile manufacturer of today might show glimpses of their high-performance model, even one used in racing and relate the fact that all the vehicles they build benefit from their involvement in competition. Then the direct advertising of their "hairy-chested" models would be placed where that specific audience would be.

These ads are great and they uniquely show us a wide range of the Hamilton line. But Mark is right, if you did not know better you might think that railroad men carried 12-size watches!

Advertisements are positively fascinating!

Lindell

May 26, 2010, 20:22

Joe W. Campbell

that's exactly what I was thinking too and Lindell hit it right on the head about the magazine being upscale. so let's do some more..........

May 26, 2010, 20:23

Joe W. Campbell

this is from jan 1930