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Hamilton 992 gold center wheels "Click" to Login or Register 
posted
Dis Hamilton grade 992 always have a gold center wheel or did these start appearing at a certain date and serial number?
 
Posts: 653 | Location: St Paul, Minnesota in the USA | Registered: May 04, 2004
IHC Member 1555
posted
I think they started on the model 2's William, and to my knowledge I don't think they were solid gold, just gold plated the same as the 950B & 992B movements.I could be wrong though and have been before.Someone else will chime in with more info hopefully or with a drawing/blueprint of the wheel maybe.
 
Posts: 2260 | Location: Gladstone in Australia | Registered: January 14, 2011
IHC Member 1555
posted
Post update:

I have come across an article from the early 80's William where it was mentioned that Henry Fried stated the 992 wheels were 14Kt solid gold, this is the only reference that I have found to this effect, Although I have seen others dispute it then, and through to this day.

If they were solid gold I am amazed that they were not advertised as such by Hamilton as it would have been a marketing edge in my opinion, but I am yet to see any such advertisement with this in.

The 992B and 950B were definitely gold plated, as for the 950 Grade, if H Fried is correct about the Grade 992 then I would be under the assumption that the 950 would be solid gold as well. Maybe Lindell or someone else with more knowledge about these could enlighten us more?

Or one day maybe someone will destroy a couple to see their make-up and settle the debate once and for allFrown
 
Posts: 2260 | Location: Gladstone in Australia | Registered: January 14, 2011
IHC Life Member
posted
I found a broken 992 gear and it looks like plated brass under a loop.
Hard to photograph and hard to tell from the pictures.
Under side view on the left.
Problem is, just because this one looks to be plated, doesn't mean some were not solid.

Steve

 
Posts: 692 | Location: Washington in the USA | Registered: May 23, 2010
IHC President
Life Member
Picture of Lindell V. Riddle
posted

I think Bila and Steven pretty well summed it up. What they explained is right in line with my experiences.

Often "Gold Center Wheel" was stated in advertising, perhaps it comes down to your definition of "gold" after all that really is gold you SEE on the center wheel. A plating of gold might make for smoother operation, after all the center wheel is under very little stress but it looks good. I always understood the 992 had gold center wheels and some higher grades really did have a gold train, round spokes supposedly indicate solid gold and speaking of gold, premium movement plates were flashed in white gold!

Some of you may recall there was a time when we saw commercials with "doctors" stating catagorically that... "Smoking Camels will improve your breathing... Roll Eyes and improve your health"

(Just for fun, I hung a"Joe Camel" advertising clock Smile above our home treadmill.)

Be well my friends,

Lindell

Wink
 
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
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