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Welcome Aboard IHC185™ Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Hampden Watch Company Research Forum Hampden 23j "NEW Railway" Hunter
Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Hampden Watch Company Research Forum Hampden 23j "NEW Railway" HunterGo | New Topic | Find-Or-Search | Notify | Tools | Reply to Post | |
Can any of you Hampden specialists enlighten me about my recent acquisition of a Hampden "New Railway" 23 jewel hunter. I have no info on Hampdens and the shugarts price guide shows an example of the New Railway 23j with a note (OF only) My serial number is 1056425. I am sure there must be a few more Hunters than just mine. What is the story?..........Thanks.......Keith | |||
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| IHC President Life Member  |
Keith, The "Complete Guide to Watches" is not 100% complete but it is the best book of its kind ever compiled. Yep, you found one that simply is not listed. As you pointed out these watches do exist. However exactly how many were made will probably never be established. Unfortunately the Hampden Production Records were apparently lost or destroyed (most likely destroyed) many years ago. But fortunately a group of Hampden collectors led by Bob Arnold and the late Jim Hernick compiled a data-base of serial numbers and descriptions that was published in their book "Hampden Watch Company" which gives us a pretty good glimpse at what was produced. On page 133 of the aforementioned Hampden Book as part of their rather voluminous serial number listings we find two entries for 23-Jewel New Railway 18-size Hunters. Numbers 1056315 and 1056437 are the ones listed and of course your 1056425 fits in rather neatly between them. Interestingly 1056031 is a 23-Jewel Special Railway 18-size Hunter and 1056551 is a 21-Jewel John Hancock 18-size Hunter. From that one is left with the impression your watch is probably not too common, which could probably account for why it does not appear in the watch guide. Hope this is of help to you, Lindell  | |||
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| IHC Life Member RR Watch Expert  |
We have the following New Railway HC serial numbers in our database in the 1,056,XXX series: 246, 318, 397 and 437. The only other examples I could find were in the 1,151,XXX series, 728 and 884. This does indeed seem to be a scarce movement. Ed Ueberall IHC Member 34 The Escapement | |||
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Hi Keith, How about a picture of the movement! Please.... Please..... Please.... Sheila | |||
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Sheila, Here are some pictures of the Hampden "New Railway" 23j Hunter. Please excuse the quality. I took them with room light and just holding the watch in my hand.  | ||||
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DIAL  | ||||
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Very interesting watch, Keith,. Thanks for posting it. Tom | |||
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I wonder if a Special Railway 23J 2-tone hunter may also be uncommon. I'm pretty sure I have one at the bank that I recased into a hunter case several years ago. I'll get the serial # and post it. Tom Walker | ||||
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Hey Keith, Great Watch! I really like the look of this one. I love the hands, those and Breguets are my favorite, and Fancy, and ....... I love em all I guess. This one is especially nice to me. It looks so clean and well kept. You should be so proud. Thanks for the photos. Sheila | |||
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Keith, Your 23J New Railway has the same neat frosted finish on the plates as my 17J version does. When clean, those frosted plates really sparkle. Tom  | ||||
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