Beautiful high-grade, highly jeweled railroad watch Lin.

In terms of quality, I'd say it's every bit as good as a Hamilton 950 or a Elgin Veritas, and today it is for much less money, but as you always say one day that will change.

Just look at that big gold jewel setting on the barrel.

That is a beauty!

Don

Lindell,

Thank you for the heads up on the No 104. I recently got serial # 3278685.

Here's the inside of the swing ring case. The serial # looks like 9488079.

I was wondering if there's any way to date the case? The movement dates to 1917 and from what I've read it could be cased in a Dueber or almost anything the customer may have wanted at the time. I'm hoping this is an original combination.

Any comments or information from Hampden experts will be helpful.

Thank you,
RR

I'd like to know the answer to that question as well. I've been on the hunt for a nice 104 for some time now...

I have the 19 and 21 jewel versions and they carried the same look even including the gold jewel holder on the motor barrel. I think the 104 and 105 were also available in the center bridge movement, ditto for the Railway (19j). I agree I pick up for Hampdens when I can, one they are great watches but they tend to be under valued. I don't have a 950 since they tend to be over priced but I do have the 23j Veritas 453 and the quality of the Hampdens is as good as the better 21j Elgins or Hamiltons that I have.

Lindell and Claude,

Thank you so much for the information. I've been putting together advertisements on Dueber-Hampden and will start a new topic to share the information.

RR

Lindell I am sure that if we keep talking about how under-priced the Hampdens are that trend will change, I am sure that basically when it came to watch manufacturing people moved from one company to another, spreading the knowledge and as long as a brand was trying to compete in a the same price segment I tend to think the quality of the major brands like South Bend, Hampden, Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Illinois were in the same ballpark, shake a bag and look to see which one falls out first. I would say that for all pre-WW2 made watches, after WW2 I tend to think the economics and manufacturing strategies changed, also by then some of the mentioned brands had already waved bye bye.

There were only 4,300 serial numbers allocated for the Model 5 grade 104.

Clearly the market has never appreciated these watches and continues to under value them compared to the other manufacturers.

Bob

I picked up this Grade 104 this week at a local mart. Serial number is 3322590.

Here is the dial.

It came in a Star case with only one set of case screws. Not sure if this could be an original combination.

John III