The Hamilton 992, 992E, and 992B Vintage Pocketwatches

**ChaunceyJack** · 03-23-2010 02:10 PM

In a prior thread on the Hamilton 992B that I started, there was some discussion about the Hamilton 992 and the Hamilton 992B differences. In my collection, I have 9 Hamilton 992 watches (including the "E" version) and 14 Hamilton 992B watches. I thought that it may interest some to see photos and read some information on the differences of these watches.

I have researched the information in this post, and while I make no claims as to being an authority on the historical facts, I am merely a collector of many years who loves beautiful vintage pocketwatches. But, I am doing my best to be as accurate in what I post as I can be. Should anything that I say be incorrect or misunderstood, please kindly question or correct me.

When speaking of the 992, 992E, and 992B, it is very easy for many folks to be confused with the model numbers, since all three contain the 992 number. But, as pointed out in the prior thread by another WTF member, there are distinct differences, and the 992, and 992E are a very different watch movement from the 992B.

The Hamilton 992 was produced from 1903 until 1931. In 1931 Hamilton introduced its first "Elinvar" balance spring, a very important modification to the 992 movement, and the models from that point forward are known as the Hamilton 992E. The 992E was in production until 1941, ending sometime after the introduction of the Hamilton 992B in October 1940. When one groups the 992 and the 992E into a single watch model (commonly referred to as the 992) this watch, is indeed, as pointed out in the prior thread, the most popular railroad grade watch model ever made, a total of 992 + 992E watches made slightly over 610,000. This, then, puts the 992B model, which had a total of slightly over 525,000 watches made as the second most popular railroad watch.

It should be noted that from 1903 until 1924, Hamilton sold the 992 model as a movement only. Therefore, photos of the 992 that I will enter here are of a 992 model that was not sold by Hamilton as a cased model; the cases on 992 watches, until 1924 were selected by availability by the buyer and cased by the jeweler or the retail seller. Also, several 992 models were sold by mail order, both uncased movements and as cased watches. 992 movements only still could be purchased after Hamilton started selling cased watches.

Photo 1 --- All three displayed watches. At the top is a 992B, the bottom left is a 992, and the bottom right is a 992E.

Photo 2 --- The face and dial of the 992B. Note that this particular watch was not shown in my prior post on the Hamilton 992B. This watch is cased in the popular Model "A" case.

Photo 3 --- The case back of the 992B.

Photo 4 --- The movement and the inside of the caseback of the 992B.

Photo 5 --- A closeup of the beautiful 992B movement. The serial number of the movement C264858 indicates that the movement was probably made in 1949, making the movement 61 years old. It is believed that this watch was cased and sold as cased by Hamilton, but when it was first sold is not known by me. This watch style, its dial and hands, its case and movement were all offered by Hamilton as a boxed watch.

Photo 6 --- The Hamilton 992 watch. The case was not sold by Hamilton, and its movement was probably cased by a local jeweler. When it was cased is unknown by me. It is in a very beautiful case, in wonderful condition. The dial, which is free of defects, and hands on this watch were typical of those offered by Hamilton at the time that this watch's movement was originally sold.

Photo 7 --- The 992 case back.

Photo 8 --- The 992 movement and inside the case back.

Photo 9 --- The beautiful movement of the 992. Its movement serial number 1540200 indicates that the movement was made in 1918, making the movement 92 years old. When it was cased in the case shown is unknown to me. It is, however, a beautiful vintage pocketwatch with a very clean case and movement that runs well and keeps good time.

Photo 10 --- A closeup of the movement. Note the balance -- there is no wording engraved under the balance wheel. This is typical of the 992 model watch.

Photo 11 --- The face and dial of the 992E watch. This bar-over-crown case, dial, and hands were offered as a cased and boxed watch by Hamilton. It is believed that the movement, case, dial, and hands on this watch were sold by Hamilton and all are original to the watch.

Photo 12 --- The case back of the 992E.

Photo 13 --- The movement and inside the case back of the 992E.

Photo 14 --- The movement of the 992E. Note the wide parallel damaskeening that was then used by Hamilton on many of the 992E movements. The serial number 2644423 indicates this watch was manufactured in 1936 making it 74 years old.

Photo 15 --- A closeup of the 992E movement. Note the "Elinvar" inscription under the balance wheel. The Elinvar balance spring indicates that the movement is a 992E model.

Photo 16 --- A side-by-side photo of both the 992E (left) and the 992B (right) movements showing the distinctive differences. One other interesting note, the 992B movements all had the Elinvar balance spring, however, the material alloy introduced in the 992B Elinvar spring was a different alloy than used in the 992E Elinvar spring. It is considered by many that the 992B Elinvar spring, named by Hamilton as the "Elinvar Extra," to be a much better and higher grade spring material than was used in the 992E, and the 992B Elinvar Extra was considered to be a major improvement to the movement.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to view and read this post. Again, I have done my best to post what I know to be factual, and please, forgive me if anything that I have said is incorrect -- and, please kindly post any corrections you know to be true. I will attempt to verify any corrections to my post and will edit the post accordingly.

As always, peace . . .

**Ham X Guy** · 03-23-2010 05:34 PM

I have to say, those are some incredibly gorgeous PW's! I'm floored by your collection.

I have to say that it is the movements of these vintage PW's that really catch my eye. The present day movements have nothing at all compared to these vintage beauties. It's a shame they didn't have display casebacks back in the day, because these movements certainly deserve to be seen. What beautiful machine work!

Keep posting them!

**ChaunceyJack** · 03-23-2010 06:16 PM

Thank you, Ham X Guy for your wonderful comments. They are gratefully appreciated. I agree with you that the movements in most watches today, even the better Swiss Made movements, including in-house movements, do not display the fine fancy detail workmanship, especially on the plates and the winding wheels, that many of these vintage pocketwatch movements have. A beautiful, clean, defect-free movement is a joy to see, and it is somewhat a shame that photos cannot always convey the true beauty that a vintage pocketwatch owner can see when holding the watch in his hands.

As to the exhibition case backs that we see on so many watches being manufactured and sold today, there were a few watch manufacturers of vintage pocketwatches that did make a few watches with display backs, these watches were generally called "salesman" samples and most had a heavy glass crystal in the case back that displayed the movement.

In my PW collection, I have at least two salesman sample watches with display backs (not Hamilton) that run and keep good time. However, I do not ever recall seeing a Hamilton RR Grade Vintage Pocketwatch that had a display back.

**daxtellgt6** · 03-23-2010 08:54 PM

John,

Incredible photos of your collection! Thanks so much for sharing and for taking the time to include so much information about the differences in the movements. I always marvel at how the watchmakers 80+ years ago were able to produce such magnificent engraved movements. Incredible works of art!