Mirabile Dictu! Old guy/newbie w/questions

[Doc Buster]

Hi all -

I'm not a collector but, searching for info on an old Hamilton movement I found among the things left me several years ago by my father, I've determined it to be a 982M, sn M81535, complete & in working order (a rough check shows it ~2.5 min fast/day), w/o case/band.
I'm considering putting it back to work.

The dial measures .845w x .885h, tho' the movement is .965 x .730ish.
Looking at every pic I could find for a similar dialface, I found (on eBay) only a Gilbert, but I believe I read here that this movement was used in 14K cases only.
Is it simply a replacement, or have I just not seen the right model?
Were dials used on more than one model?

I also have an Automatic marked 64059-4 on the back that I can find nothing at all about.
I bought this new, about 1971, from discontinued stock where I worked at the time.
It hasn't run in 15ish years and I wonder: is it worth having serviced, new crystal & band?

Update: just took the back off - it's marked 694A, Seventeen 17 jewels, Hamilton Watch Company & unadjusted swiss. A small milled area looks like where the sn was removed (!?).
And it now (sorta) runs even!

Lastly, what's the diff between plate, RGP and filled?

Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[daxtellgt6]

Terry,

Welcome to the WTF! I am also a newbie, but thanks to the many experts you will find on these pages, am learning quickly. I'll answer what I can and leave the other stuff to said experts...

The 982M was used in 14K (and other precious metal) watches

The Gilbert was such a watch, so that could be right

Often there was more than one dial plate used for a particular model, and from what I believe there may have been shared dials among similar models (though not sure about this part)

Dials were (and are) often refinished, though they may be refinished to exact factory specs as the dial companies have the original Hamilton plates

Sorry, don't know much about automatics

The difference is in thickness of the gold - gold filled is 80 microns thick and rolled gold plate (RGP) is 40 microns - so a substantial difference

How did I do guys...??

[Doc Buster]

Hi Dax -

Unless you're just wrong, you did fine for me.

But, turns out that eBay watch is a Milton, noted as 14KGF, not a Gilbert.

And more questions:

Do size numbers, 14/0 e.g., have meaning other than identification?

What might one expect to pay for a wearable 14K case?

No doubt, more later.

Thanks again.

[jimH]

Hi Dax -

Unless you're just wrong, you did fine for me.

But, turns out that eBay watch is a Milton, noted as 14KGF, not a Gilbert.

If you posted a picture of your dial someone could help you with which model watch it came from.

The Hamilton 694A movement is a Swiss movement based on the ETA 2472. What you describe as "small milled area" is probably where the ETA caliber designation was removed.

[Doc Buster]

Hi Jim -

Thanks for the info on the Automatic.
Is it worth renovating?
Think MSRP was ~$170, cataloged at $110 in the store, and I paid $10 for it back then.

My Kodak "digital Brownie" isn't up to useful close-ups, but this is the dial pattern on my 982M:

[daxtellgt6]

Do size numbers, 14/0 e.g., have meaning other than identification?

Yes, the size numbers (at least for Hamilton) refer to the configuration and dimensions of the case. The ones I am familiar with (in wrist watches) are 6/0 (which was used with the early round movements such as 986, 986A, 987-series) and 14/0 (which was used with more rectangular shaped movements beginning with the 980 [in about 1934] and 982/982M. As I understand it, the 980 movement was 17 jewels and the 982 was 19 jewels. There are a number of movements which were introduced after the pre-war era, most of which were were more round in shape, beginning with the 747.

Again, I'm just a newbie at this, but I don't think I've stated anything factually incorrect, though you will probably get a much more complete answer from others on the forum.

Dan

[jimH]

Hi Jim -

Thanks for the info on the Automatic.
Is it worth renovating?
Think MSRP was ~$170, cataloged at $110 in the store, and I paid $10 for it back then.

My Kodak "digital Brownie" isn't up to useful close-ups, but this is the dial pattern on my 982M:

I assume that this is a borrowed picture of a watch (the Milton) with a dial which is similar to yours?

There are some dials from solid gold models which resemble this but without a picture of your exact dial it is impossible to be certain. Perhaps it could be from a Keith but there are some differences.

Some pictures of your automatic are required to give any opinion on the cost-effectiveness of restoring it.

[Doc Buster]

I've looked at a Keith, and it has double lines around the minute and second tick marks (my apologies - I'm sure there's a correct terminology).

The only difference (other than proportions, perhaps) between the picture posted and my dial is that the corners of the single border lines are right angles rather than the small radii of the Milton's.

The issue w/the Automatic, which has no sentimental value to me, is whether the cost of service/crystal/band is more than what it would cost me to buy one on eBay in wearable/working order.

And again, what might one expect to pay for a wearable 14K case?

Here are the best pix I can get of my watches:



Thanks.

[Doc Buster]

More questions:

Will my movement/dial fit various cases, or must I find whatever style it was in originally?

I've been searching & making a list of all the various styles for which I can find pix, trying to find something matching mine.
It may not surprise those of you familiar w/Hamilton (and Internet searches) that this can be a daunting task!

For anyone else in this predicament, this site has a large (likely not complete, I can't say) listing w/pix of Hamilton watches which can be sorted by case material:
http://www.watch-prices.com/asp/watc...o=hamilton.jpg

Another general question: is there any particular reason for the term caliber (or calibre) for movement designation other than meaning "type or quality"?

*Note: The odd-number dots on my dial are cone-shaped - I've found 1 pic of an "early 50s" Gilbert with the same dial, excepting it has pyramidal dots - 20ish other Gilberts all had full number sets on the dials.*

Thanks.

[stales]

Thanks for the site Terry. I note the sales dates tend to be from the early 2000s?

Have sent you a PM.

stales