[Vintagehamiltons]

Hamilton Gladstone
catalogued 1930-1934
available in green gold fill 1930 & 1931, yellow gold fill 1932-1934, white gold fill 1930-1934
16,501 manufactured in white gold fill, 4,629 manufactured in green gold fill, unknown for yellow gold fill
17-jewel 987 movement
luminous (most common) or black enamel figure dial (very rarely seen)
28mm wide x 38mm over the lugs
18mm strap

 

[adam78]

Here is my green gf Gladstone. The rear engraving dates it to Christmas Day, 1931. At first I was disappointed by the brassing at the high points of the bezel, but then every subsequent green gf example I saw had brassing at least as noticeable, or worse. Must have been those starched shirt cuffs of the early '30s!

How I wish these were made in solid gold as well...

 

[Vintagehamiltons]

I had a ggf one without brassing. I sold it because I wasn't crazy about how it looked with the luminous dial. Then I started the search for the black enamel dial version which I like much better. I would add a ggf/black enamel if I ever found one.

 

[Oldlyme14]

Hamilton Gladstone
catalogued 1930-1934
available in green gold fill 1930 & 1931, yellow gold fill 1932-1934, white gold fill 1930-1934
16,501 manufactured in white gold fill, 4,629 manufactured in green gold fill, unknown for yellow gold fill
17-jewel 987 movement
luminous (most common) or black enamel figure dial (very rarely seen)
28mm wide x 38mm over the lugs
18mm strap

I have a sinking feeling the dial on my Gladstone has been refinished (note the sub-second dial on mine).

Is that true, or is my just a different dial version?

Mark

 

[Endicott]

I'd say it is refinished and ding this they made it looking that way. I have a similiar refinished Sidney and I think that was the way how they refinished it in the 60s (maybe the people did no longer like too much art deco?). But let's wait for the real experts.

 

[Vintagehamiltons]

The dials shown in my Gladstone thread are the only correct versions. Yours was refinished without using the correct dial plates.

 

[adam78]

I have a sinking feeling the dial on my Gladstone has been refinished (note the sub-second dial on mine).

Is that true, or is my just a different dial version?

Mark

Yes, I'm afraid that is an older refinish. The giveaway (besides the incorrect subseconds chapter) is the later variant font of "Hamilton", which is post-1936 in style. The Gladstone wasn't produced past the early '30s, so should use all capitals.

I'd also say that the onion crown is also incorrect for this model. This sort of crown, actually, wasn't used on Hamiltons past the early '20s (probably not past the 0 size models).

 

[stales]

Tom - what do you make of the date inscribed on the back of my Gladstone? (I haven't seen the watch yet but it looks like 1928 - but may be 1929?) Assuming the production dates you've given are correct this would pre-date by one, maybe two years. Is it possibly a case back from another watch, or maybe a pre-dated inscription from 1930 or 20 - or something else?

stales

 

[Vintagehamiltons]

One way to determine if it's a replacement back is to look at the last four digits of the serial number on it. Hamilton's practice was to pencil etch the same numbers inside the bezel in roman numerals.

Tom - what do you make of the date inscribed on the back of my Gladstone? (I haven't seen the watch yet but it looks like 1928 - but may be 1929?) Assuming the production dates you've given are correct this would pre-date by one, maybe two years. Is it possibly a case back from another watch, or maybe a pre-dated inscription from 1930 or 20 - or something else?

stales

 

[Oldlyme14]

Yes, I'm afraid that is an older refinish. The giveaway (besides the incorrect subseconds chapter) is the later variant font of "Hamilton", which is post-1936 in style. The Gladstone wasn't produced past the early '30s, so should use all capitals.

I'd also say that the onion crown is also incorrect for this model. This sort of crown, actually, wasn't used on Hamiltons past the early '20s (probably not past the 0 size models).

thanks to all for your responses. I'm a little disapointed that I purchased a Hamilton with an incorrect refinished dial. But I guess it's an educational process. I'm still learning how to be a careful collector.

I'll have the Gladstone dial refinished so it is historically correct.

 

[stales]

.....I'm a little disapointed that I purchased a Hamilton with an incorrect refinished dial........

Don't be. As has been pointed out to me at this forum, dials, movements, crystals, straps, winding crowns and hands are (relatively) easy to obtain, refinish and/or restore. But - worn or damaged bezels and cases will stay that way forever or simply not look quite right if re-plated. So the lesson is to buy the best bezel and case back one can - then attend to the other flaws as time, funds and desire permit.

stales

 

[Endicott]

Don't be. As has been pointed out to me at this forum, dials, movements, crystals, straps, winding crowns and hands are (relatively) easy to obtain, refinish and/or restore. But - worn or damaged bezels and cases will stay that way forever or simply not look quite right if re-plated. So the lesson is to buy the best bezel and case back one can - then attend to the other flaws as time, funds and desire permit.

stales

That's why I am still looking for a 987S or better some old Sentinel with a bad case but good grade an dial, cause I have a very good case with the wrong grade in it. But as long as I don't find the right one, I even wear sometimes the Franken I have. She still looks nice and the 987 in it is in a really good shape. Maybe I use it sometime in another watch too, so it does not anger me too much and it wasn't very expensive. It means only that I have some spare parts at home and I think as a collector of older watches it wouldn't hurt to have them.
The same counts for the Sidney I have. Someday I may find one with the correct dial but a much worse grade or case, or I let it refinish one day.

 

[Endicott]

@Adam How do you know that yours is ggf and not ygf? I am curious because my own Gladstone arrived today and well I am not sure if it is ggf or ygf. The serial number of the grade dates it at least more to 1930/31 and therefore it could be ggf. :confused1: At first I thought it would be ygf but holding it with another ygf at normal light, the Gladstone seems to be just a little bit brighter.

 

[adam78]

Endicott, in natural lighting (and to the naked eye), it is easier to tell that mine is green, not yellow. I also assumed it was since it had an engraving dating it to Christmas Day, 1931, and I assumed it must have been manufactured some time before that. I read on Will Roseman's site that it was only in late 1931 that yellow gf replaced green gf. I will try to post a photo of it next to my yellow gf Webster and green gf Oval, for comparison.

Yours looks green to my eye.

 

[adam78]

Okay, here are some photos to show comparisons with my Webster (definitely yellow gf). The Gladstone does seem to be green gf (as does my Oval).