Jump to content

Hamilton Electrics....


Recommended Posts

I'd like to share the Hamilton Electric watches I have collected to date . I plan on expanding this collection with a few more coveted models that are just a little more scarce and with that comes the fact that they are also a bit more expensive . .....sigh...

Anyway , here we go ....We all are familiar with Hamilton watches , new and vintage , and one thing that has been a constant is their beautiful and interesting designs . 

I have a few of their more modern and vintage mechanical models such as the X-Wind , the Odyssee 2001 , Pan Europ's , and others dating from the 40's , but I am addicted to the Electric models that were introduced in the 50's and continued up until the early 70's .

Hamilton hired a designer named Richard Arbib , who was responsible for designing some classic automobiles of the time , and who also was the creator of some different eye catching Hamilton asymetrical cases . It's interesting that Hamilton only used 2 basic watch movements for all or most of these models . They being the 500 and the improved and less delicate 505 movement .

About Richard Arbib :

http://electric-watches.co.uk/makers/hamilton/richard-arbib/

He designed asymmetrical cases for the new Hamilton electric watches in the 1950s, including such notable models as the Ventura, Everest, and Pacer. He also designed watches for Tourneau, Benrus, Sheffield and Gucci. He designed boats for the Century Boat Company in the 1950s, notably one of their most successful and expensive models, the Coronado, as well as the Arabian model.

The 500 and 505 movements :

Screen shot 2017-01-29 at 7.14.53 AM.png

Screen shot 2017-01-29 at 7.15.47 AM.png

As you can see , the 500 movement has the very delicate contact springs that deliver the battery power to the coil on the balance wheel through a contact under the hairspring . From the top down starting with the balance cock , there is the hair spring , A gold tab , trip jewel pin , contact roller , the balance wheel with the coil attached , sliding finger block , actuating pin , index roller , index jewel pin , ....and some other stuff .... Needless to say , this is a tricky movement to work on .

On to my collection starting with a group shot :

DSC00004.JPG

 

Now I'll break it down,....

The Vega Model... It came with what I think is the original watch band because the links match the theme of the lugs that continues through the dial with a dimpled texture . I put the watch on a black leather band so you could see the design of the case better .

DSC00008.JPG

 

The Everest Model :....I just got this one . It was not running so I serviced the 500 movement . It is in very good condition because I got it from the Son of the original owner who was a jeweler in Minneapolis that took it from his stock when these watches first came out in the late 50's . Very unfortunately , the jeweler passed after getting this watch and the Son just stored it until he figured it was time to pass it on to someone that would appreciate it..........I do .  It came with a black leather watch band and I thought it looked to stark , so I fitted it with this nice Honey Brown Hirsch watch band .

DSC00010.JPG

 

The Pacer Model : ....Very popular and the cousin to the Ventura Model , the Elvis watch . I do have a new reissue Ventura with a quartz movement . This one came non running with a 500 movement . Non-running because parts were missing including the trip and contact springs . I spent over 10 hours one Saturday working on it and finally get this watch to run properly .

 

DSC00016.JPG

 

The Pegasus Model :...

 

 

The Sea-Lectric II Model :

DSC00020.JPG

 

The Titan Model :.....similar to the Van Horn model with the difference being that the Titan is 10k gold filled , and the Van Horn is solid 14k . Van Horn was a Hamilton executive at the time involved with the development of these watches .

DSC00024.JPG

 

The Vantage Model :...not to be confused with the Hamilton sub-brand watch line Vantage .

DSC00025.JPG

 

The Nautilus Model :...One of the many In the Nautilus Series numbered in the 200 , 400 , 500 , and 600 range . These are similar to the Skip Jack and other models .

DSC00030.JPG

 

And Last , but not least I have another Nautilus Model . I don't remember the series number off hand , but it took me a while to trace the model number . I haven't seen too many of this model except in my searching to find the number for this orphan .

DSC00035.JPG

 

I hope you have enjoyed looking at these watches as much as I have . As I stated earlier , I want to add a few other models to this collection including the Meteor Model .

 

Aloha , Louis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by ricardopalamino
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow!  Love your collection!  Thanks for sharing all the great photos.  I have a service manual for the 505, if you ever need anything from it I'll be happy to scan something for you.  I also have an old Hamilton parts catalog if you need a part number or anything.  My favorite one is the one you put the honey band on.  I can't imagine what it looked like with a black band.  Thanks again for sharing!

Shirley

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howzit Shirley ,

  Thanks for the kind offer of the service manual . I have a couple of versions . Some I found online , some in some watch repair books I have , and one really good one I bought online . Both the 500 and the 505 are pretty hard to get parts for . You can find donor parts for sale on ebay , but they are heavily sought after and expensive ., Most offerings say that the balance turns freely which is something you would look for in a mechanical watch , ...but the balance assembly has all the other parts on the shaft that have to be good to be usable . Also the 500 needs the plate with delicate trigger and contact springs . They get broken or knocked off very easily .

I saw one of your posts where you mentioned you had Accutron parts . I will get around to sending you a PM to inquire about those parts soon , if that's OK ?

Here is a pic of what the Everest looked like with the black band....

Screen shot 2017-01-29 at 5.10.56 PM.png

 

And here's a pic of what the Pegasus Model looks like . I just noticed that the pic didn't make it to the party in my original post ....

DSC00019 16-03-27.JPG

 

Cheers , Louis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow Louis what a collection. I really like the Vega model with its two halves being asymmetrical but mirrored. I've never worked on an electric Hamilton except for the ESA-powered model from the 70's. These are beautiful watches, and in this hobby where exclusivity is at a premium, you've got it! Wear them well.

J

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I was able to pick up this Hamilton Electric Meteor today for the low price of an arm and a leg . I scratched that itch with the other arm .

I am hoping for the best , but I am pretty sure it's all original , including the bracelet . I don't know which movement is installed ,...the 500 or the 505 .

 I'm going to have to recuperate and hold off on any sizable purchases for a bit .

The sellers remarks on the description,,,," Vintage Hamilton Electric Asymmetrical Mid Century Modern Watch 10K Gold Filled. Men's watch. Good vintage condition. Minor scratches & scuffs. Rub marks on back. See pictures. Currently does not keep time. May just need new battery.  Hands can be moved with side button. Please feel free to ask questions. This watch belonged to my husband's grandfather. I am not a dealer. "...

I'm using the sellers pics to show it........

 

589d2296c2cda_Screenshot2017-02-09at4_05_56PM.png.5005c48cc91f420d6027f362f852e38f.png

589d22aca3dad_Screenshot2017-02-09at4_06_07PM.png.98b2fc2b9adae5944406ce73bf1afefd.png

589d22be67599_Screenshot2017-02-09at4_06_28PM.png.578445a034b733b61b5b57cec7820f0c.png

589d22d5aaba7_Screenshot2017-02-09at4_07_58PM.png.a752abdf05bf9f8b32c94ef03da91148.png

 

Edited by ricardopalamino
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, SeikoWatch said:

Wow ! what a beautiful collection ! .. I never had any Hamilton watches. The only electric I have are Timex ... Congrats for your collection ;)

Thank You ,...I Have a few nice Timex also . I posted one  called the Blue Nebula here in Your Watch Collection on Dec . 2 , 2016 . under the title " Warning , Timex Content Ahead ." . I have since acquired a Red Nebula to compliment it .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, ramrod said:

i haven't been keeping a tally of just how many you've acquired, louis. that is one helluva collection. they don't make those classy designs anymore, and it's a shame.

i'm sure you're not done yet, either.

Howzit ramrod ,  10 running and about 3 or 4 for in the works . 

I need complete balances with good coils for the 505 and complete contact springs for the 500's .Hard to get parts .There are donor movements for sale , and not cheap , but there's no guaranty on the parts being good ....Similar to Accutron donors .

There are a couple more electrics I want to get and a few mechanicals of similar design . The problem is I started out with the more available , less expensive models . It's an uphill climb from here .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have added another member to my collection . This one is a Hamilton Electric RR Special .  This one was sold as a non-runner and had no hands , Otherwise this watch is complete and original .

The RR Special case is 37mm , has a screw down back , and the watches date from the mid 60's .

58ab18451c23e_Screenshot2017-02-19at3_31_48PM.png.c20a2bc226a9f8d2a4516491dd99fdfe.png

58ab185b3607b_Screenshot2017-02-19at3_32_47PM.png.3571372bc4dbe176473b5c93b1fc32af.png

58ab187173c82_Screenshot2017-02-19at3_32_37PM.png.cf229f510ca55fa1a6bfd6b2a4816cc3.png

58ab1882cdb07_Screenshot2017-02-19at3_32_26PM.png.b2904ba007092258808c670ed91b67d8.png

 

The RR Specials used the 505 movement and had a micro-sdjuster on the balance cock to regulate the time more accurately . as can be seen in the last photo.

These watches came in 3 variations in the case selection . They being the models 50 , 51 , and 52 . 

The 50 is all stainless steel , the 51 has a stainless steel case and back and a 10k gold filled bezel , and the 52 is all 10k gold filled . I have the 51 .

Below is a pic taken from the site , Electric Watches UK , that shows all 3 models and their variations ....and also the correct hands that came with this model .

58ab189b183e9_Screenshot2017-02-19at4_23_07PM.png.c584189206312fea3bc967d83ed9db57.png

 

As I stated , this watch came as a non-runner and I found 2 issues to that affect . 

First , there was a tiny screw stuck to one of the case magnets under the balance wheel that hindered movement ,...and second , I had to replace the very tiny contact on the dial side that provided power from the Neg side of the battery , through the contact , to the coil on the balance via the index wheel .

 

58ab18ac1e39f_DSC0000417-21-51.thumb.JPG.a3d025bdf4918fda98c34e84ad7e6b9f.JPG

After a complete service and with the replacement contact in place , this puppy took off running ....and keeping good time so far....:)

Finally after reassembling the watch , I found a set of blued minute and hour hands in my stash that needed a bit if reaming to fit , and also a genuine Hamilton Electric second hand , and set them to the watch .

DSC00006.thumb.JPG.f63b36184812b65178e5e2944c559069.JPG

 

I will wait a while and see how the watch runs and then re-lume the hands and paint the second hand red .

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I'd like to share one more watch in my quiver of Hamilton Electrics . This time it's another in the Nautilus series .  This one is the Nautilus 500 model as ID'ed by using the series pics in Rene Rondeau's really nice book called , ' The Watch of the Future , the story of the Hamilton Electric watch ".

I had bought the dial a while back , then a front loading case and crystal . Finally I got a non running 505 movement that I serviced and changed out the tiny contact and the index wheel that deliver power from the battery to the coil on the balance wheel .

  The movement had the female part of the two piece stem connected to the watch , and I was able to secure the male half of the stem from Esslinger.com ......ain't love grand....

I had an original crown in my stash and also some hands from a Nautilus 501 and an original second hand .

Le Voilà !.....

 

DSC00006.thumb.jpg.9632e1a13babd5c18550c7f58d75bc50.jpg

DSC00004.thumb.jpg.e122994b7d2281cfd9496e94fd8585ae.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I've just added this 1965 Savitar to my Hamilton Electric collection .

  Unfortunately it had needed some repairs to the caseback that was done by a previous owner . It looks like the repair was done with solder and smeared with a substance that looks like clear PVC cement to cover the repair . Luckily the watch looks good from the front and the movement looks and runs OK .

  The good news is that I got it for a good price compared to others I have seen offered .

The sellers pics.....

58e12e217f723_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_43_37AM.thumb.png.c06fa628da698afacaa4d3eeccd67594.png

58e12e508e2c0_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_45_29AM.png.2ceb47425c0c0d14118358b99b8f1624.png

58e12e6480558_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_45_21AM.png.fa3d40a2ec042cb7329da33786c5d688.png

58e12e80ee3d4_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_44_55AM.png.94c07e9eede48a05aa7b0eabc2c8d89d.png58e12e93c891b_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_44_46AM.png.4eba592c22ccf9241f331c3c2b055982.png

 

The watch...

DSC00032.thumb.jpg.1cda58baf91a7699852458201d7b7519.jpg

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote

That watch on LBJs arm is in the LBJ Library in Austin TX at UT and another is at the LBJ ranch in Johnson City. He had a collection of quite a few Hamiltons. I never knew these were electric watches even when I saw them.   

Sad that in the States the word "Pacer" describes an American made car almost as bad as a Yugo, not a fine watch.      

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/2/2017 at 1:05 PM, ricardopalamino said:

I've just added this 1965 Savitar to my Hamilton Electric collection .

  Unfortunately it had needed some repairs to the caseback that was done by a previous owner . It looks like the repair was done with solder and smeared with a substance that looks like clear PVC cement to cover the repair . Luckily the watch looks good from the front and the movement looks and runs OK .

  The good news is that I got it for a good price compared to others I have seen offered .

The sellers pics.....

58e12e217f723_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_43_37AM.thumb.png.c06fa628da698afacaa4d3eeccd67594.png

58e12e508e2c0_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_45_29AM.png.2ceb47425c0c0d14118358b99b8f1624.png

58e12e6480558_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_45_21AM.png.fa3d40a2ec042cb7329da33786c5d688.png

58e12e80ee3d4_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_44_55AM.png.94c07e9eede48a05aa7b0eabc2c8d89d.png58e12e93c891b_ScreenShot2017-04-02at6_44_46AM.png.4eba592c22ccf9241f331c3c2b055982.png

 

The watch...

DSC00032.thumb.jpg.1cda58baf91a7699852458201d7b7519.jpg

 

Woah.Style!

J

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Joe , Thanks ,...Yeah , it came out looking pretty good . I just picked up another model that I will be posting soon .  

It turns out that the dial side balance pivot is slightly bent and would stop when the dial was up . Fortunately I had another 505 movement ready to go and I switched out the balances and got this puppy running good .     I installed  the balance with the bent pivot into my spare movement and it will run and keep good time if I don't install the cap jewel over the jewel in the shock spring .  I tried to add some end shake in the jewel/spring holder , but no love . 

  I could try changing out the shaft with a spare , BUT there is a lot of stuff on the shaft ,....Hairspring , balance wheel with a good integrated coil attached , a teeny weeny wire from the coil that threads through a tube to a contact / jewel plate , a finger block and actuating pin....Sooo , no cap jewel for that guy .... Don't tell anybody .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A nice addition to the collection . This time it's a Hamilton Titan ll with a 505 electric movement . I'm not sure why Hamilton chose this name because in my original post you can see the Titan , and there is no similarity in the designs .

This one looks like a front loader , but I found out that in fact it has a split case . I found this out after i pulled the crown/ stem out with a good yank .....oops.. I installed a battery and this baby took off running . The only defect I found was the finger on the setting lever spring was broken off and there was no definite stop between the running and setting positions . I had a spare spring that I changed out to fix this .

 

58e7d2d20fcae_ScreenShot2017-04-07at7_40_28AM.jpg.962e8064564547a422123e28798f2ce1.jpg

 

At first I thought I thought I may have overpaid for this watch since it was untested with out a battery , but after installing the battery , cleaning up the case and crystal , installing a band from my stash , ...it grew on me and I like it . I saw one sell for $35 more yesterday that wasn't as nice and a non runner , and I have seen others going for a bit more . 

 

The Watch,.....

 

DSC00007.thumb.jpg.c31d4c60438a86219dc2b523d7f1e288.jpg

DSC00012.thumb.jpg.65e7444c2f8fe2151a0186fda58ecb08.jpg

DSC00002.thumb.jpg.c060f863ad6d61cbe27d2e99d923743d.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • That would be something! Which brings me back to;  
    • you think you're going to sleep tonight you're not, you're going to ponder the question of what makes you think those of the right parts?  
    • Does anyone knows what size case a need for a dial diameter 20.60mm?
    • Sounds like the story with my Rolex. Poor (expensive) job done by an official Rolex dealer with an "in-house" watchmaker, hence I learned watchrepair and did the servicing myself. Same story as I learned with the Omega 861, again poor job by an "in-house" watchmaker by an official Omega dealer. Once your watch goes through that back-door, you have no idea what is going to happening to it 🫣   Quite nice that they sent back the parts which had been replaced !
    • yes that's definitely not right at all. I have a picture one of my friends has a Omega coaxial there was having issues to lose asking me where he should send it. As that's a specialty watch I suggested the service center. When he got it back he sent me a picture so the replace the dial as you can see the hands the mainspring barrel and I think the price was really quite decent considering all the stuff they can replace. So I do know they do change the barrels but the other person I worked at the service center when I would ask questions and unfortunately I can't remember all the answers. I think a lot of the changing a parts is at the discretion of the watchmaker. Plus I don't know enough about the chronographs and whether that would be considered a vintage watch? I take some of the vintage watches may have been sent directly to Switzerland or another service center. Obviously with a watch like the one down below they probably have a infinite supply of parts is its relatively modern vintage stuff becomes more interesting even the watch companies don't have necessarily infinite supply of parts. But no matter what the watch shouldn't disintegrated six months that's definitely an issue.        
×
×
  • Create New...