Hamilton 16S 21J lever set (LS) adj. 6p grade 992B pocket watch #C181409, handsome nickel split plate movement with slightly raised jewel settings and a bar-style damascene pattern, white hard enamel double sunk (DS) Montgomery dial with fancy black Arabic numbers, red & black Arabic minute markers, a black-marked subsidiary seconds register and a tight concentric circle engraving design on the center section around the center post is marked "Hamilton Railway Special", dial is free of the common crazing and enamel discoloration often seen with this material but it does have a few small scratches around the edge and a few tiny spots of discoloration across the surface, bold black steel spade & whip style hands.
Re-cased into an impressive white gold filled (WGF) smooth polish Wadsworth model 2 bar-over-crown screw back & bezel (SB&B) case with deep half-circle engraved details on the bezels, heavy shoulders with a stylized Greek key design engraving, a flat Hamilton marked crown, glass crystal and a fancy bow engraved with swirl designs that supports a WGF bar running through the narrow shoulders and over the crown, case is showing normal even wear with some very thin lines of brass starting to show on the back bezel, shoulders & bow, measures approx. 51mm in diameter x 62mm in length x 14mm thick (crystal included). A heavy & impressive railroad grade 1940's era workhorse from Hamilton with some eye-catching & desirable finish options in excellent+ overall condition!
- Year Made: 1947-1948
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Company:
Hamilton
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Movement Size:
0516S
- Jewels: 0721J
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Setting/Movement Type:
lever set
- Adjustments: 6 positions
- Model/Grade: 992B
- Serial #: C181409
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: raised jewel settings
- Dial Material: hard enamel
- Dial Color: white
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Dial Details:
double sunk (DS), Montgomery style, marked "Hamilton Railway Special"
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Hand Style:
spade & whip
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Case Style:
SB&B
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Case Material:
Gold Filled - White
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Case Details:
re-cased, fancy bow, bar-over-crown, Wadsworth model 2
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Case Width/Diameter:
51mm (2.01 inches)
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Case Length, bow included:
62mm (2.44 inches)
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Case Thickness:
14mm (0.55 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
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Condition:
Excellent +
-
Gender:
Gentlemen's
The Hamilton watch company began business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892 and still operates today. The last watches produced in the American factory were made in 1969, after which the company was sold to a Swiss owner.
We also offer a collection of reference and research books for a number of different watch manufacturers, which can be found in our
Watch-Related Books section. As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Hamilton serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company; additional information may also be found on
Wikipedia.
You may browse all of our men's pocket watches from this manufacturer at our
Vintage Men's Hamilton Pocket Watches category.
This watch is in good running condition, unless otherwise noted in the description. This means that on receipt, pending any item-specific running conditions noted in the description, you can expect the watch to be winding and setting properly and to run smoothly while keeping reasonable time. We consider "reasonable time" to meet these basic guidelines:
- Railroad Grade Watches will be keeping +/- 5 minutes per day
- Pocket and Wrist Watches with 15 or more jewels will be keeping +/- 10 minutes per day
- All key wind watches and watches with 14 or fewer jewels will be keeping +/- 15 minutes per day
The above guideline is the lowest standard in which we would ship out a watch, however in most cases, you will see much better timekeeping. Most of our watches have been in storage for many years, so if you plan on carrying/wearing them everyday, you should consider having them cleaned and oiled soon, and then once a year thereafter to keep them in top running condition. If the watches will be for occasional use or display, they should be cleaned and serviced every 3 to 5 years depending on use.
As of October 6th, 2025, we are not offering a cleaning and service option through PM Time Service. While we do hope to offer this again in the future, we are unfortunately unable to meet customer requests for watch servicing at this time. Please note that, unless otherwise mentioned within the "Full Description" tab, this watch is being sold in good running condition and is ready to wear or carry on arrival.
This is considered a "railroad-grade" pocket watch. To be a railroad-grade watch, the following criteria must be met:
- be 16S or 18S
- have 17 or more jewels
- be lever set
- be in an open face case
- be adjusted to 5 or more positions.
- have easily-legible Arabic dial numerals
In order to ensure the accuracy of pocket watches used by railroad employees, with the ultimate goal of preventing train accidents, the General Railroad Timepiece Standards Commission published a set of guidelines for railroad companies and watch manufacturers in 1893. These guidelines, which specified the criteria for a railroad-grade watch, were prepared by Webb C. Ball, the general time inspector of North American railroads and founder of the Ball Watch Company.
For more information, visit this
Wikipedia article on railroad chronometers or this
Smithsonian National Postal Museum article on the influential train wreck tragedy that resulted in the establishment of railroad watch standards.
Our entire collection of such timepieces may also be viewed at our
Railroad Grade Watches category.
Unlike modern quartz watches, most vintage watches need daily winding in order to keep the watch functioning for timekeeping. Additionally, there are a number of different ways to set the time other than simply pulling the crown away from the watch body. We are happy to provide an overview of each of the different setting types on our
"How To Use" page, where we also provide information on proper winding techniques for each style and some suggestions for the proper long term care and storage of your watch.
For your gift giving convenience, please find a consolidated overview of the information on this item, with no reference to the price, on this
printer-optimized page.
