The advent of the American railway was significant as the timetable needed to be set in a standard time to avoid accidents. Later radio time signals solved such problems. However, it was the precise time keeping and the high standards of the American Mechanical Pocket Watches that new technical developments were achieved.

Thomaston Auction presents a showcase of mechanical watchmaking proficiency –on offer Friday March 21st, 2025 are more than 40 American Pocket watches from Hamilton, Elgin, Waltham, New York Standard and Illinois Watch Co., plus more than 400 unique jewelry pieces available to discover in the catalog for our upcoming Jewelry Auction.

Lot #1015

*Hamilton Railway Special, Grade #992B, 21J*

What would a watch collector want to know about collecting American Pocket Watches?

The American watch industry is a post-1850 phenomenon, as before this date very few watches were made in the United States. During the period from 1850, the better-quality watches were lever watches, and they often had elaborate methods of regulation, with fine screw adjustments and screw-on cases, giving access to the precision of the regulator.

One timepiece in particular, Lot #1015 is the Hamilton Railway Special Pocket Watch –– a superb example of American ingenuity that elevated the late 19th to early 20th Century Pocket Watch industry to a worldwide standard for accuracy in timekeeping.

American Railroad Pocket Watches from this time are some of the highest quality watches and most notably from 1850 to the early beginnings of the 20th Century. The Hamilton Grade 992B on offer is an antique mechanical pocket watch and an example of the highest quality from this time period. The movement is circa 1949 (corresponding serial number C269226 to Hamilton 992B serial numbers) and the timepiece represents the pinnacle of American watchmaking during the 1940-1950s.

The 992B movement is a successor to the 992E movement (the 992 Elinvar, made from 1931-1941) which is a successor of the Hamilton 992 (made from 1903-1930). As a Railroad Special, the Hamilton 992 is the most successful of all Hamilton pocket watch movements.

Lot #1015 *Hamilton Railway Special, Grade #992B, 21J*

*Hamilton Railway Special, Grade #992B, 21J*

The term "Railway Special" is found on most Hamilton 992B watches, and a registered trademark of Hamilton. Hamilton was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Hamilton 992B Railway Special is a high-grade "railroad approved" pocket watch. The watch has 21 jewels, 16 size, factory adjusted to keep accurate time in all 6 positions and is lever-set and is among the highest quality consumer items ever made in the United States.

The classic description of the American “Iron Horse” was certainly no easy task to track, and every American town effectively had its own time zone. During the late 19th Century the American railroad companies agreed on a new system of four zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. Locomotive engineers, conductors, and switch yard controllers all had to have their watches inspected and certified by the railroad's watch inspectors.

In 1893, Chief Time Inspector Webster Clay Ball implemented frequent time inspections and standardized the railroad watches. As a timepiece to be suited to the railroad, the pocket watch had to contain a minimum of 17 jewels, be adjusted to a minimum of five positions, operate from below freezing to 100 degrees—and be accurate to within thirty seconds per week. The watchmakers who met these demands were Ball, Elgin, Waltham—and notably, Hamilton.

With the demanding requirement of typically +/- 30 seconds of accuracy, the railroad watches would be regularly inspected to see that the specific model was allowed by the railroad’s rules and that it was in good running order and provided exceptionally accurate timekeeping. Finding everything satisfactory, the railroad watch inspectors would certify the watch, and scribble some number letter combination into the back of the case confirming inspection. This way the inspector would know if they had worked on the watch and additionally would keep paper records, although the repair marks were more convenient than searching through paper records.

What is the History Scribbled in These American Pocket Watches?

Inspector Scribbles #1015

*Hamilton Railway Special, Grade #992B, 21J*

Inspection marks can be found on the inside of back cover of Lot #1015, and the tiny scribbles indicate that this railway pocket watch was presumably authorized by the American railway system, and is a remarkable example of American watchmaking, and a very special offering. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of timekeeping history.

View the catalog online and register to bid today to own a piece of railroad history.