Lancaster, Pennsylvania · 1892–1969

Hamilton pocket watches

Hamilton started in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892, built on the remains of several failed watch companies and named for Andrew Hamilton, who laid out Lancaster. Its first watch, the 18-size Grade 936 of 1893, was made for the railroads, and Hamilton sold itself as the Watch of Railroad Accuracy. By 1912 it claimed almost 56% of trainmen on inspected lines carried one. Apart from a few of the earliest grades, Hamilton never made a pocket watch with fewer than 17 jewels. The 940, 992 and 950 families are the ones you'll see most. Lancaster kept making pocket watches until American production ended in 1969 and manufacturing moved to Switzerland. The name now belongs to the Swatch Group.

8 references we cover.