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Thanks for visiting my vintage Hamilton watch blog. I like to restore US-made Hamilton wrist watches back to their original glory and share my experiences with other enthusiasts. Use the "Search" space below if you know what model you're looking for. Feel free to leave polite comments or questions in the spaces provided. Also check out my "watches for sale" on my Etsy site - the link is on the right, just below.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

1938 Endicott

My very first Hamilton wrist watch was the Endicott.  I just loved it's classic style with the rounded case and the rounded sub second register at 6:00.  I didn't know any other Hamilton models at the time but I was inspired, believe it or not, by the wrist watch Donald Duck wore in a Disney cartoon!


The Endicott was introduced in 1938 and ran through 1948.  It was a very popular model and is easily found in the most common dial patterns - mainly the 2nd generation Applied Gold Numeral dial.

The earliest Endicott shown in this 1938 catalog ad came with the AGN dial with rectangular hour markers as well as a black enamel dial.


Here are my examples... this first version is arguably the rarest dial pattern.  Notice the rectangular shape of the markers at the 5 minute positions.  It's much more common to see the triangular markers on the second version of the AGN dial.



Later the "black zone dial" and luminous dialed options were introduced.  The luminous version uses the same dial pattern as the WWII military models that used the 987A movement.




Finally, in the 1940's the AGN dial was redesigned and the hour markers converted to triangles.  The 18K gold numerals are also on a slightly larger diameter (further from the center) than the earlier AGN design.



One interesting thing to note is the close similarity to the Secometer from the same period and shown in the above 1947 catalog ad.  Both models use 6/0 sized 987-based movements.  The Endicott used the 987A and the Secometer used the 987S with a central sweep second.

The 987S is slightly deeper to accommodate the additional wheel needed to drive the second hand.  As a result, the 987A will fit into a 987S Secometer case, but a 987S will not fit into an Endicott case.

For whatever reason, it is not uncommon to find an Endicott-dialed movement in a Secometer case.  In fact, it happens so frequently that one is left to wonder if at the end of WWII Hamilton sold these specially-cased variants while production was restored from military to civilian purposes?

Here's an example that I once purchased - notice the difference in the shape of the lugs.


I've accidentally bought "Endicometers" on more than one occasion.

The Endicott is not a very large watch by today's standards.  It's about 1-1/8" wide with a dial about the size of a Quarter.  That said, it's a very classic design that no Hamilton collection would be complete without at least one example.

7 comments:

  1. I think this is by far my favorite Hamilton wrist watch. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for one of these.

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  2. Dan, regarding your pictures, it appears you have convex crystals on a couple of these Endicotts, and flat ones on others....Or is it just the lighting? If so, do you know which is original (if there was an original convention)?

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    1. They’re domed mineral glass. Some are higher dome than others but none are flat. I suspect glass would be original.

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  3. I have an Endicott in stainless case, the,back is screw on with a hex raised area. What is it?

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    1. I can tell you that it's not an Endicott, but that's about it. Sounds like an Endicott dial and movement that is reinstalled in an aftermarket case.... in other words a "franken"

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    2. The raised hex area sounds like the back of a military Hamilton I have, but it has 10 sides. It is silver cased and has a face similar to the Endicott. It is slightly larger, though.

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  4. I have what I think is an Endicott first example you have on this page. It belonged to my dad, and i am wondering if anyone could tell me possibly what the value might be, or where would I find that information? Also are there collectors who would be interested in this?

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