1960 Thin-o-matic T-403

I think one of the most popular genres of Hamilton collecting is the asymmetric models.  You can find them in all of the movement types... Electric, Mechanical, and Automatic.  The Ventura and the Pacer are probably the most popular but there are lots of really cool models to choose from... if you can afford them.

Even the Thin-o-matic line got some action with the 1960 T-403.  It was produced through 1963.  Originally it was offered in a yellow gold filled case.  What makes it interesting is the shark-finned shaped lugs where the left side is straight and the right side sweeps out to cover the right side of the lugs.  The dial adds to the effect with two zones, one side gold and the other white finished.  The gold side has yellow embossed markers and the silver side has black lines radiating from the center to the 1, 2,3, 4 and 5 positions.

In 1962 a white gold filled option was introduced.  The dial for the white version has grey instead of gold.  Interesting, the style of hands are stick and lollipop with the yellow version getting black hands and the white version getting yellow hands.  So the yellow models are similar but also very different.

I posted on the white version in 2018 and recently had the opportunity to work on a yellow version

As received, you could be forgiven for not recognizing it.  It appears to have suffered an identity crisis.  The dial is a refinished replacement but the gold color is accurate.  The minute hand is luminous but the hour hand is not.  Check out the crown, I'm not sure what is going on with it, other than being extremely worn.  The watch is not running but hopefully I'll be able to resolve that with a basic overhaul.

The flat case back shows a lot of wear too.  It appears to be somewhat crudely engraved with initials and a date from June, 1961... perhaps a birthday, graduation, or even wedding?

With the crystal removed and the two piece stem separated, the movement will now drop out the front.  Notice the inside of the crown... maybe this was waterproof at some point but it definitely needs to be replaced.  The stem tube on the case looks to be larger - probably 2.5mm will be required.  There's a lot that goes into specifying the crown, you'd be surprised.

Behind the dial is a Hamilton 663 movement - one of the earlier pink micro rotor movements.  I greatly prefer these over the later silver micro rotors from the late 1960s and 70s.

The inside of the case back exhibits the sure tale signs of a micro rotor movement - you can see where the little oscillating weight and rubbed the inside of the case as it swung around.

One of the dial foot screws is totally buggered up.  In fact, most of the screws look like they've been turned with crappy screwdrivers.

The owner sent along a correct dial that has seen some adventures but lived to tell the tales.  It's a little dented and shows some scrapes but at least it's correct.  I don't have the proper hands though so I'll have to do the best I can.

Everything is cleaned and ready to be reassembled.  There are a lot of parts to these micro rotor movements but I should be able to get them all back together.

There... the movement is mostly reassembled... at least enough to be running so I can put it on the timer.

Not too shabby - I'll leave it as is for now.

The movement requires a 0.90 minute hand and 1.50mm hour hand - those sizes don't have a lot of options when it comes to simple black baton hands.  The second hand requires a 0.22mm pivot so I just painted the gold one that came with it black to match.  A new crown and replacement crystal make a huge difference on this well-worn case.  I also add a proper-fitting black leather strap.

I think the finished project looks great - especially compared to what I started with.  It's not perfect but it's 65 years old... it doesn't have to look new.  I'm sure the owner will enjoy it more now that it at least looks like a T-403 at a glance.