DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton, Grade 974 with rare DeLong escapement, unusual 24 hour dial designed for one hour hand revolution per day, 17J, 16S, nickel OF swingout recase with "U.S. Shipping Board" marking to rear, metal dial, time-zone hour hands set 3 hours apart, SW-SS, DeLong escapement with D-shaped upright pallets extending downward below the plane of the lever, mono-metallic balance with Elinvar hairspring, nickel damascene, s#1248499. An intriguing piece, although the movement serial number ostensibly dates to about 1917 the mono-metallic balance wheel of the watch dates to the 1940s or somewhat thereafter and we suspect that the movement's other unusual features (24 hour dial and its associated gearing, and the DeLong escapement) also may have been executed at this time. Charles E. DeLong's escapement designs were granted U.S. patent numbers 1192812 and 1327226 on July 25, 1916 and January 6, 1920 respectively. The DeLong escapement was added to a small number of Hamilton, Illinois, and Ball Hamilton movements, and these watches initially performed admirably with functional advantages of an increased escapement draw angle and a reduced recoil, but the DeLong escapement never gained widespread use as its benefits were offset by a potential for performance impairment following servicing due to this escapement's greater sensitivity to slight changes in the depthing of the escapement hole jewels. We had the pleasure of handling this particular example previously, in 2020 with the sale of Robert Bennett's Hamilton collection. Now from the Estate of Henry Betjemann of Bradenton, Florida.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking somewhat sluggishly on a full wind, setting mechanism not engaging while mvt is in case, when mvt is uncased and a stem is inserted the setting mechanism engages but frequently slips out of engagement seemingly very sensitive to slight differences in stem depth, overhaul needed, excellent-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, barrel bridge with small rub mark at perimeter adjacent larger winding wheel, some fine to micro-fine scratches near case screw positions and around balance jewel setting; excellent dial with some perimeter wear under bezel; excellent hands, small paint flake to red time-zone hand; case shows very light wear, some fine scratches and small nicks, no dents or dings, good marking detail to rear; tight bow, crown shows light wear and has tendency to snap to higher position while winding and to be reluctant to snap back to lower position after mvt swing-ring is returned to position; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$800
-
$1200
"
"
"
"
"