Edit filter log

'{{Infobox company | name = Hamilton Watch Company | logo = [[File:Hamilton Logo.jpg]] | caption = American Spirit - Swiss Precision | type = | genre = | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1892, [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], USA | founder = | defunct = | location_city = Bienne | location_country = Switzerland | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = Watch manufacturing | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = [[The Swatch Group]] | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = http://www.hamiltonwatch.com | footnotes = | intl = }} The '''Hamilton Watch Company''' was an American company that was incorporated in 1892 and produced its first watch, the 936, in 1893. The company went on to manufacture and market [[pocket watch]]es and [[Watch|wristwatches]] and subsequently become a diversified [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]]. In 1971 it became the third company of what was to later become the Swatch Group and is today one of twenty brands belonging to the [[The Swatch Group|Swatch Group]], the world's largest watch manufacturer and marketer. [[File:Hamilton pocketwatch.jpg|thumb|upright|Hamilton pocket watch, ca. 1904]] [[File:Hamilton 990.png|thumb|Hamilton 990 movement, ca. 1910.]] [[File:Hamilton Ventura.jpg|thumb|upright|Hamilton Ventura, 1957]] == History: 1892–1969 == Hamilton succeeded three watch firms manufacturing timepieces in the same facilities in Lancaster, PA., including the Lancaster Watch Company. The precursor to the Hamilton Watch Co., the [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]] based '''Keystone Standard Watch Co.''', was started by [[Abram Bitner]] in 1886 with the purchase of [[Lancaster Watch Company]]'s factory. Keystone manufactured watches featuring a patented "Dust Proof" design that used a small acrylic "window" to cover the only opening in the plate of the movement.{{cn|date=October 2015}} Keystone existed until 1891 when the company was sold to Hamilton Watch Company. The Hamilton Watch Company was established in 1892 after Keystone Standard Watch Company was purchased from bankruptcy. During the same year, Aurora Watch Company of [[Illinois]] also merged into Keystone. The name was originally to be "Columbian," but when it was discovered the Waterbury Watch Co had trademarked that name, a meeting of stock holders was called in November 1892 and the new name was Hamilton, The new name was after Andrew Hamilton, a Scottish born attorney who served as Attorney State General form 1711 to 1724, who laid and out and founder Lancaster, PA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/hamilton.html |title=Brief History: Hamilton Watch Company |publisher=Renaissance Watch Repair |accessdate=26 November 2014}}</ref> During the expansion of the railroads in the U.S., Hamilton maintained over 56% of the market. Railroads purchased all of Hamilton's production. As the market switched from pocket watches to wrist watches after World War I, the company manufactured wrist watches. During World War II, Hamilton retooled its business model to serve the military, dropping its consumer products. Hamilton Watch Company was housed on a {{convert|13|acre|m2|adj=on}} [[Hamilton Watch Complex|complex]] in Lancaster. Hamilton eventually took possession of Aurora Watch Company's machinery shortly after incorporation. The first watch made under the Hamilton name was an 18-size 17-jewel pocket watch in 1893. During Hamilton's first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced&nbsp;— the 18-size and the smaller 16-size.<ref>[http://watchmejordan.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-hamilton-history.html A Little Hamilton History]</ref> The company's first series of pocket watches, the Broadway Limited, was marketed as the "Watch of Railroad Accuracy," and Hamilton became popular by making accurate [[Railroad chronometer|railroad watches]]. Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch in 1917, designed to appeal to men entering World War I and containing the 0-sized 17-jewel 983 movement originally designed for women's pendent watches. In 1928 Hamilton purchased the [[Illinois Watch Company]] for in excess of $5 million from the heirs of [[John Whitfield Bunn and Jacob Bunn]]. Some of the most collectible early Hamilton wristwatches include The Oval, The Tonneau, The Rectangular, The Square Enamel, The Coronado, The Piping Rock, The Spur, The Glendale, The Pinehurst, The Langley, The Byrd, The Cambridge, the Barrel "B", and The Flintridge. Many models came in both solid gold and gold filled cases and, though rare, some wristwatches such as the Grant were made of silver. ==Marine chronometers== {{unreferenced|section|date=January 2016}} During World War II, production of consumer watches was stopped, with all watches manufactured being shipped to troops. More than one million watches were sent overseas. The company was extremely successful in producing [[marine chronometer]]s and deck watches in large numbers to fill the needs of the United States Navy, and other Allied navies as well. The Model 21 Hamilton was built first and had a chain drive fusee, followed by the Model 22. The Model 22 had a traditional main spring, available in a traditional double box and also in a deck watch. The Model 21 and 22 had a two-day power reserve and the movements of both were marked U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships. The model 22 was also used by the U.S. Army and on the back of some it is marked U.S. Army, but all the model 22 movements are marked U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships. The Model 23 was a 16 size pocket watch case with a black dial; despite the pocket watch case, this was a stop watch. The Model 4992b was in a 16 size case, with a black dial. It was used as the pocket watch for U.S. military, featuring a 21 jewel railroad grade movement. ==1950s the last decade as a watch manufacturing powerhouse in America== In 1951, Hamilton rebuffed a hostile takeover bid by the [[Benrus]] watch company. The fallout from the failed takeover action culminated in Hamilton Watch Co. v. Benrus Watch Co. (206 F.2d 738, 740 (2d Cir. 1953), a Federal proceeding that is considered to be landmark in the realm of Federal [[anti-trust]] case law.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050318173332/http://www.justice.gov/atr/foia/divisionmanual/ch4.htm USDOJ FOIA Division Manual] (archived 2005)</ref> In 1955, Hamilton provided a "celestial time zone clock, permitting flight-type navigation" for the [[Astra-Gnome]] concept of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000.<ref>{{cite book|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=makfAQAAIAAJ&q=Hamilton+Watch+Company+provided+a+celestial+time+zone+clock,+permitting+flight-type+navigation |page=31 |last=Sharf |first=Frederic A. |title=Richard H. Arbib: 1917-1995 Visionary American Designer |publisher=Newburyport Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-882266-16-6 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=8SkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA112&dq=Arbib+Astra-Gnome+celestial+clock |title=Astra-Gnome: $? |journal=Popular Science |date=July 1956 |page=112 |volume=169 |issue=1 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> In 1957, Hamilton introduced the world's first [[electric watch]], the Hamilton Electric 500.<ref>{{cite web|last=Long |first=Tony |url=http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0103 |title=Jan. 3, 1957: Debut of the Electric Watch, a Space Age Marvel |publisher=Wired.com |date=3 January 2008 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> It was available in a variety of non-traditional asymmetrical case styles<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hamiltonwristwatch.com/history.html |first=René |last=Rondeau |title=History Of The Hamilton Electric |publisher=Hamiltonwristwatch.com |date= |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> including the Ventura that was designed by [[Richard Arbib]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/obituaries/richard-h-arbib-77-designer-of-array-of-consumer-products.html |title=Richard H. Arbib, 77, Designer Of Array of Consumer Products |first=Michael |last=Elliot |date=3 March 1995 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> The watch was worn by [[Elvis Presley]], who also featured it the movie ''[[Blue Hawaii]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=TY1dL__XQlEC&pg=PA156&dq=Hamilton+Watch+Elvis |page=156 |title=Warman's watches field guide |first=Reyne |last=Haines |publisher=Krause Publications |year=2010 |isbn=9781440218866 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> In 1962, Hamilton entered into a joint venture (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm [[Ricoh]] to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The electronic components were produced at Hamilton's Lancaster factory while production of the mechanical works and final assembly was undertaken in Japan. Although production levels of Hamilton-Ricoh watches was high (over 1000 per month), demand was low and consequently, the Hamilton-Ricoh partnership was unable to compete with the substantial market presence of [[Seiko]]. The partnership was dissolved in 1965, with the remaining Hamilton-Ricoh electronic movements (marked "Ricoh 555E") re-cased as "Vantage" and sold in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/make/hamilton/ricoh/ricoh.php |title=Hamilton Ricoh Watch Company |publisher=Electric-watches.co.uk |date=6 February 2011 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> == Joint Swiss/U.S. operations: 1969–72 == [[File:Microrotor (Small).jpg|thumb|Swiss Hamilton/Buren Micro-rotor movement]] In 1966, Hamilton acquired the [[Buren Watch Company]] of [[Büren an der Aare]], Switzerland, including all factories and technologies that had been developed by Buren up to that point. From 1966 to 1969, Hamilton Lancaster and Buren Switzerland were operated as a joint concern, with Hamilton using a number of Swiss movements for their "American" watches and Buren utilizing a number of components manufactured by Hamilton Lancaster. It was during this time that Hamilton started to selectively incorporate the highly innovative Buren Micro-rotor (a.k.a. Micro Rotor/Micro-rotor) movement into small numbers of certain upper tier watches, in addition to their ordinary hand-wind and traditional automatic watches. The Buren (now Hamilton/Buren) Micro-rotor was the first patented automatic wristwatch movement to eliminate the sizable external oscillating weight inherent to most automatic winding watches. Instead, it utilized a much smaller weight that was entirely integrated into the chassis of the movement. This design allowed for a substantially slimmer automatic watch that still retained a center sweep second hand. The Micro-rotor concept was also conceived by [[Universal Genève]] for use in their [[Polerouter]] series of timepieces during this same time. The official title of "first Micro-rotor movement" is still in dispute among some horology aficionados, even though Buren patented their design in 1954<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finertimes.com/asp/watches/manufacturer.asp?code=19 |title=Buren Watch |publisher=Finertimes.com |year=2011 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> while Universal Geneve applied for their patent in May 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polerouter.de/frameset-movements.htm |title=Polerouter - movements |publisher=Polerouter.de |date= |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> In 1969, the Hamilton Watch Company completely ended American manufacturing operations with the closure of its factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shifting manufacturing operations to the Buren factory in Switzerland. From 1969 to 1972, all new Hamilton watches were produced in Switzerland by Hamilton's Buren subsidiary. In 1971, the Buren brand was returned to Swiss ownership and by 1972, the Buren-Hamilton partnership was dissolved and the factory liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the Hamilton-Buren product.<ref>[http://people.timezone.com/library/archives/archives631988314105468750 An Artifact of Innovation: The Hamilton/Buren Intramatic]</ref> == Transitional watches: 1970s–90s == In 1971, the [[Omega SA|Omega]] & [[Tissot]] Holding Company [[Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère]] (SSIH) purchased the Hamilton brand and utilized the Hamilton name for a number of branding efforts, including numerous quartz watches in the 1980s. The Hamilton Watch Division became a subsidiary of HMW. The Hamilton Watch Company changed their name to HMW at the time they sold their Watch division to SSIH. A team led by John Bergey of Hamilton Watch in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]] developed the [[Pulsar (watch)|Pulsar]], the world's first digital watch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamilton History Timeline|url= http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/spirit-history/history-timeline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Smithsonian Inventors Bergey|url= http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/quartz/inventors/bergey.html}}</ref> Through the enforced merger of SSIH and ASUAG Groups in 1984, Hamilton became a subsidiary of [[The Swatch Group]]. == Modern day: 1990s–present == [[File:HamiltonKhakiFieldOfficer-004.jpg|thumb|right|Hamilton Khaki Field Officer H70615133]] The Hamilton name brand is currently owned by The Swatch Group Ltd. == References == {{reflist|30em}} {{refbegin}} *''Hamilton Watch Co. - America's Finest Watch'' by Will Roseman&nbsp;— [http://www.hamiltonwatch.info/ Comprehensive Early Hamilton Meggers] *''The Watch of the Future'' by René Rondeau *''Hamilton Wristwatches, a Collector's Guide'' by René Rondeau {{refend}} ==External links== *[http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/ Official site] *[http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/hamilton.html History, Serial Numbers and Production Dates for Hamilton Watches] *[http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/HistoryCultureCollections/SIL-029-015/pdf/SIL-029-015.pdf Electronic version (pdf) of ''Watch Factories of America Past and Present: A complete history of watchmaking in America, from 1809 to 1888''. By [[Henry G. Abbott]] Illustrated with 50 engravings. Chicago: Geo. K. Hazlitt & Co., Publishers 1888.] [[Category:Watch brands]] [[Category:Watch manufacturing companies of the United States]] [[Category:The Swatch Group]] [[Category:American companies established in 1892]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1892]]'