Hamilton Electric Pilot Lot Wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1956
This 1956 Hamilton Electric wristwatch is part of a limited pilot lot produced by the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, prior to the commercial launch of their electric movement technology in 1957.
The timepiece features a distinctive triangular case, which was designed to house the company's battery-powered electric movement. This specific example was donated by the manufacturer to the museum collection in 1959. The watch is presented with its black dial marked with the brand name and hour markers composed of dots and lines. Internally, the movement incorporates a balance and hairspring, but replaces the traditional mainspring with a battery-powered system.
In the current configuration, the movement mechanism and battery are detached from the case and preserved separately.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Electric wristwatch
- Maker
- Hamilton Watch Co
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Acquisition
- Donation from Hamilton Watch Co, Jan 1959
- Movement Type
- Battery powered electric movement
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- Hamilton Watch Co
- Registration Number
- ST 24534
Design
- Visible features
- • Triangular case design • Black dial with dot and line hour markers • Movement mechanism and battery are detached from the watch case • Black leather strap attached
- Movement and Technology
- The watch is equipped with a battery-powered electric movement, which was a significant departure from traditional watchmaking technology of the mid-20th century. While the movement retains a balance and hairspring, the primary innovation is the replacement of the mechanical mainspring with a battery, which provides the energy necessary to drive the timekeeping mechanism. In the museum's inventory, the internal works and the battery are presently separated from the main case, having been placed in a plastic housing to assist in the preservation of the watch components.
- Provenance and Production
- This watch is identified as one of the pilot lot examples manufactured in 1956. These watches were produced specifically for testing and demonstration purposes by the Hamilton Watch Company before the 'World's First Electric Watch' was officially introduced at a press conference on January 3, 1957. The museum acquired this specific object as a donation directly from the manufacturer in January 1959. This donation included samples from the company's early production lots, providing an archival record of the developmental stages of the Hamilton Electric series before the line was subjected to broader commercial mass production techniques later in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch features a triangular case, a design choice intended to complement the non-traditional nature of the internal electric movement. The dial is black, finished with hour markers indicated by a combination of gold-colored dots and lines. The signature 'Hamilton Electric' is visible on the dial, identifying the manufacturer and the technological nature of the movement. The case geometry relates to the futuristic styling adopted by the company for its early electric series, intended to set the product apart from conventional mechanical watches available at the time. This particular example originates from the pilot production phase, representing the company's efforts to finalize the design before its public debut in early 1957.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Specific model name beyond Hamilton Electric is not confirmed in the source
- Research required: Current working condition is not verified as parts are removed