Early 1950’s Hamilton with Illinois Movement

After the World War II, Hamilton had to reacquaint itself with the consumer market and compete with watch companies that didn’t command the price premium the company had in the late 1930’s. Management configured several watches and tested the market. This particular model had a sweep second hand and had a look and feel  similar to the watches it made for the Military. It’s practically a clone of a Secometer. The Company enjoyed superior brand recognition since the first standard  WWII military watches were modified Endicott “Hamilton” wristwatches. The other military watch makers  Elgin, Waltham and Bulova came later and were built to the A-11 specification. 

This watch is similar to several I’ve seen. The Hamilton imprint has a curve to it, which first shows up in the 1954 catalog for most of the new models. Normally, the dial had “Illinois” in  straight letters under the Hamilton letters. Someone had this dial restored, but the restorer forgot to put the “Illinois” name on the dial.

Your only clue was the movement and the branding on the back screw-on cover.  Since the Illinois imprint is missing, it degrades the value of the watch. Regardless of the movement, it’s a used Hamilton wind-up 1954 vintage wristwatch. The really collectible Illinois Wristwatches were made before and during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The 1950 models are not true Illinois watches since Hamilton closed the Illinois factory in the 1932.

Illinois 601 Movement Circa 1925

The Hamilton-Illinois product is a popular watch with some retro watch buyers. It failed to make money for Hamilton, who discontinued this model within the year of it’s release in 1954.