Prior to the stock market crash of 1929, most businesses began preparing for a prosperous Christmas. Hamilton had long-range plans to become the finest wristwatch in the world. The company’s ambitions reflected their corporate culture – only the best. Remember that the famous “Timekeeper” railroad watch captured 56% of total industry sales, leaving only 44% to divide among a few dozen American watch manufacturers.
Hamilton priced their railroad watch higher than the competition and still garnered an unrivaled share of the market. Why not with wristwatches? People were willing to pay higher prices in the 1920’s for quality.
Wristwatches did not have many niches unlike the commercial market for railroad men. Hamilton would not see the kind of demand for their products until World War II when they made a few products for one customer. From 1930 – 1940, Hamilton had to slug it out with Elgin.
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| Perry |
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| Palisade |
1930 marked the first major upgrade in Hamilton’s product line. Unfortunately, the company faced one of the worse global depressions in history. They didn’t see it coming either.
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