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Production
Date: 1930 - 1934
Price When New: $50.00
Case: 14K Yellow Gold-filled
Case Manufacturer: Wadsworth
Production for this variation: 1,567
Movement:
987 - 17 Jewel Movement
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Comments:
This Cushion "B" utilizes the rare "aviation dial." As America
quickly slipped into the Depression, Hamilton concentrated their
marketing efforts by promoting models that were named after
famous American explorers, adventures and pilots. The Glenn
Curtiss, Byrd and the Captain Rice were three such examples.
The aviation dial was made to appeal to pilots while simultaneously
promoting Hamilton as the watch of adventures.
Often mistaken for the earlier Cushion Round Opening of 1922, the
Cushion "B" utilized a very similar case construction. The dial
variations however, offered what Hamilton believed to be a more
"sportsman" like style and attempted to appeal to aviators - the
Cushion "B" was one of the first Hamilton watches marketed
specifically to aviators - an avocation that was very much in its
infancy in 1930.
The Cushion "B" was one of three "B"
styles introduced during 1929 and 1930. The Barrel "B" and Square
"B" were the other two "B" models. The Barrel "B" was introduced in
1929 and replaced the Barrel which ceased production in 1930 and the
Square "B" was introduced in 1929 and replaced the Square which
ceased production in the very same year.
Even with its similarity to the early
Cushion Round Form and its marketing to aviators, the Cushion "B"
was not very popular and subsequently, is a fairly scarce model.
The Cushion "B" was offered with
three dial variations, luminous, etched and a very rare aviation dial
(shown).
