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Description
Notes
Electric Prototype
Model 500 Series Wear-test
This is one of only a few surviving
prototypes of the world's first battery-powered watch - the Hamilton
500 series. It is the forerunner of every quartz watch made today.
(To see the dial, place mouse over the
photograph of the movement)
Production Info |
Comments
_____________________________
Production
Date: Late 1955
Price When New: Prototype (not
sold to the public)
Case: 10K Gold-Filled
Case Manufacturer: S&W (Schwab
& Wuischpard) - Hamilton
used the Titan case for wear-test Prototypes
Production for this Variation:
Approximately 300 examples were ultimately prepared for actual "wear tests,"
and subsequently assigned
to employees and managers to use in normal, everyday wear. Due
to a problem with the double-wheel index, most of the existing test
watches were rebuilt with a new and more reliable magnetic index
system, and watches not yet prepared were all finished with the
improved magnetic index. This watch is one of only a very few
(possibly only three examples) which
was never rebuilt, and still retains its original double-wheel system.
Movement: Prototype Model 500
Electric
___________________________
Comments:
WEAR-TEST ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE - Late in 1955, after two years
of intense research and development, Hamilton had the basic
preliminary design of the Model 500 Electric movement worked out in
the laboratory, so they decided it was time to put the theoretical
design to the test. Just over 1,000 movements were eventually
produced for this experiment, the majority of which were put on
"rack test"- meaning that the movements were placed in conventional "Titan"
cases and mounted to large wooden boards where they could be
observed and photographed at regular intervals in the laboratory.
About 300 were ultimately prepared for actual "wear tests," assigned
to employees and managers to use in normal, everyday wear. Regular
employees received watches with solid backs marked "Property of
Hamilton" and "Do Not Open." Only a few managers and directors were
assigned watches with display backs that showed the movement in
operation. At the end of the test, employees were obliged to return
the watches, and most were torn apart for analysis.
This example is one of the very, very
few to have survived. It carries serial number 431 and was obviously
used by an upper-level employee. It is particularly noteworthy in
that it has the original double-wheel indexing system, and is marked
as "17 Jewels." This very complex indexing design, which drives the
gear train, very quickly proved to be seriously flawed. Within the
first month 43% of the wear test watches had stopped. The problem
was traced to the index system, which was quickly redesigned with a
much simpler type. This also eliminated five jewels so production
versions of the Model 500 had 12 jewels (though this fact was not
engraved on the movement). Most of the existing test watches were
rebuilt with the new system, and watches not yet prepared were all
finished with the improved magnetic index. This watch is one of only
a very few which was never rebuilt, and was retained with the
double-wheel system.
The historic importance and extreme
rarity of this watch cannot be overstated. This is one of only a few
surviving prototypes of the world's first battery-powered watch, the
forerunner of every quartz watch made today. It is truly a museum
piece, and examples can in fact be found in the Smithsonian and
other top museums.
The watch is in absolutely pristine
condition. It was used for no more than a few weeks, or even days.
Even the alligator strap is original. The manager who tested the
watch kept it as a souvenir at the close of the test period,
treasuring it as a historic memento.
Note:
The above text was written by Hamilton electric
watch expert, René Rondeau, author of the book
The Watch of the Future.
The Watch of the Future contains the complete story of the Hamilton
electric watch and is now in its third edition. In addition to a
history of this unique invention, every style of Hamilton Electric
watch is illustrated and the most collectable watches are described
in detail including production figures for most styles.
The book includes a
special chapter on collecting Hamilton electrics and gives helpful
information about evaluating, repairing, and maintaining these
watches. The book is highly recommended for Hamilton electric
enthusiasts and includes 182 pages with over 170 illustrations.
