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Description
Notes
Vancott
The Vancott did not appear in any
Hamilton catalogs nor are there any existing catalog inserts
describing the Vancott. There is however, one known Hamilton
production drawing which appears to have been originally made for
catalog inclusion.
Production Info |
Comments
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Production
Date: 1946 - 1947
Price When New: Unknown
Case: 14K Yellow Gold
Case Manufacturer: S&W (Schwab
& Wuischpard)
Production for this Variation:
984 (Hamilton records indicate that not all Vancott's produced may
have been released sighting "awaiting technical OK" [for the 987-S].
This may explain why the Vancott is so rarely found)
Movement:
987S - 17-jewel
Movement (with "hack" feature)
___________________________
Comments:
The Vancott is one of the more interesting Hamilton models
manufactured in that it was produced in two variations -
10K solid
gold bezel with stainless steel back and a 14K solid gold example
with a 14K solid gold back.
Hamilton purchased the 10K gold
variation from Schwab & Wuischpard (S&W) for $8.00 per case and
manufacturing began on November 11th 1945. The Vancott was the first
wristwatch Hamilton offered after World War II. Considering that
production began on November 11th 1945, Hamilton had to order the
cases from Schwab & Wuischpard (S&W) well before that date and
possibly ordered the cases, during wartime.
An interesting feature of the Vancott
was that it utilized Hamilton's 987-S 17-jewel movement. This
movement contained a "hack" feature that enabled the user to set the
sweep second hand exactly to the desired time by pulling the crown
out. Pushing the crown back in would set the sweep second hand in
motion once again thereby allowing precise timing to the second.
The Vancott was the first Hamilton to
utilize two metals in one watch - 10K gold bezel and stainless steel
case back.
Note: Until recently, the Vancott was
not known to exist and has only recently been identified as a
Hamilton model - Special thanks to co-discoverer Bryan Girouard
