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The Hamilton Watch Company History

Hamilton

Amongst collectors of American horology, Hamilton stands out as the finest American watch made. However arguable this statement may be, there is no denying that Hamilton watches demand a premium amongst collectors and are without question, the most collectable of all American made watches.

This brief history covers Hamilton from its inception in 1892 until 1936, the years highlighted in this site. It is not meant to be comprehensive, but to offer the reader a historical background on Hamilton and the production of their wristwatches.

1892 – 1916

The Hamilton Watch Company was established when the Keystone Standard Watch Company was forced into bankruptcy in 1892 and sold at a sheriff’s sale to a group of Lancaster businessmen whose objective was to “build only watches of the highest quality.” During this same year, a merger was effected with the Aurora Watch Company of Illinois and a decision was made to name the new company after James Hamilton, owner of a large tract of land which was granted to him from William Penn and included what is now the city of Lancaster. The new company would be known as The Hamilton Watch Company.

Hamilton Watch Company was housed on a thirteen acre campus and Aurora’s machinery was shipped to the Lancaster plant shortly after incorporation. With quality being Hamilton’s primary goal, the company set out to manufacture “America’s Finest Watch,” and indeed they did. The first watch made under the Hamilton name was an 18-size 17-jewel pocket watch in 1893. Within the next six years, Hamilton had developed a reputation for creating pocket watches whose quality and accuracy exceeded the stringent “railroad pocket watch” requirements. During Hamilton’s first fifteen years, only two size movements were produced – the 18-size and the smaller 16-size.

With the election of a new president in 1907, Mr. Charles F. Miller, Hamilton decided to expand its movement offerings. Watch trends began to lean towards smaller movements and Hamilton spent a great deal of time evaluating this opportunity. Under the new leadership of Mr. Miller, Hamilton entered the field not as a pioneer, but then became a trend that was more than just a passing fad.

Prior to 1909, the Hamilton Company sold uncased watch movements only. Soon after that date, however, began the conversion of Hamilton to a completely cased line and broadening of that line to include in addition to the standard Hamilton railroad watch, dress watches for men and women. Women’s wrist watches of larger sizes were popular first, but men followed soon thereafter.

The market demand for smaller watches for men and women continued through the 1920’s and the 1930’s and Hamilton always responded with “quality first.”

While Hamilton was not a pioneer in introducing new styles or models, they were however on the vanguard of the introduction of an advertisement program. Prior to 1908, Hamilton advertised its pocket watches in early railroad magazines. Hamilton’s first advertisement was in the popular magazine, National Geographic, and was so successful that Hamilton continued its relationship with the magazine and modeled it advertisement campaign around explorers, adventurers and other “exciting professions.” It was a new experience for Geographic Magazine too as Hamilton was its first advertiser as well.

As the years passed, Hamilton broadened the scope of its advertising efforts. New media were added, reaching American’s buying millions. A dealer service department was developed. All avenues of promotion suited to a quality product were utilized. As Hamilton’s market spread from the railroad yards to Fifth Avenue, the railroad man and his faithful timepiece were dropped as the major advertising story and more sophisticated copy themes were substituted.

The good-will assets of the E. Howard Watch Company were acquired by Hamilton in 1931. Although never extremely active in the manufacture of Howard watches, Hamilton did produce small quantities under the brand name and has conducted tests of the current market of this once famous timepiece.

Hamilton is recognized by the jewelry trade and the consuming public as a fine watch. That recognition is the reward of half a hundred years conscientious craftsmanship, and honest dealings. But the real acid test – the thing that seals Hamilton’s reputation as something infinitely more than just another “good watch.” It’s the place that has won in the respect and affection of those to whom accurate and dependable timekeeping is urgently important.

Accurate time was literally a matter of life or death to Commander Richard E. Byrd when he navigated his airplane over the North Pole in 1926 – to Roy Chapman Andrews in three years exploration of the vast and trackless Gobi Desert – to Captain Bob Bartlett on his voyages through artic ice fields – to Lieut. Hegenberger and Maitland on the first Army flight from California to Hawaii. They all used Hamilton Watches.

The official timepiece of the First Byrd Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole was Hamilton. The fist United States airmail was flown in 1918 on Hamilton time. Dr. H. S. Dickey on his expedition to the headwaters of the Orinoco navigated through uncharted tropical jungles with a Hamilton watch. Jean and Jeanette Piccard used Hamilton in cosmic ray measuring devices when they rose ten miles into the stratosphere. Lieut. Col. Albert Stevens carried eight Hamilton watches as essential equipment for gathering scientific data when he achieved the record altitude of 14 miles in his stratosphere flight in 1935.

During the first World War, the government turned to Hamilton for special watches to be used in navigating torpedo boats, destroyers and submarines. It also used standard Hamilton railroad watches for the railroads built built by American in France to serve the A.E.F.

From 1892 until 1929, business increased steadily. Sales were $1,500 in 1893, $1 million in 1911 and $5.8 million in 1929 – extraordinary growth considering Hamilton’s first 35 years were marked with the Spanish American War, World War I and the onset of the Great Depression. Management attributed the company’s growth to Hamilton’s commitment to quality and the standardization of the watch movement.

Like other watch companies, Hamilton suffered during the Depression. In 1932, sales fell to $1,558,000 and sales of watches were at a lull. Indeed, many of Hamilton’s rarest and subsequently, most desirable watches come from this period. By 1941, however, Hamilton rebounded with tremendous success with sales nearly reaching 9,000,000.

After the infamous Ohio train wreck of 1891, quality and accuracy became essential to the safe running of the railroads and Hamilton concentrated the marketing of their pocket watches in this area. Train departures, arrivals and crossings were carefully synchronized and subsequently, a faulty or poor running watch could be the cause of a disaster. Known for their quality, it wasn’t long before Hamilton watches were commonly used by railroad engineers and inspectors throughout the country. In fact, within ten years of beginning watch production, Hamilton had rightly earned the moniker Hamilton The Railroad Timekeeper of America.

In a 1920 promotional brochure entitled “The Timekeeper,” Hamilton elaborated on the importance of a quality timing instrument in the railroad industry.

When the Hamilton Watch was first manufactured, conductors and engineer of railroads bought almost the entire output for use in timing their trains. This was in 1892, at a period when the increasing complexity of train schedules was creating an unprecedented demand for watches of extreme accuracy.

It is perhaps not generally realized how much the watch contributes to railroad efficiency. It has been said, and it is undoubtedly true, that the watch of the railroad man is as necessary in modern railroading as the air brake; that without accurate timekeepers there would be more accidents than if there were no air brakes.

By 1920, Hamilton had over 750 watchmakers employed in their Lancaster facility and promoted the production of their watches as a “marvel of modern manufacturing.” With between 300 to 350 watches manufactured per day, it wasn’t so much the volume of Hamilton’s output that was impressive (both Elgin and Waltham far exceeded Hamilton’s daily production) – Hamilton’s claim to fame was in the quality of the product.

Interestingly, the machinery that was utilized by Hamilton to create Hamilton watches were developed by Hamilton in the Hamilton factory itself. Even the instruments used in the regulation of Hamilton watches such as scales for weighing and the micrometers used for measuring minute parts were made in the Hamilton factory. Hamilton trusted no others in the manufacturing of machinery which was vital to watch performance.

Having established a reputation for quality and accuracy among the railroad industry, Hamilton expanded their product line and began selling women’s pendent watches. Waltham and Elgin had already established a significant position in the women’s watch market and unlike Hamilton, had even begun selling strap watches specifically marketed to men.

Prior to World War I, small watches were considered effeminate and worn only by ladies as either a pendent or on the wrist held by a strap made of ribbon. The war changed all that. Returning soldiers had worn strap watches during combat and appreciated the ease of use, comfortable size and the simplicity of wearing a watch on the wrist. Elgin and Waltham had already made a significant marketing effort in the manufacture of men’s strap watches for the wrist and held a commanding market advantage. Being a late entry into the men’s wrist watch market, Hamilton concentrated their marketing efforts on a more “upscale” clientele pricing their watches higher than Waltham and Elgin and utilizing 17 jewel minimum movements cased in precious metals only.

Hamilton’s “wrist watch for men directly descended from the strap watch which was used during World War I. In fact, the watch was described in the 1922 Hamilton Catalog as designed for Army and Navy officers, Astronauts, Civil Engineers, Foresters, Automobile Drivers, and others who realize the advantage of a wrist watch in their occupations. Hamilton attempted to link the wearing of a wrist watch with occupations that were both exciting and adventuress thereby giving the wrist watch a distinctly masculine air.

This wire lug wrist watch contained a 17 jewel 981 movement that was timed and adjusted in a sterling silver case at the factory; and was furnished with a “substantial” strap (Web-strap which was made of canvas) and a “substantial” buckle. In early 1923, the wrist model was offered in 14K gold with a leather strap.

As with the selling of pocket watches, Hamilton emphasized the quality of the movement when selling wrist models. In the 1923 Hamilton catalog, the 981 size 0 movement which was utilized in the wrist model was described as a nickel plate movement with 17 jewels, a Breguet hairspring, a double roller escapement and utilized sapphire pallets. In addition, the movement contained a compensation balance. This movement differed considerably with Hamilton’s competitors who sold mostly 7 jewel movements that were cased in base metals.

In 1929, Hamilton acquired Illinois, a fine American Watch manufacturer in their own right. About that time, Hamilton issued watches that put them on the map considering quality – the platinum Meadowbrook. The enamel bezel watches were stunning in design, but unlike examples issued by Waltham and Elgin.

With the exception of the Oval, early Hamilton watches including the Cushion, the Square, the Barrel and the Tonneau closely followed the popular designs of their era 1920’s. Without careful examination, it would not be unusual to mistake a Hamilton Cushion for an Illinois Cushion and the same can be said for Hamilton’s other geometrically named watch models. Although the various wristwatch models from the 1920’s may have been similar, Hamilton sought to distinguish themselves from their competitors by emphasizing the quality of the movement. In fact, early Hamilton catalogs marketed the various models to consumers based on the movement caliber and movement quality with model design being secondary.

Hamilton took particular pride in their numerous technological accomplishments and heralded these accomplishments in the various catalogs that they distributed to jewelers. From the introduction of their first wrist watch, to 1936, Hamilton was well known for their technological accomplishments.

Hamilton never sold anything less than a 17-jewel movement. All were damascened or contained highly polished components, gold chatoned jewel settings (until the introduction of the Hamilton 747 in 1947), utilized sapphire pallets, and all were temperature adjusted.

Before 1930, all fine watches made or sold in America used the conventional steel hairspring and split bi-metallic balance wheel. The need for an improved balance assembly was evident; Hamilton searched for and found the answer. After years of research, Hamilton in 1931 presented America’s first Elinvar equipped watch with rustles hairspring and solid balance wheel protecting it against inaccuracies caused by magnetism, moisture and extreme temperature changes.

In 1930 Hamilton developed and invited and manufactured its own exclusive “Time Microscope” – the first and most accurate of all the host of timing devices on the market (at that time).

The principle of interchangeability has been recognized for years – but true interchangeability in a fine watch was not achieved until 1931, when Hamilton preformed manufacturing miracles and reduced tolerance to minimum variations never before thought possible. Now, except for the vibrating (Balance wheel) unit, any Hamilton watch part will fit perfectly into any Hamilton movement of the same grade.

Hamilton was the first to add the beauty of applied gold numeral dials to small watches. No other single company has solved the basic engineering problems which make this feature possible.

Aside from the technological advances that Hamilton made in the construction of their timepieces, extensive man hours went into the construction of each watch. The average time it took to complete a watch was nine months. No watch was ever made in less than seven months and it would not be unusual for construction to take up to a year. Of this time, two months alone are utilized in the “finishing room” where every part of the watch is tested and applied and the assembled watch tested again.

As of January 1st 1928, the Hamilton Watch Company owned and controls the entire assets, good will, trade name and plant of the Illinois Watch Company which was located in Springfield Illinois.

In fact, many of the well-known watch manufactures during the 1920’s used the same case manufacturers Wadsworth, Fahys, and L&W (Lutringer & Wittmer) and there were only slight differences as designated by the watch manufacturer. It is important to note however that although Hamilton sold far fewer watches than Elgin, which was the leading watch manufacturer of the time, proportionately, Hamilton sold significantly more gold watches than gold-filled (over 80,000 solid gold watches in the first ten years of wristwatch production). In fact, of the five American watch manufacturers, Elgin, Waltham, Illinois and Hampden, Illinois sold relatively few solid gold watches with most being gold-filled.

Of the four American wristwatch makers (Illinois, Hampden, Elgin and Waltham), Hamilton was the last to close its doors. Although Hamilton watches are still manufactured, they are owned by the Swatch Company and are manufactured in Switzerland. Hamilton was the last of the great American watch manufacturers to cease US production in 1969. Hampden ceased wrist watch production after 1927. Hamilton bought out Illinois in 1928. Waltham dissolved in 1955, and Elgin closed its doors in 1965.

Hamilton, ventured onto the wrist watch scene fairly late in the game Originally, women’s watches were manufactured by Hamilton as a men’s strap watch was considered effeminate until the advent of World War I were wearing a wrist watch was not only convenient, but also safe.

The 1920’s saw names like Piping Rock, Meadowbrook and Flintridge, all names of famous golf resorts of the time period. However, in the 1930’s, Hamilton started naming watches after men’s names which turned out to be marketing coup.

In the mid 1930’s, Hamilton developed a new marketing plan concentrating on emotional and human interests.

By 1935, Hamilton had fewer grades of movements than they did in 1915. This consolidation was due to Hamilton’s concentration on style changes and model introduction taking precedence to the need for various movement grades. Prior to 1915, the distinguishing features of the grades were the quality of materials, their finish, the number of the jewels and whether or not the wheels were gold or brass, and so on. Compared to 1935 when the consumer was more interested in the various styles and dials with emphasis on beauty.

Hamilton employed a “Director of Styling” who devoted his entire time the designing of new styles of cases, dials and attachments. Each watch consisted of approximately 150 parts and required close to 1,100 direct labor operations and on average, required eight to eleven months to complete. The material cost, with the exception of the case, was the smallest part of the cost. For every $1.00 spent on the cost of the movement, 15 cents represents the material with the greatest cost being the jewels. In 1935, the jewels, mainsprings, hairsprings and hands were imported from Switzerland. Labor was by far, the largest element of cost – 45 cents of every dollar spent was attributed to labor representing the largest single cost. The 35 cents remaining is attributed to overhead cost such as indirect labor, factory supplies and engineering.

Hamilton never departed from the solid fundamentals of the distribution policy which was conceived early in the Company’s story. However, changing market conditions in the late twenties and early thirties brought about a revision in operating methods – a “streamlining” of the company’s traditional policy of selling through wholesalers. The Great Depression years of the early thirties brought to an acute stage many of the merchandising evils which slowly had been developing sine the first World War. The jewelry trade was particularly hard hit. As the luxury market shrunk, wholesale jewelers and retail jewelers alike were driven to all manner of sales expedients in a desperate effort to avoid business collapse. Policies were thrown out the window. No merchandising tactics were too unethical as long as a sale was made.

Hamilton has always been on the forefront of horological innovation. The Elinvar hairspring was patented in 1931 and used in all movements thereafter. The name Elinvar was derived from the term “Elasticity Invariable” and was the first alloy to resist the changes in elasticity that occur with changes in temperature.

In January 1957, Hamilton introduced the world’s first electric wristwatch, a breakthrough for the industry and the first basic change in portable timekeeping since the early 16th century. Powered by a tiny 12-Volt battery guaranteed to run the watch more than a year, the new watch completely eliminated the need for a mainspring. The electric current necessary to operate one 100-watt bulb for one minute could run an electric watch for 20 years. The Hamilton Electrics featured not only a revolutionary movement design, but also were known for their avant-garde styling, making them among the most collectible watches today.

Also during the mid-fifties Hamilton embarked on a program of expansion and diversification. As a result, the company produced watches under three brand names – Hamilton, Vantage and Buren. These names were in six plants in this country and abroad, manufactured sterling and plated silverware, fabricated and processed rare and exotic metals, and produced mechanical and electronic measuring devices and components. Hamilton also produced rocket fuel alloys, special metals for the Apollo program, missile timers and safety and arming devices for military applications.

Hamilton continued to produce some of the finest American watches until 1969. They truly represent the pinnacle of American watchmaking. Watches bearing the Hamilton name can still be found today, but the brand is now owned by the Swatch Group, one of the large Swiss watch conglomerates.

Hamilton Watch Company Approximate Serial Numbers and Dates

Year	S/N	Year	S/N	Year	S/N
—	—	1909	750,000	1926	2,150,000
1893	1 – 2000	1910	790,000	1927	2,200,000
1894	5000	1911	860,000	1928	2,250,000
1895	11,500	1912	940,000	1929	2,300,000
1896	16,000	1913	1,000,000	1930	2,350,000
1897	27,000	1914	1,100,000	1931	2,400,000
1898	50,000	1915	1,200,000	1932	2,440,000
1899	74,000	1916	1,300,000	1933	2,480,000
1900	104,000	1917	1,400,000	1934	2,520,000
1901	143,000	1918	1,500,000	1935	2,560,000
1902	196,000	1919	1,600,000	1936	2,600,000
1903	260,000	1920	1,700,000	1937	2,900,000
1904	340,000	1921	1,800,000	1938	3,200,000
1905	435,000	1922	1,900,000	1939	3,400,000
1906	500,000	1923	2,000,000	1940	4,000,000
1907	580,000	1924	2,050,000	1941	4,250,000
1908	680,000	1925	2,100,000	1942	4,500,000

Be sure to use the serial number on the movement of the watch itself. Do not use the serial number from the case.

Great American Railroad Pocket Watch

The Watch of Railroad Accuracy

Hamilton Watch Company, Grade 992B

After 10 years of extensive research, beginning in 1931, Hamilton watch company introduced a new railroad grade pocket watch, the 992B to their wholesalers on Nov. 5th, 1940. The new 992B movement first came into product, in June 27, 1940. The movement was described as being completely new from the winding arbor to the balance wheel and its parts not interchangeable with those of previous 992?s. The serial numbers for the new grade started with C001.

The new 992B is a 16 size, lever set movement with 21 friction set ruby and sapphire jewels. All the upper settings are gold. The center wheel is round arm, gold third and fourth wheels are round arm, gilt. The escape wheel is steel. It is adjusted to temperature and 6 positions.

The newly designed Elinvar-Exra hairspring was introduced for the first time in the 992B. The new hairspring is white in color and improved over the previous blue elinvar hairspring employed in the 992E.

The new movement was introduced in a new 10k natural gold filled case known as the No. 11, a product of the Keystone Watch Case Company. New enamel dials with the words Railway Special placed in an arc above the word Hamilton, were also introduced with the new movement. Railway Special, was registered as a trademark, Dec. 24, 1939.

The initial shipment of the new Railway Special, 992B watch in the new No. 11 case left the factory in Nov. 1940. This shipment consisted of about 940 watches fitted with the BM Num. (Blind Mans) and HG (Heavy Gothic) dials. These watches were placed in the new factory-sealed container – a cigarette box package “Ivory Plastic” box with velvet liners.

Over the course of the next 30 years, an officially ending in 1969, the 992b was fitted , advertised and sold in ten different factory cases. According to Hamilton records at lease four other cases were used with the 992B at various times, due to die breakages or various other reasons.

The ten factory cases associated with the new 992B movement are listed below with descriptions in the order they were advertised in Hamilton catalogs.

Keystone Watch Case Co. No. 11

As mentioned briefly in the introduction, the Keystone No. 11 was used to introduce the new 992B movement to the marketplace. Constructed of 10k natural gold-filled, the new case was introduced Nov. 5, 1940, in the initial shipment of 992B watches. The only change to the appearance of the No. 11 occurred when the area on the frame near the pendant was modified. The “shoulders” as referred to by most knowledgeable collectors were removed. This change was made at approximately case serial number K220000. The No. 11, continued in production for eleven years, ending in 1951. it was last advertised in the May 1, 1951 catalog.

Wadsworth Watch Case Co., No. 2

In 1940, when the new 992B was introduced, it was advertised in two other factory cases in addition to the No. 11. Besides the No. 11, it was available in the No. 2 Wadsworth patented case. The No. 2 case was first introduced March 11, 1926, for use with the 922 and later with the 922E and 950 series. In the 1940 catalog, the No. 2 was only available in 10k natural gold-filled, but later at various times, it was also available in 14k solid gold. The No. 2 was last advertised in the Hamilton 1954 catalog and price lists.

Wadsworth Watch Case Co. No 10

The other case advertised with the new 992B movement in the 1940 catalog was the No. 10 Wadsworth patented, bar-over-crown. Introduced on March 31, 1936 the No. 10 had previously been used with the 992E. The No. 10 case was only advertised in 10k natural gold-filled from its inception to the end of production. The No. 10 was last listed in the February 1947 Hamilton price list.

Star Watch Case Co. No. 12

The next new factory case advertised for the 992B was the No. 12. it was introduced February 25, 1947 and made by the Star Watch Case Co. Introduced as an economy priced case, the No. 12 was made of nickel-chrome and priced at $60.50 while the gold-filled No. 10 and 11 had $71.50 price tags. As a special note, the case back is marked “Defiance” and does not include the Hamilton Watch Company signature. The No. 12 was discontinued in the fall of 1947.

Wadsworth Watch Case Co. No. 3

The Wadsworth Watch Case Co., who had produced the No. 2 and No. 10, also made the next new factory case, the No. 3 for use with the 992B. the Tu-Tone, as it is often known, first appears in the Hamilton 1946 Catalog and Feb. 1, 1947 Price List. The new No. 3 case has the appearance of the No. 2, but differs in that it has a different engraved pattern on the rim of the black and bezel, which is constructed of stainless steel. The case ring or frame is made of 10k natural gold-filled. As a special note, the case back is marked “base metal” and not stainless steel as one would expect. The new No. 3 case is not to be confused with the earlier No. 3 which was made by Fahys in 1926, and used with the 992 and 950. The No. 3 case was discontinued in 1948.

Keystone Watch Case Co. Model A

The Model A, a product of the Keystone Watch Case Co., was the next factory case advertised for use with the 992B. The Model A was first listed for use with the 992B in the Hamilton, January 19, 1948 price list. Although not advertised in Hamilton catalogs, documented factory boxes and labels indicate the Model A was used as early as 1944-45 with the 992B. The Model A was introduced in 1940-41, as the introduction case for the new grade 950B movement. The only change to the appearance of the Model A occurred when the area on the frame near the pendant was modified. “The shoulders” as referred to by most knowledgeable collectors were removed. This change was made at approximately case serial number K220000. The Model A was available in 10k natural gold-filled and later at various times in 14k solid gold. Discontinued in 1957, the Model A was used with the 992B for about 13 years.

Keystone Watch Case Co. No. 14

Introduced on October 1, 1949, the No. 14 made by the Keystone Watch Case Co. was the next new factory case advertised for the 992B. The No. 14 was another economy priced case constructed of nickel-chrome and priced at $69.50 while the No. 11 and Model A sold for $90.00. The No. 14 was last listed in the April 1, 1950 catalog.

Star Watch Case Co. No. 15

The No. 15 was the next new factory case introduced for the 992B. A product of Star Watch Case Co., the No. 15 was introduced on June 2, 1950 to the Hamilton wholesalers. The No. 15 was constructed of type 502 non-magnetic 18-8 stainless steel. Advertised first in the September 15, 1950 catalog, the No. 15 was priced at $71.50 while the No. 2, No. 11 and Model A sold for $90.00. Lasting longer than any other 992B caser, the No. 15 was available until the 992B ended production, officially 1969, but documented samples were sold as late as 1971.

Star Watch Case No. 16

The next new case introduced for the 992B was the No. 16. A product of the Star Watch Case Co., the Number 16 was first advertised in the August 1, 1952 Hamilton catalog. Other advertisements as early as March 1952 have also been noted. As another economy-priced case, the No. 16 was priced at $71.50 while the No. 2 and Model A sold for $90.00. Constructed of the rolled-gold-plate, the No. 16 was advertised until the 992B ceased production as previously mentioned.

Keystone Watch Case Co No. 17

Star Watch Case Co. No. 17

The No. 17 was the last of the new factory cases used with the 992B. The No. 17 was initially produced by the Keystone Watch Case Co. About 1956, the Keystone Watch Case Company was sold to the Star Watch Case Co. and production of the No. 17 shifted to the Star Watch Case Co. The No. 17 was first mentioned in the Hamilton January 1956 price list. Constructed of 10k natural gold-filled and later at various times it was available in 14k solid gold. The No. 17 was available until the 992B production ended as previously mentioned.

Hamilton also used serial numbers preceded by a letter on certain grades from about the late 1930’s until the late 1960’s. The following tables can help in identifying these watches. It is sometimes necessary to interpolate to estimate the particular year of a watch.

992B with C Serial Number & 4992B with 4C Serial Number 950B with 2B or S Serial Number

Grade	S/N	Year	Grade	S/N	Year
992B	C001	1940	950B	2B001	1941
992B	C40,000	1941	950B	2B400	1942
992B	C60,000	1942	950B	2B800	1943
992B	C90,000	1943	—	—	—
992B	C120,000	1944	950B	S001	1941
992B	C170,000	1946	950B	S1500	1944
992B	C215,000	1947	950B	S2800	1945
992B	C255,000	1948	950B	S4000	1946
992B	C350,000	1949	950B	S4500	1947
992B	C390,000	1950	950B	S6500	1948
992B	C420,000	1954	950B	S7500	1949
992B	C455,000	1956	950B	S10,000	1951
992B	C500,000	1959	950B	S25,000	1955
992B	C520,000	1964	950B	S28,000	1962
992B	C529,200	1969	950B	S30,000	1965

4992B	4C0001	1941
4992B	4C40,000	1942
4992B	4C90,000	1944
4992B	4C120,000	1950
4992B	4C135,000	1960
4992B	4C145,000	1968