American chromed metal military observation watch Circa 1940

Metal military pocket watch by Hamilton Watch Co.
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An American, chromed metal keyless US American military observation watch made by Hamilton Watch Co., circa 1940. A plain case, black enamel dial, luminous 24-hour markers, outer minute divisions with Arabic numeral markers, white spade hands with center seconds. Movement has a lever escapement. Signature on the dial, numbers on the case.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Hamilton Watch Co.
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Hamilton Watch Company, American watch manufacture
In 1928, Hamilton bought out the Illinois Watch Company. In 1931, Hamilton took over the E. Howard Watch Company continued to produce a few smaller series under the Howard brand name. In 1941, the company developed the Model 21 marine chronometer and the Model 22 precision deck watch. Hamilton thus advanced to become one of the most important American chronometer manufacturers of the time. From 1955 to 1960, the company Vereinigte Uhrenfabriken Ersingen worked with the Hamilton Watch Company under the new owner, Helmut Epperlein.
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Through this cooperation, Hamilton could use Epperlein ‘s developments for itself and in 1957 brought the first electrically driven wristwatch with a balance wheel, the ” Electric “, onto the market. The ” Electric ” movement had an elongated coil on the balance wheel and a magnet system with three magnets. This invention of Epperleinis was documented as German utility model 1,842,778 (registration date January 28, 1958 ) and was rewritten to the Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, on September 21, 1959.
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In 1956, Hamilton bought the watch factory A. Huguenin & Fils in Le Locle and Biel, and the company was renamed Hamilton Watch Co. in Switzerland. The company continued to exist as a separate brand. The development of watches with automatic winding in Switzerland was probably a reason for this takeover, as Hamilton did not produce its own automatic movements. In 1966, Hamilton bought the Büren Watch Company. In 1970, the company released the first electronic quartz watch with a digital LED display – the Pulsar model . In 1972, watch production was discontinued. The Hamilton brand was acquired by the Swiss holding company SSIH.