Newest Family member - 1951 Hamilton 950B Pocket Watch

Sometimes things just line up and you manage to get a watch you have always wanted for an amazing price.  I was feeling low because I sold my Omega..... Yes it still bugs me but I had watches to pay for and get caught up.  From the amount I had left over I decided to try and cheer myself up.  Ebay I went for a bit of hunting.  I pawed around for a bit looking at this and that but just settled on a Republic of Texas fantasy $100.

A few hours later I just went to my usual watch search and the second item down was a watch I knew the only possible thing it was based on the title.  In big letters right there "Hamilton Pocket Watch 23 Jewel Railway Special" and that could only be one model Hamilton with that dial and case...a 950B.  I frantically hit the buy it now option and paid within 10 seconds.  There was a make offer option but at $199 I doubt any other collector would have taken the chance of not getting it to save a few dollars.
So it was a risk, I never even looked at the description and there was only a picture of the front and back.  I rarely say buying on a impulse is good because we can get burned so easily.  IT could have had a chap quartz movement in it.  It could have been a total rust bucket.  Could have a broken staff or mainspring or both and a bent center wheel.  Could have been a completely different movement with a 950B dial that had the dial feet ground off and the dial glued to it. Luckily they at least said it ran and was way better then I could have hoped....

This is one of my new prized watches......

It has the correct Hamilton model "A" railroad case that has a little brassing in the oddest places.  The brassing is only at 1 and 11 on the movement ring.  None on the case back and none on the front bezel.  I still have not worked that out. 

The dial is a melamine one and has a few slight flaws but they don't show up unless you look for them.  Otherwise it has not suffered the cracking and damage that you see on so may other watches like the Hamilton 992B of that time.

The watch is way better condition then I thought.  This is what I saw for the auction...

Needless to say a polish and a new crystal were needed.  The spots were a sticker residue.

I love that mirror shine on the winding wheels.  The over all condition is fantastic.  Not a spot of rust or dirt anywhere.  

The overall quality of the watch shows why they are considered one of the best Hamiltons ever made.  I decided to wind it up and see how well it ran and what repairs it may need.  I even ordered a mainspring before the watch arrived but the watch got here and the mainspring is still on the way.  After a full wind the watch kept better than a min in 36 hours.  I would have checked it to the second but I never expected it to be that accurate without a fresh service.

Being that is is a B and of the late 40's to early 50's period I consider them the peak of performance and accuracy.  They had all the advancements in metallurgy and design that they developed for decades.  Once the mainspring arrives it will get a fresh spring, clean and oil.