Vintage Hamilton Watch Videos

If you don't own any American-made vintage Hamilton wristwatches already, you're going to want to after watching these videos.

These videos have been around on the net for ages, but something reminded me of them again recently and when went looking for them all I could find were teaser clips for subscription sites. However, the copyright has lapsed and the videos are in the public domain, so I thought I would present them here using a better player with an improved size that also allows for fullscreen view.

These films were produced as instructional and training films for Hamilton by the Jam Handy Organization in the late 1940's. In researching the production company for background on for this piece, I came across some really fascinating information. It involves the Olympics, the Simpsons, ayoung Ronald Reagan, nuclear warfare, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — and without even making any of it up! Seriously, it's worth a look.

I couldn't find any background specifics on this these, but many of the Jam Handy Organization's films were either informational advertising or made as training films for sales staff. Both of these films seem like they could fit either purpose, and may well have been used for both.

Both of these films should be required viewing for vintage watch collectors in my opinion.

What Makes a Fine Watch Fine (1947)

A detailed description of the manufacturing process necessary to produce a Hamilton watch in the postwar-era. Very detailed, showing everything from how steel is painstakingly alloyed into Ellinvar for harisprings and how the factory in Lancaster, Penna. used to make a huge batch of bread dough every morning to use for removing dust in the era before Rodico putty.

How a Watch Works (1949)

A brilliant description of the theory and principles that make a mechanical wristwatch movement work in simple and easy-to-understand terms. If the workings of movements are still something of a mystery to you, the film uses some excellent visual demonstrations with a garden hose valve and a 7.5-foot working model to make it all crystal clear.

If you enjoyed these, you might want to check out the page on another series by the Jam Handy Organization made as instructional films for pilots during WWII: How to Fly the P-47.

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