HAMILTON

超希少 レア品 HAMILTON ハミルトンの【置時計】

ハミルトンの時計としては超珍しい置時計です。

1980年代のものでアメリカの知人から譲り受けました。

 

付属のネジを巻くと元気に動き出します。

 

5本の金属の棒をそれぞれ叩く仕組みになっていて、

15分毎にとても綺麗な音色で音楽を奏でて

時間を知らせてくれます。

初めて聞いた時は私も感動しました。

サイレントのレバーもあります。

裏面の内部に、

HAMILTON

IW0 (2)JEWELS

UNADJUSTED

MADE IN WEST-GERMANY

340-020

の文字の刻印があります。

 

HAMILTONNオリジナルの

英語(ドイツ語？)の説明書も同封します。

 

サイズは幅が約24cm、奥行き約16cm、高さが約30cmあります。

重さは約3.4Kgです。

 

細かい傷や汚れなどはありますが、

年代物にしてはとても綺麗だと思います。

THE HAMILTON CLOCK COMPANY

Hamilton, Ontario (1876-1880)

 

History of the Company

 

This company was established in 1876, after the failure of the Canada Clock Company in Whitby, Ontario.  The factory was located in an existing building at the corner Cathcart and Kelly Streets in old Hamilton.

 

The machinery and other tools and equipment were purchased and moved to Hamilton by two business men, James Simpson and George Lee.  Simpson, born in Scotland, had been active in Hamilton for years as a partner in a wholesale grocery business.  He assumed the title of President of the clock company.  Lee, born in Ireland, was also active in food wholesaling, and the operation of hotels, and restaurants.  He became the Business Manager.  Neither man had any prior experience with factory operations or clock making.

 

Technical expertise was provided by John F. Collins, who had previously acted as Manager of the Canada Clock Company in Whitby and had been instrumental in equipping and operating that enterprise.  He was brought from Whitby along with the equipment and given the title of Mechanical Superintendent.

 

Collins utilized tools, dies and designs he had created at Whitby, so the Hamilton company was really a continuation of his previous efforts. He was able to broaden the range of movements and case styles, and hence to offer a more complete line of merchandise.  Unfortunately, after a few years, he appears to have fallen out with the new owners and left the company in 1879.

 

George Lee, in turn, suffered health problems and was obliged to leave around 1880.  

 

This left James Simpson as sole proprietor.  He ended production under the name Hamilton Clock Company and proceeded to make major changes.  The factory and equipment were retained, but a completely updated product line was developed.  Simpson found new investors and incorporated the firm as a public company that was renamed The Canada Clock Company Limited.  Its history will be covered in a separate one of these Galleries.

 

The Hamilton Clock Company appears to have made a valiant effort to provide clocks for the Canadian market, in competition with the huge U.S. clock factories that already dominated the market.  Hamilton clocks matched competitive products in appearance and their quality was quite adequate.  The volume achieved, however, was never very large and the product line was simple and limited.  No catalogues or printed material have ever been found from the company and our opinions can only be based on an examination of surviving clocks.  Perhaps, like the attempt in Whitby, the available capital and ‘know-how’ were insufficient to ensure a major success.