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Production
Date: Andrews production was from 1931 until 1934. This
Andrews variation was likely made during the early 1940's.
Price When New: Unknown
Case: 10K Rolled-gold Plate
Case Manufacturer: Wadsworth
Production for this Variation:
Unknown
Movement:
401 19-jewel
Movement
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Comments:
This unusual Andrews is 10K rolled-gold plate. Between 1919 and
1936, Hamilton did not produce watches in anything other than solid
gold or gold-filled, making this a highly unusual example. Although
there are slight design variations in the case styles of the solid
gold and the rolled-gold plate Andrews, Wadsworth was the
manufacturer of both cases and there is a possibility that Hamilton
produced these examples during World War II with inventoried 401
movements.
The cases of the 10K rolled-gold
plate examples are marked "Wadsworth" but are not marked "Hamilton,"
however, the 14K gold-filled examples which are exactly the same as
the 10K rolled-gold plate examples are marked with both the
"Wadsworth" and "Hamilton" hallmarks. The fact that both
variations are exactly the same, gives little doubt that these
rolled-gold plate examples were not simply "after market" case
substitutions but were indeed cased by Hamilton.
There are currently approximately
three known examples of the Andrews 10K rolled-gold plate and two
examples in 14K gold-filled.
The Andrews was included in
Hamilton's famous Explorer Series along
with the Byrd, Ericsson, and Wilkinson models. Each was cased in solid 14K gold. Also included in the
Explorer Series was the Livingstone and Stanley models, however, the
Livingstone and Stanley models were produced in gold filled only.
The Explorer Series utilized the
Hamilton 401 movement which, aside from the 983, 985 and 981 0-sized movements, is the
rarest of Hamilton's movements utilized in men's wristwatch
production. With only 7,500 401 movements
manufactured, it is highly sought after by Hamilton collectors and
can be found in many of Hamilton's most collectable models.
The 401 movement is a 19 jewel
version of the Illinois Watch Company's 15 jewel 207 movement which
Hamilton upgraded after purchasing the Illinois Watch Company in
1928. The Illinois 207 movement was the first rectangular men's
wristwatch movement ever made.
