It was an ordinary day. Reading about the key moments in the Hamilton Watch Company history. Gonna take me a few days to read all the entries since there are more than 67,000 references to the Hamilton Watch Co. in the LNP/LancasterOnline archives. Now, I must admit that many are wedding announcements or obituaries for employees, but Hamilton wasn't just a company of local renown, since it grew into a global brand, bringing numerous innovations to the world of timekeeping. Hamilton products were used by railroads, in the military, and worn on the wrists of celebrities such as Elvis Presley who wore a Hamilton Ventura in "Blue Hawaii." If you have been reading my blog, you may have seen the story about the old Bowman Watch Company in downtown Lancaster being purchased by local Brent L. Miller Jewelers & Goldsmiths. The store, which has been vacant for ages, will now become a Hamilton Watch Co. store that will open on July 13 of this year. Hamilton will once again return to Lancaster where it was founded in 1892. An article in the local newspaper said that a special exhibition of historical pieces will be on display alongside Hamilton's watch collections. I'm sure my Dad, who graduated from the Bowman Watch Company school in the same building, will be watching the opening from high above! The story that was in my local newspaper published a few key moments in Hamilton Watch Co. history. I'll give you a short rundown of the five moments so you can see the importance that the store had in Lancaster County.
#1 - "The Founding," Hamilton Watch Co. was formed in November 1892 from the purchase and merger of two bankrupt watch manufacturers. The Keystone Standard Watch Co. of Lancaster provided the factory building along Columbia Ave., and a watch company in Aurora, Illinois, provided the machinery, which was shipped to Lancaster in January 1893. The stockholders of the new company chose the name "Columbian Watch Co." but, that was a trademark held by another company, so they opted for "Hamilton Watch" in honor of James Hamilton, a notable local figure who was the original owner of the tract of land where the watch factory was originally located.
#2 - "The Watch of Railroad Accuracy." In the final years of the 19th century, the pocket watches made at the new Hamilton factory became the standard for railroad timekeeping, a fact which provided a slogan for the company.
#3 - "Building a community." In the 1920s, as the Hamilton Watch Co. was growing, the firm was encountering a problem: the hiring of 200 new employees coincided with a housing shortage in Lancaster. They solved the problem with building affordable homes for employees within walking distance of the factory. The housing was located across Columbia Ave. from the factory.
#4 - "War effort." In early 1941, prior to the United States officially entering WWII, Hamilton Watch Co. was already developing new products that might be of use to the war effort. For example, an article about the company's annual report lists marine chronometers and navigational torpedo watches among the new items being designed. Hamilton began getting military contracts the next year, and eventually curtailed production of all consumer products to focus on supplying military products.
#5 - "Going electric." In 1957, Hamilton made timekeeping history, when the company introduced the world's first electric wristwatch after 10 years of research development and testing. The battery powered watch, Hamilton engineers predicted, would eventually replace the manual and automatic watches of that era. Hamilton's first electric watch would retail for $175 (about $1,900 today) in gold case, with a less fancy model in the works for about half that price. When I graduated from High School in 1962, my father and mother gave me a Hamilton electric watch as a graduation present. I still have it, but it no longer works.
Hamilton continued to make timepieces at its Lancaster plant throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the first steps toward a complete relocation to Switzerland began, with the moving of watch manufacturing overseas. Company offices would remain at the Columbia Ave. location until 1980. The site of the former factory now houses the Clock Towers luxury condominiums and the New School Montessori Academy. Hamilton Watch has a long and vital history in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I'm anxious to see the new store open in downtown Lancaster in the near future. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
By now the new Hamilton Store has opened at Duke and Chestnut Streets. I'm anxious to make a visit and take a few photos to share with you. My local newspaper has posted a story and a few photographs. Place looks great. I'm headed there sometime soon. LDub
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