Monday, December 7, 2015

 Now here's a Hampden "Railway" Grade M2 18s 15J Private Label. 
This watch was made for J.S. Townsend, 1554 Wabash Ave. Chicago, Ill. ("The Railway Mans Jeweler"). Townsend had many Railroad & Union Clients including Eugene V. Debs. He was also a Railroad Time Inspector (a fact he did not advertise to his clients). 


The Serial No. is 199981, manufactured in 1882. This Serial # is listed in "Hampden Watch Co." as J.P. Townsend. 18s 15J 
HN3L which is in error because, as one can see, it is a HN2L-A (besides there are no 18s Model 3 Hunters as the M3 designates an Open-Face Movement). 
As with all "Railway" Models it has Gold Jewel Settings but it has Blued Screws like some Early "Railways" & has a Tucker Regulator which was added by Townsend as the Early Models had Plain Regulators.
Dial is excellent but for a repair at the top of the 'Seconds' Chapter where it had been chipped. Otherwise Dial is Clean & Bright. 
Runs well but a bit Fast (needs to be Demagnetized & Readjusted).
Both Rare & Historically Important.

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