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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Military 24-hour pocket watch

Hamilton 4992B 24-Hour Military Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Hamilton 4992B is a 16-size, 22-jewel military pocket watch dated circa 1941 by the seller and manufactured for the United States Government during World War II. Housed in a base metal open-face Keystone case with screw-off bezels, it features a black dial marked 'G.C.T.' with an inner 24-hour track, outer minute/seconds divisions, and white spade hands with a central sweep seconds hand. The nickel three-quarter plate movement includes a hacking mechanism and micrometer regulator, reported to bear serial number 4C7938.

Dial view of the Hamilton 4992B 24-hour military pocket watch
Dial view of the Hamilton 4992B 24-hour military pocket watch — Atlam Watches via Antiques Boutique. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Military 24-hour pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Hamilton Watch Co
Reference
4992B
Catalogue / lot identifier
AB-183706
Source-reported date
c. 1941
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
4C7938

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Display Configuration

The watch features a black dial with an inner chapter ring scaled from 1 to 24 and an outer minute/second track numbered at five-minute intervals. The hand arrangement includes white spade and pointer hands paired with a slender central sweep seconds hand, designed so that the hour hand completes one revolution every 24 hours.

Across the upper center, the dial is visibly printed 'G. C. T.' (recorded as 'GCT' in the dealer's text). The seller describes the dial material as black paint on metal and reports that it is fitted with a mineral glass crystal.

Evidence for this section
  • “Black dial with an inner 1–24 hour Arabic numeral scale and an outer minute/second track numbered at five-minute intervals”
  • “The dial has an inner chapter ring from 1-24 and the hands make on revolution every 24 instead of 2.”
  • “Dial printed with 'G. C. T.' across the upper center”
  • “The watch has a mineral glass”

Case Construction and Inscriptions

The timepiece is housed in an open-face base metal case with a reeded screw-off bezel, grooved winding crown, and shaped bow. The seller attributes the case to Keystone and notes screw-off construction for both front and back bezels, measuring 51 mm wide by 15 mm deep with stem winding and setting.

The rear exterior of the case is not visible in the supplied photograph. According to the seller's transcription, the case back is engraved with military markings: 'PART NO AN 5740, MFR’S PART NO 4992B, SERIAL NUMBER NO. 801-42, CONTRACT NUMBER 86366, HAMILTON WATCH CO'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Open-face base metal case with reeded screw-off bezel, grooved winding crown, and shaped bow”
  • “the movement comes in a keystone base metal open face case, which has a screw off back and front.”
  • “The watch measures 51mm wide x 15mm deep”
  • “The case is engraved on the back “PART NO AN 5740, MFR’S PART NO 4992B, SERIAL NUMBER NO. 801-42, CONTRACT  NUMBER 86366, HAMILTON WATCH CO””

Movement Specifications and Seller Reports

The internal mechanism is not visible in the provided photograph, and all movement specifications are derived from the seller's listing. The movement is described as a 16-size nickel three-quarter plate mechanism fitted with a lever escapement, micrometer regulator, and a hacking feature that halts the balance during hand setting.

The seller reports a 22-jewel configuration achieved by an additional wheel and jewel on the top plate. The movement is reported to be signed 'Hamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions' with serial number 4C7938.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement – the high quality nickel ¾ plate movement has a lever escapement and a micrometer regulator. The movement has a hacking feature”
  • “The movement has a wheel and extra jewel positioned on the top plate, this brings the jewel count from 21J to 22J.”
  • “The movement is signed “Hamilton Watch Co, USA, 4992B, 22 Jewels, US Govt, Adj Temp & 6 positions” # 4C7938”

Open research questions

  • What specific production year does Hamilton serial number 4C7938 correspond to in factory records, relative to the seller's circa 1941 attribution?
  • Can physical inspection of the internal case back confirm standard Keystone maker marks alongside the reported exterior military contract engraving?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Hamilton 4992B 24-Hour Military Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Serial4C7938“# 4C7938”
Jewel Count22 Jewels“22 Jewels”
Case Inscription Part NumberPART NO AN 5740“PART NO AN 5740”
Case Serial NumberNO. 801-42“SERIAL NUMBER NO. 801-42”
Dimensions51mm wide x 15mm deep“51mm wide x 15mm deep”
Military Contract Number86366“CONTRACT  NUMBER 86366”
Manufacturer's Part Number4992B“MFR’S PART NO 4992B”
Movement AdjustmentsAdjusted to temperature and 6 positions“Adj Temp & 6 positions”

Visible details

  • Black dial with an inner 1–24 hour Arabic numeral scale and an outer minute/second track numbered at five-minute intervals
  • Dial printed with 'G. C. T.' across the upper center
  • White spade and pointer hands with a slender white central sweep seconds hand
  • Open-face base metal case with reeded screw-off bezel, grooved winding crown, and shaped bow

Research qualifications

  • Movement and case back interior/exterior are not visible in the photograph; movement signature, serial number 4C7938, and military case back markings rely entirely on seller reports
  • Date of circa 1941 is seller-estimated

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Hamilton 4992B 24 Hour Military pocket watch c1941 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 5aa1d13c3f

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.