April 1, 1946

U. S. Turning Back Railroad Watches

For Distribution

The War Assets Administration has agreed to sell 768 Hamilton Railroad watches back to the
Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Answering an appeal from the Watch Company for a quick distribution of these special
timepieces to authorized Time inspection services and to veterans and others badly needed in
key positions, the War Assets Administration has turned the lot back to the company at the
original cost price to the government of $21.22 each or for a total of $16,297.

The company has agreed to make an immediate and equitable distribution of these 21-jewel
watches to authorized time inspection services, with the understanding that they will be sold only
to prospective or present railroad employees who must have them to obtain or retain jobs.
During the war all watches of this type were restricted under WPB (War Production Board)
limitation Order L-175 which restricted their distribution to essential railroad employees. They
were recently declared surplus by the Army Ordnance Department.

In acquiring this lot from the War Assets Administration, the Hamilton Company, which has
been unable to meet the production demand, has given assurance that the same plan will be
followed now in distributing them. The OPA (Office of Price Administration) has established a
ceiling price of $49.25 per unit to the consumer.