{"product_id":"hamilton-otis-as01712","title":"Hamilton Otis","description":"\u003cp\u003eHamilton is perhaps best known to modern collectors for their historically significant tool watches: robust \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/hamilton-sold\/products\/hamilton-gi-1\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Hamilton GI\"\u003efield watches\u003c\/a\u003e issued to the U.S. military from the Vietnam War to the 1980s, bulky precision \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/hamilton-sold\/products\/hamilton-pan-europ-chronomatic\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Hamilton Pan Europ Chronograph\"\u003echronographs\u003c\/a\u003e, or divers in EPSA \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.1025vintage.com\/collections\/hamilton\/products\/hamilton-aqua-date-supercompressor\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Hamilton Aquadate SuperCompressor\"\u003eSuperCompressor\u003c\/a\u003e cases. But during the Golden Age of American watchmaking, Hamilton was master of all trades, from railroad timers to dress watches fit for kings. Their catalogs from the 1930s and 1940s were filled with elegant and innovative watches that have all but faded to obscurity. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Otis--or Otis \"Reverso\"--is one such watch. Seeking to capitalize on Alfred Chauvot's innovative reversible case design, Hamilton produced the Otis in 1938. The Hamilton Otis used Chauvot's case designs, either in solid gold or gold-filled, with black or white dials and bold Breguet style numerals. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHamilton had this to say about the Otis in their catalogs from the era: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Exclusively Hamilton, this smartly designed strap watch ingeniously fulfills its double duty in a practical foolproof manner. Slight pressure from the side, a flip of the finger - and the watch locks firmly into reversed position.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, \"exclusively Hamilton\" was not entirely the truth. In fact, the design of the Otis infringed upon another watch manufactured by a Swiss company: Jaeger-LeCoultre, that is, who was also manufacturing their \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/jaeger-lecoultre-sold\/products\/jaeger-lecoultre-grand-reverso-ultra-thin-1931-us-edition\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute to 1931 Limited Edition Box \u0026amp; Papers\"\u003eReverso\u003c\/a\u003e under Chauvot's patent. As you'd expect, Hamilton and JLC soon found themselves embroiled in a lawsuit. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUltimately, after three years in court, JLC won out. Due to the terms of the lawsuit, Hamilton could only produce the Otis using movements made by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/products\/tavannes-chronograph\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Tavannes Chronograph\"\u003eTavannes\u003c\/a\u003e, Movado, or JLC themselves. Faced with the choice to either use another brand's movements or cease production altogether, Hamilton pulled the Otis from their catalogs in 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurviving examples are rare, which makes this one all the more desirable. It's a true survivor, with a strong case devoid of pitting or custom engraving, and a beautifully patinated original dial. The infamous case--14k gold filled in this example--is in excellent condition, with its reversing design functioning perfectly. Practical, foolproof, and stunning, it was the American answer to the Reverso, and deserves to be remembered and loved by another generation of watch collectors. Don't miss it! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hamilton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":26991014529,"sku":null,"price":2350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Hamilton_Otis_Reverso_AS01712_1.jpg?v=1475686928","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/hamilton-otis-as01712","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}