I used to collect pocket watches, I still have a few but seem to have a liking for these Omega Goliath watches with light bulbs.
I'm in the process of repairing the silver inlaid tortoise shell case for one of them, I plan to get them all lit up again.
@michael e
As shown on the dial of your watches, the lighting ‘modification’ was a Swiss patent by M&M (number 10292) which dates from April 1895. This modification was made to several pocket watches over many years (mostly but not only Omega). You show two Omega Calibre 27’’’ and one Cal.30’’’. I also have one that is the 103 mm Omega Cal.30/40. The bulbs are tiny but nonetheless 9 volt – the large dry-cell batteries from this period are themselves historic!
AJTT is a wonderful production – but I regret is inaccurate with its description of this watch (Page 206). It shows a Cal.30’’’ from 1898 and a Cal.27’’’ from 1905 and mentions that ‘the watch … has been “electrified”, no doubt by its owner’ – but both watches displayed show ‘M&M Patent’ on the dial (this modification was not done by the owner!).
The M&M patent was the introduction of the electrodes – in the following image, the positive electrode is seen, the watch case was the negative connection: contact was made with the battery by the fittings in the box which also contained the (large!) battery.
When these watches are sold nowadays, the description often states that it is a WWI watch (in the hopes of making it more attractive): although older watches might still have been used in the trenches, these watches date from well before WWI, availability of batteries would have been difficult and of most significance, the complete box is BIG and HEAVY, not something to carry around!
A final historical note: the Swiss M&M patent is accredited to Arthur Duffek and Bohumil Holub in Prague, Bohemia, Austria. Czechoslovakia was not formed until 1918.
All a far cry from a Speedmaster!
Tom
