Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

TexOmega · Oct 21, 2022

Fritz

1910 Elgin Father Time, 18s grade 367

If its quiet you can hear this sucker ticking from across the room.

think ‘idling diesel’ and you’ll have an idea.

Seth Thomas #17 regulator. This is an ex CNR piece thats from Northern Ontario.

It keeps really good time but I haven’t figured a way to fit a chain to it yet.

perhaps @DaveK could figure out a lanyard...

My Regulator #2 in oak
Case from 1915-22 with it having the finial design elements at the bottom.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 21, 2022

That's gorgeous Tex!

Canuck · Oct 21, 2022

TexOmega
My Regulator #2 in oak
Case from 1915-22 with it having the finial design elements at the bottom.

Often discussed on this message board is the idea of a “grail” watch. My grail clock is a Seth Thomas # 2!

Fritz · Oct 22, 2022

TexOmega
My Regulator #2 in oak
Case from 1915-22 with it having the finial design elements at the bottom.

Seth Thomas often stamped the production date (backwards!) on the back of the case during those years.

One of my clocks is marked 5111 on the back, which is November 1915 (11/15). It was from the same station as my #17 regulator and was provided to the railroad by Ball.

not surprisingly, it also keeps really good time.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 23, 2022

I just found out that Hamilton is making a pocket watch to commemorate the 130th anniversary of their rail road pocket watches. After seeing the commercial I looked it up, I can't imagine paying $1300 for a new pocket watch when I just bought a 950B $700. They are also making it in a limited run of 917 pieces, which makes me think it's an homage to the 917, but the 917 wasn't a railroad approved watch. I kinda like modern Hamiltons and while this one looks okay, I somehow feel like it's missed the mark.

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/h40819110-american-classic-railroad-pocket-watch.html

Canuck · Oct 23, 2022

This watch was discussed earlier in this forum. Basically a tarted up version of the Unitas 6497. This movement is used by Tissot and has been used by Omega. Not too much enthusiasm among hard core Hamilton collectors! I wonder who their target market is. I doubt it will appeal to knowledgeable Hamilton collectors.

Fritz · Oct 23, 2022

It’ll be a hit with the hipster crowd.

along with vegan hamburgers and plaid flannel shirts.

Canuck · Oct 23, 2022

This artifact was brought to me for my opinion. The owner is planning on donating it to the museum in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. It is an 1899 model Waltham, 16-size, 19-jewel, stem set, Vanguard grade. The jewels are genuine ruby, and if you look closely, the end stone(s) on the balance staff are rose cut diamonds! Double-sunk vitreous enamel dial is perfect, and the case is solid 14-karat gold. Total of 8 adjustments. Five to position, heat, cold, and isochronism. It would have been railroad grade, but not likely railroad approved because of the hunter case, and the fact it is not lever set. Produced in 1904, it is in exquisite condition, having likely been used very little over its 118 years of existence. It’s front cover was hand engraved in monogram script with the original owner’s initials. Typically, monogram script is done with the owner’s family initial in the centre, and given initials, one on each side. The family initial is usually larger. This was not engraved that way. It has been serviced only once, by me, in 1997. It was presented to a prominent Revelstoke citizen in 1904 by a local band. I don’t recall ever having seen a Vanguard grade Waltham movement in a hunter case, and one that is stem set (not lever set). And it is rare indeed to run into one in near mint condition!

Here is the pocketwatchdatabase.com information on this exquisite watch.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/14144689

Fritz · Oct 25, 2022

Threw a fresh battery at the Hamilton today... it bounced off.

Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin...

Canuck · Oct 25, 2022

Throwing anything at a Hamilton can be construed as battery! For shame! 😁

Fritz
Threw a fresh battery at the Hamilton today... it bounced off.

Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin...

TexOmega · Oct 25, 2022

Still a stunner and a top 10 of my PW collection

Ingersoll-Trenton
19j RR approved on a Spur or Two.
Uncommon to say the least

noelekal · Oct 25, 2022

That Ingersoll Trenton ought to be a rare bird!

Fritz · Oct 25, 2022

TexOmega
Still a stunner and a top 10 of my PW collection

Ingersoll-Trenton
19j RR approved on a Spur or Two.
Uncommon to say the least

Yeah, one of those would be on my very short list of railroad watches to buy.

that and a 950 series Hamilton would pretty much make my day.

delivery by a tall red headed green eyed girl with a cool irish accent would help too, but I’m sure Mrs. Fritz would have something to say about that

Fritz · Oct 26, 2022

On the pocketwatchdatabase.com site the nice man who runs it has made a video where he puts 50 running American pocket watches in a pile and then sits his microphone on the pile... kinda audio porn for those so inclined.

I’ve wound all of the watches in my display case for laughs a few times... it sounds like a box of crickets. Great fun for those who refuse to grow up.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 26, 2022

Fritz
On the pocketwatchdatabase.com site the nice man who runs it has made a video where he puts 50 running American pocket watches in a pile and then sits his microphone on the pile... kinda audio porn for those so inclined.

I’ve wound all of the watches in my display case for laughs a few times... it sounds like a box of crickets. Great fun for those who refuse to grow up.

I saw that video, it is a very cool sound. Whole I don't have that many, I had ten running this last weekend seeing which would run the longest. It was my 950B which was still running this morning after sixty hours.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 26, 2022

Fritz
delivery by a tall red headed green eyed girl with a cool irish accent would help too, but I’m sure Mrs. Fritz would have something to say about that

I dated one for the better part of a year once and while I loved her it was for the best that it was a brief relationship.

Canuck · Oct 26, 2022

Name her!

noelekal · Oct 26, 2022

Maureen O'Hara.

Canuck · Oct 26, 2022

noelekal
Maureen O'Hara.

Now Mrs. @Fritz would for sure be choked if Maureen O’Hara was the green eyed red head with an Irish accent was the one to appear,

Alpha · Oct 26, 2022

Heading off in the morning for a short holiday and I think i have the time and weather covered 😉