Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Oct 31, 2022

Very few repair marks inside the case back. The gold filled finish shows very little wear, and the movement looks like it just left the factory. Behind the crystal, the dial appears to be pristine. I don’t see too many watches of this vintage that still have their case papers. I have three case papers that have survived. Here is the pocketwatchdatabase.co site information on this handsome artifact.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/435158

TexOmega · Oct 31, 2022

Pretty nice dial for 1905, one picture with front hinged open.

And very robust 3-hinge case, too, yet, the paper is one digit off.

oh, the HORROR😲

Canuck · Oct 31, 2022

Speaking of case papers, check this. It is on an Ingersoll Yankee “dollar”watch from circa 115 years ago. Take note of the terms of the guarantee!

TexOmega · Oct 31, 2022

"Good Time" is fine for me!!👍

Ogion · Oct 31, 2022

Thanks Carl,

Read with interest. Still no idea about the other one. Need to look up serial numbers perhaps and cross reference with various makers.

Helvetia History
It's a shame not to show the Helvetia movement in these Helvetia GSTP pocket watches. I'm always surprised at how well finished they are for a military issue item.

Here is my page on these watches for anyone interested:

https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/british-gstp-pocket-watches

Thanks. Carl.

ghce · Oct 31, 2022

Just bought this today, it was cheap and the balance wheel seems excellent, just needs hands and a new glass.

My only reservation to spending time and dollars on it is that I have no idea what movement this is or who has manufactured it, my only guess so far is that it is either Asian or US by the use of the words fine silver.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this movement?

TexOmega · Nov 1, 2022

Gruen
14kt Case and dial

TexOmega · Nov 1, 2022

ghce
Just bought this today, it was cheap and the balance wheel seems excellent, just needs hands and a new glass.

My only reservation to spending time and dollars on it is that I have no idea what movement this is or who has manufactured it, my only guess so far is that it is either Asian or US by the use of the words fine silver.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this movement?

I guess European with low jewel count.

The money is in the silver content only.

Alpha · Nov 1, 2022

A regular on my desk lately and keeping remarkable time 👍

Canuck · Nov 1, 2022

TexOmega
Gruen
14kt Case and dial

My perspective tells me this is possibly a 12-size, or possibly. 10-size. It looks small. But nice!

bmpennington · Nov 1, 2022

I'm not big into pocket watches, but I did inherit an old Elgin.

ghce · Nov 1, 2022

TexOmega
I guess European with low jewel count.

The money is in the silver content only.

Just dropped it off to my Watchmaker, his initial first glance assessment was about 15 jewels possibly English.

It runs well so will just replace hands and glass at this stage though he say he will do a little research to see what it is.

TexOmega · Nov 1, 2022

Canuck
My perspective tells me this is possibly a 12-size, or possibly. 10-size. It looks small. But nice!

Gruen didn't use a standard size in this period from my memory, and made their own cases, so it's a big 10s or a small 12s😵‍💫. Gruen imported Swiss movements, so most likely European sized in ligne, but couldn't be marked that way in the US

Circa 1910

TexOmega · Nov 1, 2022

ghce
Just dropped it off to my Watchmaker, his initial first glance assessment was about 15 jewels possibly English.

It runs well so will just replace hands and glass at this stage though he say he will do a little research to see what it is.

OK, post pictures when you can, very nice case.

TexOmega · Nov 2, 2022

I posted this one a few pages back, and now back from service and placement in a display case.

Shows the full beauty from A-Z, now.

Hamilton 990
Circa 1911

Canuck · Nov 2, 2022

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/793840

ghce · Nov 2, 2022

Got my mystery PW back this morning, NOS hands and glass, purchased from an old Watchmakers estate some time ago, luck of the devil .
PW was purchased for US$11.00 and new hand and glass fitted was US$44.00.
Watch is keeping perfect time but for now I won't bother with a service.
Still unsure as to what the movement is and my Watchmaker days he has seen it before and has one onsite somewhere so he will endeavour to find out who the maker is.
So another PW enters the growing collection 😀.

Edit photo of the blueing on the hands, sub seconds is the same but can't get the angle right to show it.

Waltesefalcon · Nov 2, 2022

It's in a triple hinged case, so you can pop the dust cover open to expose the movement.

You can see the space in the cover, adjacent to the latch, to pry it open with a finger nail.

ghce · Nov 2, 2022

Waltesefalcon
It's in a triple hinged case, so you can pop the dust cover open to expose the movement.

You can see the space in the cover, adjacent to the latch, to pry it open with a finger nail.

Yeah it's a bit strange as you don't need to access the dial as the hands are key set from the rear but it's hinged and you can open the glass, can't imagine why you would ever need to unless the movement comes out face ward but of course access is from the rear.

Canuck · Nov 3, 2022

TexOmega
I posted this one a few pages back, and now back from service and placement in a display case.

Shows the full beauty from A-Z, now.

Hamilton 990
Circa 1911

I just took another look at the damascene ornamentation on the plates of your Hamilton grade 990. That is very attractively done. It might seem the 992 replaced it, since the 992 was around until circa 1929 when the 992 morphed into the 992E. And the 992E was around for about another 10 years.