Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Duracuir1 · Jan 10, 2023

TexOmega
@Duracuir1
@DaveK

standing orders here when ready. A 992 Hamilton would be correct for the era, and here it is.

Over a year ago @TexOmega showed this military spec sheet for a wristlet. It was for a 30 ish mm watch. Tex asked if I could try to make him one for a 50 mm pocket watch.

I started making a few with different leathers, including pig skin as is specified above. (Likely because pig skin was cheap).

The first few that I made were too soft and the leather around the dial would stretch and take an oval shape, much like the old original wristlet that you will see in the photos below.

So, after a few tries, all I can write dear @TexOmega is « Mission Attempted! ».

I am looking forward to seeing if his watch will fit. The variable is the crown, but I used a watch of similar size and crown so fingers crossed.

I wanted to keep the edge as thin as possible but had to still leave it wide enough to help support the rounded shape around the dial.

Here are photos. The small wristlet is what I believe to be an original. I used it as a guide. The flightmaster is there because I’ve been wearing it almost non stop since December 29th..

ghce · Jan 10, 2023

Duracuir1
Over a year ago @TexOmega showed this military spec sheet for a wristlet. It was for a 30 ish mm watch. Tex asked if I could try to make him one for a 50 mm pocket watch.

I started making a few with different leathers, including pig skin as is specified above. (Likely because pig skin was cheap).

The first few that I made were too soft and the leather around the dial would stretch and take an oval shape, much like the old original wristlet that you will see in the photos below.

So, after a few tries, all I can write dear @TexOmega is « Mission Attempted! ».

I am looking forward to seeing if his watch will fit. The variable is the crown, but I used a watch of similar size and crown so fingers crossed.

I wanted to keep the edge as thin as possible but had to still leave it wide enough to help support the rounded shape around the dial.

Here are photos. The small wristlet is what I believe to be an original. I used it as a guide. The flightmaster is there because I’ve been wearing it almost non stop since December 29th..

Oh wow, you got me thinking now, a practical way to use a pocket watch.
My Watchmaker will be horrified as most of my vintage pocket watches are not incabloc 🙄

PS beautiful workmanship.

ghce · Jan 10, 2023

I am guessing that Pig Skin would be the go-to leather as similar vintage products from the 20's to 50's have mostly been pig skin and this would be very evocative of the vintage theme that seems to be the current fashion.
Is cow hide thicker? I would imagine the extra thickness would make the work difficult and would result in a larger overall size with the rigidity of making simple folds and sewing.

Hmmm pigskin gloves and pocket watch strap whilst driving my Vintage car..... really got me thinking.

Fritz · Jan 11, 2023

SOG53

Impulse buy the other night- Waltham Model 1877 key wind/set. 18s coin silver case in pretty good shape snaps shut nicely. Few hairlines but pretty good overall functioning well. Have a thing for these! Not bad for $103

“Daveswatchparts.com” has a clean dial for a model 77 on his site... 20 bucks. Never hurts to have a spare.

TexOmega · Jan 11, 2023

@Duracuir1

Very nice execution!!!

Cannot wait to see/wear/enjoy this beautifully crafted piece of Art.

Zapatta · Jan 11, 2023

Trying to find more info about this piece while waiting for it to arrive. Serial dates it to 1901. Dial looks cracked but I don't mind that. I'm having hard time finding similar black dial with older font. 😕

Canuck · Jan 11, 2023

There is some information on a very similar watch on Ranfft. See link. It might be 19 ligne diameter. The movement in the image is from a hunter-style case, but the open-faced version (yours) is mentioned. You are brave, undertaking restoration of this watch.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&Latitude_19

Fritz · Jan 11, 2023

Illinois model 1, coarse train... which means it runs at 4 beats a second and sounds like an idling Detroit Diesel.

but it still manages to keep really good time 135 years after it left the factory.

Canuck · Jan 11, 2023

Here is the pocketwatchdatabase site list on @Fritz ’s handsome Illinois. I noted the fact that it is considered “railroad grade”. Being key wound and set, the model 1 was suited to fitting into either an open faced or hunter case. I have a model 1 in a coin silver hunter case. It was the inaugural collectible watch which started me on the way to becoming a watch collector.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/805408

Here is mine: only 7 jewels. Not railroad grade. It has the 18,000 bph “quick” train.

Waltesefalcon · Jan 11, 2023

Illinois is my favorite watch brand. I feel like they were built the best watches of the late 1800s.

noelekal · Jan 11, 2023

Mine too Waltesefalcon, though I can't say why. I don't know enough about any of them to sit in judgement on their relative qualities.

ghce · Jan 11, 2023

Duracuir1
Over a year ago @TexOmega showed this military spec sheet for a wristlet. It was for a 30 ish mm watch. Tex asked if I could try to make him one for a 50 mm pocket watch.

I started making a few with different leathers, including pig skin as is specified above. (Likely because pig skin was cheap).

The first few that I made were too soft and the leather around the dial would stretch and take an oval shape, much like the old original wristlet that you will see in the photos below.

So, after a few tries, all I can write dear @TexOmega is « Mission Attempted! ».

I am looking forward to seeing if his watch will fit. The variable is the crown, but I used a watch of similar size and crown so fingers crossed.

I wanted to keep the edge as thin as possible but had to still leave it wide enough to help support the rounded shape around the dial.

Here are photos. The small wristlet is what I believe to be an original. I used it as a guide. The flightmaster is there because I’ve been wearing it almost non stop since December 29th..

Thanks to @TexOmega for the original source material, I cleaned it up a little for better print quality.
This really is a wonderful document to have on file.

US Army watch specs and wristlet Sep 26 1917(1).jpg

noelekal · Jan 11, 2023

Fritz
Illinois model 1, coarse train... which means it runs at 4 beats a second and sounds like an idling Detroit Diesel.

but it still manages to keep really good time 135 years after it left the factory.

That Illinois watch features the most massive crystal I've ever seen on a pocket watch.

It lends a most pleasing look.

DaveK · Jan 11, 2023

@Fritz, now we can talk about bikes and pocket watches

ghce · Jan 11, 2023

Now for some recent backup as to the authenticity of the look in modern media, knew I had seen it somewhere recently.
https://bestwatchbrandshq.com/chris-pine-watch-in-wonder-woman-movie/

Bernhard J · Jan 12, 2023

noelekal
That Illinois watch features the most massive crystal I've ever seen on a pocket watch.

It lends a most pleasing look.

Indeed, similar in my Elgin Culver. Together with the coin silver case, this watch is more than massiv. I take particular care that it does not slip out of my hands.

Fritz · Jan 12, 2023

DaveK
@Fritz, now we can talk about bikes and pocket watches

The question is... can you make one?

Fritz · Jan 12, 2023

Bernhard J
Indeed, similar in my Elgin Culver. Together with the coin silver case, this watch is more than massiv. I take particular care that it does not slip out of my hands.

Yes... because if you drop one of these heavy bastards you’ll likely hole the floor.

Fritz · Jan 12, 2023

Waltesefalcon
Illinois is my favorite watch brand. I feel like the built the best watches of the late 1800s.

Although I have a real weakness for Waltham’s model 92, Illinois has to be my favourite make. A 24j model 6 railroad watch with a gothic face is about as good as it gets.

Canuck · Jan 12, 2023

Illinois supplied a movement to the Ball Watch Co. in the 16-size model. Keep your eye peeled for one of those. Indeed one rare bird! The only picture I can find of this rare Illinois is in the Shugart, Engel & Gilbert bible, and it is not very good.