Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

ghce · Jan 21, 2023

Canuck
Just think of the situation we pocket watch collectors would be in, if it wasn’t for the fact that others quite willingly divest themselves of their pocket watches. I’m fortunate in that I can turn this sow’s ear into a silk purse at virtually no cost! This watch needs a balance staff, a foot hole jewel, a matching minute hand, mainspring, recondition, and a glass, and the previous owner wasn’t in a position to ante up for the repair. Especially after paying for the repair to the Tudor that he’ll gift to his son.

Very true but what really riles me up is people scrapping premium PW for case scrap value and often times not returning the true market value of the PW.
I often see nice very old chronograph and repeater PW movements being sold for chump change as some moron thought that the scrap value for the silver or gold case was worth more.

Canuck · Jan 21, 2023

Many times I have been offered better quality watches in karat gold cases, for scrap prices. Most recently, a real nice gent’s Eterna wrist watch in an 18-karat gold case. It was offered to me for scrap, which I figured to be it he in the range of $900.00 (Cdn.). I let it go! I later ended up with the movement only, for free. That is only one example of gold watches offered to me that I have had to turn down. This is a problem that I don’t have the money to try to solve.

ghce · Jan 21, 2023

Yes that would be very frustrating.
Occasionally it can work to advantage I suppose take for example that Hamilton 950 movement I asked about last week.
Haven't purchased yet but it could provide a slightly cheaper pathway to a desirable PW.

kgb · Jan 21, 2023

I have four pocket watches. Here is my great-great-grandfather's. I think it's beautiful. Curious if anyone has any insight on these 1880s Elgins.

Canuck · Jan 22, 2023

This will tell you most of what there is to know about the movement (mechanism). It is a “box hinge” case, but there might be more we can tell you if you will show the stampings inside the case back.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/1370238

fiberguy · Jan 22, 2023

My great grandfather was a jeweler and my grand parents were big antique collectors.. many years ago I was given a box of pocket watches. I few years back, i picked two out that still ran well, but have yet to service them. The rest i finally took out and photographed them. Not sure what I will do with them, as I have no desire to use pocket watches as a daily.

kgb · Jan 22, 2023

Thanks @Canuck
Helpful link!
Here are shots of the stamping inside the covers.

TexOmega · Jan 22, 2023

kgb
I have four pocket watches. Here is my great-great-grandfather's. I think it's beautiful. Curious if anyone has any insight on these 1880s Elgins.

Especially beautiful box case. Nice heirloom

Canuck · Jan 22, 2023

The stamp Warranted U S ASSAY, 14-karat, means the case is solid 14-karat gold. The movement is an 8-size (U S measurement) which equates to the movement being a tad under 1.5” in diameter. Smaller than a typical man’s watch of the era, and a bit bigger than a preferred size for a woman. This would have been an expensive watch when new. The case was not made by the Elgin Watch Co. I don’t see a case maker’s trade mark among your pictures. The watch appears to be of better than average condition for a watch of its vintage. I have never seen a watch of any kind with the imaginative rendering of the year on the one cover. The engraving on both covers was done by hand. Not by an engraving machine! Hand engraving is close to a lost art. Very nice watch.

Canuck · Jan 22, 2023

fiberguy
My great grandfather was a jeweler and my grand parents were big antique collectors.. many years ago I was given a box of pocket watches. I few years back, i picked two out that still ran well, but have yet to service them. The rest i finally took out and photographed them. Not sure what I will do with them, as I have no desire to use pocket watches as a daily.

I think I am counting 8 watches that are key winders. Someone must have liked them in particular. My guess is that they are a mixture of watches from mostly American makers. And a mixture of 12-size, 16-size, and 18-size. Some of the cases will likely be nickel silver, but there are likely a few that are coin silver, or sterling. People who use a pocket watch daily, are few and far between. But a friend of mine in Atlanta, Georgia, has only carried pocket watches for over 30 years. I have about 50 or so pocket watches, and I don’t often carry them, but once in a while……….! 😀

kgb · Jan 22, 2023

Thanks again for the info @Canuck and @TexOmega . Yes the case engraving is beautiful.

Note the surname Harland ... yes our family is connected to the Harland and Wolff shipyard. (as an engineer, I don't advertise this connection!)

Canuck · Jan 22, 2023

Well, another one joins the “roost”. I have finished the 18-size, 13-jewel, 1877 model Waltham shown in my earlier post. Here it is. One more thing to do is to fit my @DaveK lanyard, put it in my pocket, and give it a shake down.

#1 Shows the watch dismantled prior to cleaning.
#2 Shows it cleaned and ready for assembly. New mainspring shown.
#3 After assembly, I discovered a bent and scored bottom balance staff pivot. I had a new staff, it is in the watch, it is running.
#4 Finished and in the case.
#5 Replaced minute hand. Not a perfect match, but one will turn up. Crystal installed. Another watch for my collection.

In total, replaced balance staff, mainspring, crystal, minute hand, one case screw, reconditioned. This watch had very little wear over its 140 years of existence. Being a 13-jewel model, I was concerned about worn bearings. No problem. This watch has two repair numbers in it. The last time it was lubed, it could well have been whale oil that was used in it. As I spread the plates during disassembly, the wheels were stuck in the bearings!

TexOmega · Jan 23, 2023

Well, here is @Duracuir1 's custom WWI strap made to US govt spec for my Hamilton cal 992 (and #992 out of 1000 requested) supplied to the US Engineer Corps.

Superb fit and finish, quite a piece of Art.

Thank you, @Duracuir1

Adoption was on both sides

Canuck · Jan 23, 2023

An outstanding piece of work! Nicely done. I have a question. How is the pocket watch placed into the “pouch”, and how do you get it out? The 992 was made in both stem set and lever set. It appears as though setting the watch might be a challenge if it is lever set. I’m sure the answer is simple, but I am intrigued.

TexOmega · Jan 23, 2023

the stem, bow and crown slides through an opening custom fit.

Lever set, so if I'm at the Front, I wind it every morning, keeping my head down as much as possible😲......otherwise, I slide it out, set the time and slide it back in, snugly.

The strap at the top goes through a loop in the leather allowing the front frame over the watch to open-up completely.

WestCoastTime · Jan 23, 2023

TexOmega

the stem, bow and crown slides through an opening custom fit.

Lever set, so if I'm at the Front, I wind it every morning, keeping my head down as much as possible......otherwise, I slide it out, set the time and slide it back in, snugly.

The strap at the top goes through a loop in the leather allowing the front frame over the watch to open-up completely.

The protection provided by the layer of leather padding would be a help, considering the absence of modern shock protection. Enough to make it Soldier-proof??... (probably would need considerably more padding on top of what @TexOmega has here)

Canuck · Jan 23, 2023

TexOmega

the stem, bow and crown slides through an opening custom fit.

Lever set, so if I'm at the Front, I wind it every morning, keeping my head down as much as possible......otherwise, I slide it out, set the time and slide it back in, snugly.

The strap at the top goes through a loop in the leather allowing the front frame over the watch to open-up completely.

I had a feeling there was a simple answer to my question. Thanks @TexOmega .

Fritz · Jan 24, 2023

Another great lump in the pocket today. I was going to wear the 18s Elgin Father Time, but this just seemed to need some attention so on the chain it goes.

it really is difficult some days.

Canuck · Jan 24, 2023

Some days are difficult! With only two wrists and one watch pocket, particularly! I’ll be wearing my survivor Certina, my Rolex Date-Just, and my Waltham 1883 hunter cased pocket watch, today.

Fritz · Jan 24, 2023

Canuck
Some days are difficult! With only two wrists and one watch pocket, particularly! I’ll be wearing my survivor Certina, my Rolex Date-Just, and my Waltham 1883 hunter cased pocket watch, today.

Oh yeah... I have a watch on my wrist too.

sometimes I forget about those things... its round... I think.

I guess I should pay it the respect it deserves by posting a picture.