Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Fritz · Jan 25, 2023

Sorry ‘bout that.

@Mad Dog made me do it.

Canuck · Jan 25, 2023

Great for target practice!

Alpha · Jan 25, 2023

Unfortunately nothing new to offer but this advertising poster hanging next to my desk helps a little 🙁

Fritz · Jan 27, 2023

If you had to choose one watch to represent the classic railway timepiece:

Canuck · Jan 27, 2023

It is hard to “one-up” @Fritz on a classic railroad standard pocket watch. But I’ll try. This is my private label (for. D R Dingwall, Winnipeg) Hamilton, 19-jewel grade 944. The Hamilton 940 was probably one of the most widely used 18-size railroad standard pocket watches, but I think the 944 was visually more pleasing than the 940.

DaveK · Jan 27, 2023

Fritz
If you had to choose one watch to represent the classic railway timepiece:

When I was a kid I loved to see if I could spot when the McDonald’s sign changed with a higher number of “Millions of customers served” - it was a 1 traffic light town, not much else to get excited about 🙁. I bet the folks in the Hamilton factory felt the same about the success of the 992b.

septentrio · Jan 27, 2023

Fritz · Jan 27, 2023

DaveK
When I was a kid I loved to see if I could spot when the McDonald’s sign changed with a higher number of “Millions of customers served” - it was a 1 traffic light town, not much else to get excited about 🙁. I bet the folks in the Hamilton factory felt the same about the success of the 992b.

I know the feeling, we didn’t have a traffic light or a fast food joint of any kind.

But we did have fighters from the local base regularly booming across the lake in front of our house, out patrolling, looking for those nasty Russians! The northern early warning radar station and interceptor base was about a kilometer away on the other side of the lake so I grew up thinking airplanes came in two types: Cessnas with pontoons and fighter jets. As an added bonus you could always head out to the dump and chase bears with the family Oldsmobile.

so it wasn’t all bad, we didn’t know junk food existed so we didn’t miss it.

Canuck · Jan 27, 2023

I recall in the early 1950s (before most of you were born) 😀 , we lived about one mile from an RCAF training facility. Student pilots were supposed to be in the air for so many hours per month. At times, the weather wasn’t conducive to having student pilots practicing in the station’s Harvard aircraft. So when the weather was bad, there were few planes in the air. But when the weather broke, there were times when there were as many as a dozen Harvards in the air. They were practicing “touch and go” landings, then around for another circuit. These planes had variable pitch propellers on them, and when taking off, they made one helluva racket! We also had to contend with air raid sirens! (Yes, that long ago!) And they were tested frequently. So we lived with racket.

Fritz · Jan 27, 2023

That other Hamilton 992B variant, the 999B. If the propaganda is to be believed Ball hotrodded the 992B into something better. American Ball watches were sold cased but those exported to Canada were cased up here (in Winterpeg!) to avoid luxury taxes.

DaveK · Jan 27, 2023

Fritz
I know the feeling, we didn’t have a traffic light or a fast food joint of any kind.

But we did have fighters from the local base regularly booming across the lake in front of our house, out patrolling, looking for those nasty Russians! The northern early warning radar station and interceptor base was about a kilometer away on the other side of the lake so I grew up thinking airplanes came in two types: Cessnas with pontoons and fighter jets. As an added bonus you could always head out to the dump and chase bears with the family Oldsmobile.

so it wasn’t all bad, we didn’t know junk food existed so we didn’t miss it.

We used to refer to the garbage dump as the "drive in". The only nighttime entertainment around

noelekal · Jan 27, 2023

Back when, my cousin and I used to go down to the railyard off West Vickery Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas late at night to watch them make up trains. Now they've put up high fences around the perimeter and spoiled all the fun.

Canuck · Jan 27, 2023

Fritz
That other Hamilton 992B variant, the 999B. If the propaganda is to be believed Ball hotrodded the 992B into something better. American Ball watches were sold cased but those exported to Canada were cased up here (in Winterpeg!) to avoid luxury taxes.

The 999B has 992B all over it. An earlier version is this one, is based on the Hamilton grade 992. One major tell is the 999B has the mono metallic balance wheel with the solid rim, and the Elinvar Extra hairspring. The earlier version (mine) has the bi-metallic, temperature compensating balance wheel, and the blued steel hairspring. Ever the opportunist, Ball used the 999 model number after the New York Central railroad locomotive # 999 which established a record speed. Ball applied the grade 999 to earlier 18-size Hamilton-Ball models, as well. My example doesn’t have a grade designation marked on it.

My Ball is in a Ball 20th Century case with the distinctive stirrup bow. The 20th Century model Hamilton-Ball movement (in this model of case) had 23-jewels. This movement has only 21-jewels, so it is not actually a true 20th Century Ball. I bought the case with a Waltham movement in it. I had the Ball movement in my collection, in a WALTHAM case! Call it a “marriage of convenience”! The Waltham ended up in the Waltham case, and vice versa.

My 20th Century case has a hinged bezel, hinged back, and hinged cuvette. It is my understanding that Ball railroad standards ruled out hinged cases! Why did he make an exception for Ball watches. My case was made by the Crescent Watch Case Co. whom I am not aware had a Canadian factory.

Canuck · Jan 28, 2023

My 1877 Waltham R E Robbins, 13-jewel hunter, gold filled Dueber case, circa 1885. Sixth day in my pocket, and what a performer! After a balance staff, mainspring, crystal, replacement minute hand and recondition. Guy I bought it from was glad to get rid of it, but I’m glad to have it! I wonder, if he was to see it now, would he feel any different?

Zapatta · Jan 29, 2023

Yesterday's find which is very uncommon for my local market. Two tone dial with outer part in grey-ish metallic colour, mirrored numerals, fab suisse, very cool minute track and pontife hour hand. Just need to find a new glass 😀

Canuck · Jan 29, 2023

For sure, a new glass! But even if you don’t come up with a replacement glass right away, get that horrible yellowed crystal OUT so the hands are preserved! Those old yellow crystals emit corrosive vapours as they age, and bad things can happen.

DaveRam · Jan 31, 2023

My wife just gave me her great grandfathers Omega pocket watch. It's a real beauty looks hand engraved. I was hoping someone could give me some insight into its age? Metal? etc. Also, I gave it a wind and worked a bit, but I was thinking of having it professionally serviced, any thoughts?

DaveRam · Jan 31, 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.

What a beauty!

ghce · Jan 31, 2023

Interesting case, looks like an Illinois case, cased in the US? others will know

TexOmega · Jan 31, 2023

D DaveRam
My wife just gave me her great grandfathers Omega pocket watch. It's a real beauty looks hand engraved. I was hoping someone could give me some insight into its age? Metal? etc. Also, I gave it a wind and worked a bit, but I was thinking of having it professionally serviced, any thoughts?

I'd guess 1920's maybe a bit earlier with the OMEGA font....get the serial number off the movement to pinpoint the date of manufacture.

Inside the case back should tell the metal composition........very nice hand-tooled art deco case.

Service it, and do not wind till serviced.

Nice heirloom and watch