Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Mar 29, 2023

Well done on theCPR Waltham 1892. The pocket watch database site listing doesn’t call it railroad approved. But I suspect CPR approved it, even though it is stem set (these usually are), and the number of adjustments aren’t marked on the plates. Fairly scarce bird, that one.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/20000294

ghce · Mar 29, 2023

Thats a super nice Waltham, large in size with 12 and 24 hour markings and a 5 position adjusted movement too.

Canuck · Mar 29, 2023

ghce
Thats a super nice Waltham, large in size with 12 and 24 hour markings and a 5 position adjusted movement too.

I missed that! It DOES say 5 positions! Thanks to @ghce for catching that.

Fritz · Mar 29, 2023

Canuck
Well done on theCPR Waltham 1892. The pocket watch database site listing doesn’t call it railroad approved. But I suspect CPR approved it, even though it is stem set (these usually are), and the number of adjustments aren’t marked on the plates. Fairly scarce bird, that one.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/20000294

Waltham CPRs and the Time Service Walthams were sold through Eaton’s of all places. I guess you could get your RR approve time pieces there as well at the local jeweler.

ghce · Mar 30, 2023

Just back today from full service and repair, new glass, new mainspring, new sub second hand.
The collection grows, my bank balance decreases.

Record 15 Jewel

Canuck · Mar 30, 2023

ghce
Just back today from full service and repair, new glass, new mainspring, new sub second hand.
The collection grows, my bank balance decreases.

Record 15 Jewel

The stamp at A indicates an item imported to London. The stamp at B indicates a silver case, the European mark .935 (93.5 %pure silver). The case is Swiss made. The watch appears to be in virtually new condition with few (maybe only one) repair. Perfect vitreous enamel dial. Easy to like!

ghce · Mar 30, 2023

Canuck
The stamp at A indicates an item imported to London. The stamp at B indicates a silver case, the European mark .935 (93.5 %pure silver). The case is Swiss made. The watch appears to be in virtually new condition with few (maybe only one) repair. Perfect vitreous enamel dial. Easy to like!

And a few other marks on it are.......

Canuck · Apr 2, 2023

Fritz
Waltham CPRs and the Time Service Walthams were sold through Eaton’s of all places. I guess you could get your RR approve time pieces there as well at the local jeweler.

There was another pocket watch carried by Eatons. The watch I have in mind as about 18-size, and an initial impression, it looked very much like the Waltham 1892 model. Complete with all the markings that the Waltham 1892 model for railroad use, would have had. Difference? It was Swiss made by, Gallet, and was called the “Inter-Ocean”model. It had all the appearances of a watch that might have been railroad approved (in Canada), but I don’t see it listed as ever being approved for railroad use in North America. Image from the internet. It might be considered a private label for Eatons since it has the capital E inside a diamond shield on the dial. I’ve seen them before, but I don’t recall ever having serviced one.

The movement is engraved “Temperature and x Positions (can’t read a number).

Fritz · Apr 2, 2023

What a nice looking watch, and they didn’t glance at the model 92 even once during designing that thing... oh no.

There is a Swiss watch with that very style of Eaton’s dial at the local antiques shop, nothing special, just a 15j pocket watch. I think it may also be a Gallet.

every time I’m in that shop it temps me, just because of the bit of Canadian history it represents.

Canuck · Apr 2, 2023

Fritz
What a nice looking watch, and they didn’t glance at the model 92 even once during designing that thing... oh no.

There is a Swiss watch with that very style of Eaton’s dial at the local antiques shop, nothing special, just a 15j pocket watch. I think it may also be a Gallet.

every time I’m in that shop it temps me, just because of the bit of Canadian history it represents.

I’d take an 1892 model Waltham any day, over that Gallet Inter-Ocean. The picture is lousy, and I am unable to see if the jewel count is there. The cap jewels on the upper train bridge have the appearance of the cap jewels on my Electa, by Gallet. These cap jewels appear to me to be “dummy” cap jewels covering a regular hole jewel. After the craze of about 60 to 70 years ago when the market was flooded with watches with up to 100 jewels, legislation was enacted to mean that only jewels that functioned at a point of friction could be listed in the jewel count. I’d bet this Gallet Inter-Ocean has dummy cap jewels on it. It wouldn’t have a position in my collection.

Fritz · Apr 2, 2023

Canuck
I’d take an 1892 model Waltham any day, over that Gallet Inter-Ocean. The picture is lousy, and I am unable to see if the jewel count is there. The cap jewels on the upper train bridge have the appearance of the cap jewels on my Electa, by Gallet. These cap jewels appear to me to be “dummy” cap jewels covering a regular hole jewel. After the craze of about 60 to 70 years ago when the market was flooded with watches with up to 100 jewels, legislation was enacted to mean that only jewels that functioned at a point of friction could be listed in the jewel count. I’d bet this Gallet Inter-Ocean has dummy cap jewels on it. It wouldn’t have a position in my collection.

Thats why that Eaton’s watch at the antique shop only temps me... the average Swiss movement isn’t anything to write home about, especially if you are used to turn of the century American railroad movements.

They are just soooooo nice...

ghce · Apr 2, 2023

Fritz
Thats why that Eaton’s watch at the antique shop only temps me... the average Swiss movement isn’t anything to write home about, especially if you are used to turn of the century American railroad movements.

They are just soooooo nice...

Thats what I am trying to convince my Watch Maker of who is only used to a steady diet of questionable Swiss quality.

Canuck · Apr 2, 2023

Fritz
Thats why that Eaton’s watch at the antique shop only temps me... the average Swiss movement isn’t anything to write home about, especially if you are used to turn of the century American railroad movements.

They are just soooooo nice...

Merciless! You keep tempting us with you 24-jewel Bunn Special. I might have to speak to the moderators about that! :whipped:

Fritz · Apr 2, 2023

Canuck
Merciless! You keep tempting us with you 24-jewel Bunn Special. I might have to speak to the moderators about that!

Well... I do need to defend my honour against that Omega RR you have and don’t you also have a 950 series Hamilton!

thems big guns!

Canuck · Apr 2, 2023

Fritz
Well... I do need to defend my honour against that Omega RR you have and don’t you also have a 950 series Hamilton! In this order:

- One of my Brandt CCRs.
- My Hamilton 952.
- My 952 again.
- My Brandt CCR again.
- My Hamilton 950 B.
- My 950B movement.
- My Hamilton 950 & 950 B shown together.
- Repeat above.

thems big guns!

Fritz · Apr 3, 2023

Thanks for that.

ghce · Apr 3, 2023

Just bought these tonight at auction.

Wanted the 16S case as a donor and the 17 Jewel movement as a possible filler for it.

Do I sacrifice the 7 jewel traveller for the undoubtedly better 17 Jewel one? what do you think?

now I have far more Waltham movements than is good for me.

Canuck · Apr 3, 2023

The Royal (with that anonymous dial) indicates to me that the watch was likely originally an export to the U K. As was the Traveler movement. I know what I would do! Switcheroo! I know the anti-switchers will come down on me like a duck on a June bug! But so be it!

Canuck · Apr 5, 2023

Switch today, from my recent acquisition, my Waltham 1877 hunter with the R E Robbins 13-jewel movement in it. What a remarkable performer, and very enjoyable to wear. So, since I am certain most of you are tired of me boasting about it, I have changed to my 18-size Hamilton grade 941, hunter. This is the hunter version of the venerable Hamilton 940, a very popular 18-size railroad approved watch more than 100 years ago. Not rare, but you don’t see many around, any more. (On the very popular Dave K lanyard, of which I have 3 more coming.)

About the watch:

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/696010

Canuck · Apr 6, 2023

I got a call recently, from an ex-railroader that wanted to buy a railroad approved pocket watch for auld lang syne. I sell the odd watch, but in this case, I called a friend who has more Hamilton 992Bs than Carter has little liver pills. He sent me 3 to show the chap, and he chose Hamilton 992B S# 242747, pictured. A nice one with a minor hairline to the vitreous enamel, double-sunk dial. As part of the deal, I went through it today. Stripped, conditioned, etc. waiting for lanyards from @DaveK , and then he’ll get his watch.