Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

ghce · Aug 28, 2023

This in today.
Sno 10560221 running beautifully.
16S Waltham Vanguard RR.
Double hinged Keystone case.

ghce · Aug 28, 2023

And this....
Sno 10500901
Also running beautifully.
18S Waltham Vanguard RR

JimInOz · Aug 28, 2023

Waltesefalcon
I have four kids, so I have kidneys to spare.

I know you're kidding, but when my Dad had kidney failure I flew to Adelaide and told him I'm up for a donation.
He said "Don't be fuckin' stupid Son, I've had a good run, you've still got years and will probably need both of yours".

There was a tense moment, but then we both burst out laughing and had a big hug.

I'll never forget that moment.

ghce · Aug 28, 2023

And this.
Sno 32401117
Running beautifully as well
God that Sno was hard to read.
16S Waltham Vanguard RR.
So 3 Rail Road Waltham Vanguards entered my collection today.

The only bugbear with this one was the daily rate was woeful for a RR watch when I first timed it, opening it up and inspecting the balance wheel revealed a bunch of super fine fibres that were fouling the balance so I carefully extracted them using high mag and some tweezers, problem solved now running within a 2 second daily rate like the other 2 in today's treasure trove 😀
My wallet is very sad indeed.
But now that the daily rate issue is resolved my wallet maybe sad but I am smiling like a cat.

TexOmega · Aug 28, 2023

My Hampden Handful

Railway Special ( or Special Railway)

Dueber-Hampden display cases

23j in Bold numerals circa 1904

21j circa 1900

RR Grade

Canuck · Aug 28, 2023

These were likely both made after John Dueber bought the Hampden company, and by 1889, had moved it from Springfield to Canton, Ohio. But the dials and movements are all still marked Hampden! Hampden produced the first 23-jewel watch movement (16-size), made in the USA. I have one Hampden. It is a more pedestrian calibre movement in a hunter case.

Later on, his watches were marked Dueber/Hampden. Then later, the Hampden name was dropped, and watches were marked the Dueber Watch Co. as shown in this example from my collection.

noelekal · Aug 28, 2023

Wow!

There's some grand watches appearing on this page!

I'm keeping an 18S Walham 1892 Vanguard in mind of late as an addition to the pocket watch menagerie.

ghce · Aug 28, 2023

JimInOz
I know you're kidding, but when my Dad had kidney failure I flew to Adelaide and told him I'm up for a donation.
He said "Don't be fuckin' stupid Son, I've had a good run, you've still got years and will probably need both of yours".

There was a tense moment, but then we both burst out laughing and had a big hug.

I'll never forget that moment.

A subject which I am very well acquainted with as the genetic disorder of polycystic kidney disease runs in my family and has been singularly responsible for the demise of most of my cousins, uncles and aunts on that side of the family often at an early age and only mitigated by kidney transplants which are as scarce as hens teeth.
Luckily my Father was devoid of the condition so myself and siblings are unaffected but his brothers and sisters were not, killing most of them.
So yes it makes a good joke but believe me the devastation wrought by this disease is heartbreaking.

ghce · Aug 28, 2023

As a side note to my recent Waltham RR purchases the seller is a serious watch collector who is looking to further downsize his extensive PW collection which apparently he has gleaned from many years of attending watch shows in the US.
So I am looking forward to his next cull which will hopefully include Illinois Hamilton Elgin's RR's etc, these are only being offered to me at this stage and he is in no hurry to divest and prefers they go to a fellow collector that appreciates the quality that US PW's and in particular RR watches possess.

Canuck · Aug 28, 2023

ghce
As a side note to my recent Waltham RR purchases the seller is a serious watch collector who is looking to further downsize his extensive PW collection which apparently he has gleaned from many years of attending watch shows in the US.
So I am looking forward to his next cull which will hopefully include Illinois Hamilton Elgin's RR's etc, these are only being offered to me at this stage and he is in no hurry to divest and prefers they go to a fellow collector that appreciates the quality that US PW's and in particular RR watches possess.

Lucky dog!

SOG53 · Aug 28, 2023

Illinois Sangiamo Special 23J 1920

SOG53 · Aug 28, 2023

Another high grade Illinois Bunn Special 23J 60 hr 1928 Montgomery dial

TexOmega · Aug 29, 2023

Webb C. Ball would have been spinning when these were brought to market by his next generation. But, they were underwater and floundering and soon to be gone.

Hated Montgomery Dials, Hated Swiss made watches.

The trifecta of hate is not here, hated double sunk dials.

Record Watch Co produced these for Ball in the 1950’s.

Very nice, a quiet handsome RR grade watch.......for a LAST GASP.

ghce · Aug 29, 2023

TexOmega
Webb C. Ball would have been spinning when these were brought to market by his next generation. But, they were underwater and floundering and soon to be gone.

Hated Montgomery Dials, Hated Swiss made watches.

The trifecta of hate is not here, hated double sunk dials.

Record Watch Co produced these for Ball in the 1950’s.

Very nice, a quiet handsome RR grade watch.

Been on the look out for some of these Record RR PW's but alas have only found non RR grade ones however as a movement maker Record seem to be very good going by the one I have in hand so much so I often wonder how Omega got where it was when there were much superior Swiss movement makers around.

ghce · Aug 29, 2023

From the sublime above to the mundane.
My Record PW in a Sterling Silver double hinged case, freshly serviced a few months ago.
A very accurate runner.

TexOmega · Aug 29, 2023

Very nice, no need to be negative.....super Sterling case.👍

ghce · Aug 29, 2023

TexOmega
Very nice, no need to be negative.....super Sterling case.👍

Yes I quite like it, I have 4 Omega PW's in the collection however despite the hype around the Omega name I like this more.
Its hard to figure out how so many good makers failed to achieve brand wise and in this case given the green light by the Ball company as fit to shine in the RR market the Record brand is largely unknown except to those who study RR watch history.

Canuck · Aug 29, 2023

By the time Ball was sourcing railroad standard pocket watches from Record, (after Hamilton folded in 1969), the railroad standard wrist watch had been in use for about 7 or 8 years. Ball dabbled in”Official Railroad Standard” (ORRS) wrist watches, using the venerable Eta automatic movement of the era. I had thought at one time that I might try to acquire a grade 435 Ball pocket watch. That is, until I worked on one.

ghce · Aug 29, 2023

Canuck
By the time Ball was sourcing railroad standard pocket watches from Record, (after Hamilton folded in 1969), the railroad standard wrist watch had been in use for about 7 or 8 years. Ball dabbled in”Official Railroad Standard” (ORRS) wrist watches, using the venerable Eta automatic movement of the era. I had thought at one time that I might try to acquire a grade 435 Ball pocket watch. That is, until I worked on one.

All that glitters is not gold?
Are they not as good as first glance might appear.

Canuck · Aug 29, 2023

I still cherish my two Louis Brandt grade CCR pocket watches, 19-jewels, railroad approved in Canada. Produced by Omega for the railroad trade. They certainly bear the earmarks of Omega movements. The first CCR is a private label for retail jeweller A Logan, Greenwood, British Columbia. The second one has the dial marked Louis Brandt & frere.