Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Alpha · Oct 15, 2023

Elgin on duty today,

Canuck · Oct 15, 2023

On the subject of Elgin pocket watches, I recently spoke with the fellow I sold an 18-size Elgin to, in 2022. He’s loving it! As with every watch I end up selling, I sorta miss it! I found this one in a drawer of scrap watches and donors. It needed a balance staff (I had a NOS original staff), a foot hole jewel in its setting (I had one, NOS original Elgin jewel), mainspring (I had one, NOS original part), glass (I had a NOS one on hand), seconds hand (I had one), better case (I had one), and recondition. You might say I gave the watch to the new owner, and simply charged him for the repair! When I put as much into a watch as I did this one, and to have it turn out the way it did (kept railroad time), I have to ask myself why I was foolish enough to sell it. But when I see the pleasure the new owner gets out of it, it helps a bit.

Duracuir1 · Oct 16, 2023

I found some ephemera this afternoon at an old book store. Here is a sampling.

Above is from 1904. Below is from 1870. Clocks mostly but maybe @Bernhard J is going to like it.

ghce · Oct 16, 2023

What a find! And a great read too.
As advertising goes there is not any puffery just hard solid facts as to why you should invest in a Waltham, as true today as it was back in 1904 (and before).

Bernhard J · Oct 17, 2023

Duracuir1
Below is from 1870. Clocks mostly but maybe @Bernhard J is going to like it.

Not "maybe" .... For sure! By the way, I love old books as well 😀

Alpha · Oct 17, 2023

Looking as if someone may need a little attention 😀

noelekal · Oct 17, 2023

Duricuir1; Thanks for posting so much out of that Waltham catalog! I love that kind of stuff! I'd enjoy finding a catalog just like it. A great reference!

Alpha
Looking as if someone may need a little attention 😀

Alpha; The one running slow or the one running fast?

TexOmega · Oct 17, 2023

Illinois 12s
17j Model “A”
Year: 1923
Outstanding case and killer dial

Canuck · Oct 17, 2023

The pocketwatchdatabase.com information on @TexOmega ’s handsome Illinois.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/4141152

The case really is exceptional! On my screen it appears to me to be green gold. The dial, as well. I don’t go out of my way to collect 12-size watches, but that one would have a place in any collection! Very nice!

TexOmega · Oct 18, 2023

Another favorite of my 12s collection
Hamilton grade 904 21j…(added 2 cap jewels to escape wheel). Gold train. High quality.
Had some parts that interchanged with the grade 922 Masterpiece. 👍

Factory cased because these were slightly smaller( following the fashion of mid-1920’s) than predecessors, which were slightly LARGER😵‍💫than the normal size 12 of their time period, like the grade 900(1909-1923).

Absolutely & gorgeously elegant in WGF.

Year: 1928 relatively low production circa 4100.

love the hands, too

TexOmega · Oct 19, 2023

18s Hamilton
Grade 927 17j
Year: 1904
Gold Pkg
Display Case

Canuck · Oct 19, 2023

I too have a Hamilton 927. This one came to me in a gawdawful nickel silver, open faced case. The guy I bought it from, phoned me before he brought it over. He represented it as an “extremely rare watch in as new condition. I offered him a fair price for it, and he wasn’t going to let it go, but I told him that it was NOT rare, and not AS NEW! I wouldn’t move on my offer, so I ended up with it. Some years later, I happened upon a so so hunter case which the movement is in, now. The one shown by @TexOmega is much prettier, with the gold coloured screws and regulator. And I like the double-sunk, private label dial on the subject watch. Neither of these movements is marked with the 927 which is the grade number. These were not railroad grade, but they were an excellent movement.

Here is the pocketwatchdatabase.com site listing info of the subject watch.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/261600

And here is the same info on my watch.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/217662

JimInOz · Oct 20, 2023

Lovely movement with superb finish (unlike Swiss equivalents at the time).
The rate would be adjusted by the screw at the side of the balance cock I assume?
(and the beautiful spring would control it and the needle would indicate change of rate).

Canuck · Oct 20, 2023

JimInOz
Lovely movement with superb finish (unlike Swiss equivalents at the time).
The rate would be adjusted by the screw at the side of the balance cock I assume?
(and the beautiful spring would control it and the needle would indicate change of rate).

The micrometer regulating adjustment screw, indicated by the arrow.The shoulder of the screw is “castellated” so you can keep track of how far you have turned the regulating screw. There is a slot for a screw driver which is where you’d expect it to be.

TexOmega · Oct 20, 2023

I hope these outdoor pix appear better than my inside pix.

Grade 927

Canuck · Oct 20, 2023

I always prefer looking at these spectacular movements with the glass off.

TexOmega · Oct 20, 2023

Yes, indeed......this 927 was just picked up from service yesterday and the metal is squeaky clean and hard to photograph. There is so much beautiful damaskeeing going on....

plus the dial is squeaky clean

TexOmega · Oct 21, 2023

Hampden Watch Co
18s 23j New Railway Model 3 with gold pkg
Pristine double sunk dial👍
Original blued hands
RR grade
Dueber-Hampden Display Case
Year: 1899

CBM1590 · Oct 21, 2023

Here are my two…had them for years. The Waltham lives on my nightstand and runs daily. The Hamilton has a broken stem and is in need of repair.

Canuck · Oct 21, 2023

I haven’t shown this one for a while. My 1884 Stewart Dawson, Liverpool, key wind pocket watch, key set, sterling case, and the accompanying sterling silver chain, pocket knife, 50-cent silver Canadian coin in a 14-karat gold coin frame. Stewart Dawson founded a jewellery store in Liverpool, England, in 1876. He expanded to grow into many branches in the British Commonwealth. I thought I might wear this on Sunday as Canadian prairie winter weather with high winds are forecast on Sunday. The combination as pictured weighs 4 3/4 ounces Troy, or about 5 3/5 ozs av. Might come in handy in the case of high gusts, having this in my pockets.