Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Mar 3, 2024

TexOmega
To make clear, that Parry Sound watch was a screen grab and not mine, and in fact, all pictures after that one are not mine, just google or Forum grabbed.

Ahhh! A first love of mine! A Canadian private label. I have about 1/2 dozen Canadian private label watches. Including an 18-size Waltham CRTS from an inspector in Kenora, Ontario, which was originally called”Rat Portage”!

noless · Mar 3, 2024

I guess here is a good place to ask, I have recently had a Hamilton 992 that I think is from 1911 come to my bench, it has been treated quite poorly in the past.

It is missing a pallet bridge screw, and after ordering a replacement "992 pallet bridge w/screws" from ebay, what arrived for one has much coarser screw thread, but also the pallet bridge itself has a different layout for holding on the cap jewel.

This lead to trying to work out what the thread standard was, and I think it could be united states standard thread, where the pitch is determined by the thread diameter, since this screw has a TPI of roughly 191, does anyone know where I might source either a die to cut such a screw, or a replacement screw?

Canuck · Mar 3, 2024

The U S thread is much finer than the Swiss thread, always. In the morning I’ll check my stash. I have a donor 974 that has a screw that should do. I’ll check manyana.

Alpha · Mar 5, 2024

Desk duty today 😀

Canuck · Mar 6, 2024

In reply to @TexOmega , yes! The dial on your Regina and the dial on my Brandt-dialled CCR appear to be twins. Both my Brandt CCRs have 24-hour dials, so it would appear that this grade of Brandt/Omega were sold in Canada with Brandt dials, as well as private label dials. The case on my Logan dialled watch is not original to that movement, while the case on the Brandt dialled one IS original to the movement. The Logan one was acquired without a case, by a deceased friend in the mid 1980s for $20.00 U S. No case, broken balance staff, and he never did anything with it. He wanted to give it to me, as found, in about 2010. I turned him down on his offer, but offered him $200.00 (Can.), instead! He reminded me that he only paid $20.00, but I told him to take it, or leave it! He reluctantly took my offer. It sat in my ”projects” drawer until I found the case it is now in. That gave me the incentive to do the necessary work. I was unable to locate a balance staff for it, so I made one. Love that watch, in spite of its wrinkles.

Logan the jeweller was located in Greenwood, B C (Canada), and the economy was based on copper mines. Circa 1918, the price of copper took a nosedive. Greenwood went from a major population centre considered highly prosperous, to the town of about 4,000, today. Greenwood is about 8 miles from the Washington state border.

TexOmega · Mar 6, 2024

18s GW Ladd Hunter case
Face trademark facing left and under the crystal bezel Ladd always stamped his patent dates…. 1867,78, 83.
Peoria Watch Co For Railway Service
15j circa 1885, give or take a few years.
RR grade/ approved
Anti-Magnetic( they imported the Swiss technology first, Hamilton mass produced &improved it in early 30’s as ELINVAR).

what’s not to like about GW Ladd cases?

Highly accurate with that continuous screw regulator.( Clarence Howard patent 1885)

Canuck · Mar 6, 2024

The pocketwatchdatabase listing on the good looking Peoria watch posted by @TexOmega . Peoria didn’t made many watches over its brief existence. The listing included shows the story of an 18-size Peoria watch from what might be the same run. The case is a hand-engravers work of art. I was looking for a sign that it might be karat gold. I was unable to locate any sign of watch repair marks inside the covers. This watch is early for a non-magnetic equipped movement, being probably from circa 1885-1890. Beautiful condition!

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/peoria-watch-co/17524

TexOmega · Mar 6, 2024

GW Ladd cases had a patented process of “stiffened” gold at high wear points. I believe I read it approached 10-12kt.

At some point regulation required a marking stating content.

Canuck · Mar 6, 2024

In October, 1996, two of us locals went to a railroad watch seminar in Rockford, Ill. It was held the Seth Atwood’s resort, adjacent to the now disbanded Time Museum founded and owned by Atwood. THAT was a watch collector’s dream to have been able to visit that museum. As part of the seminar, there was a splendid exhibition of railroad watches owned by collectors, and loaned for the exhibition. Among the watches exhibited was an open faced Peoria pocket watch in the image attached. So these were made in both hunter-cased and open-faced models. (I apologize for the not so great picture.)

TexOmega · Mar 7, 2024

Hamilton 950
1919
Montgomery Dial
Uncommon Pendant Set version (approximately 4400 produced)

A 1910 Hamilton 950 came in tied for 10th place at testing.

I will soon have it in a Display Case, movt is just too purdy!😁 White gold flash finish.

Canuck · Mar 7, 2024

There is a notable difference between the handsome Hamilton 950 posted by @TexOmega , and the later Hamilton 950B model. In the picture I have uploaded, the Hamilton 950 (1920) is on the left, and the 950B (1950) is on the right. The 950 has a two-piece barrel bridge (note the white arrow). The 950B has a one-piece barrel bridge. The arrow on the 950B is pointing to the same area as the arrow on the 950. Note, no split in the barrel bridge. This is because changes were made to later model 950B models which incorporated some features introduced on the 992B which came along in about 1941. With the 950, when it came time to replace a mainspring, the keyless works stayed in place behind the split bridge when the barrel bridge was removed. Changes to the 950B made it possible that the keyless works stayed in place when the unitized one-piece bridge was removed. A difference only a watchmaker might notice, I guess.

Canuck · Mar 8, 2024

This one has appeared before. That is, this one of mine has appeared here before. It is the only one that I have ever seen, here or anywhere! It is a private label for early 20th century jewellers, Porte & Markle, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Many of you may have heard of
Megan Markle who is the Duchess of Sussex, and who is married to King Charles youngest son, Harry. I very much doubt there is a family connection there! Now that is out of the way. This watch was produced for a firm that was absorbed by Henry Birks & Sons Jewellers circa 1909. So this watch would pre-date that. It is a Swiss made Electa, about 16~size. Electa was absorbed by Gallet around the time this watch was produced. The movement is marked Timed to 5 Positions, it has a bi-metallic, temperature compensated movement which is marked 23-jewels. Truth to tell, it has only 19 functional jewels, and 4 decorative cap jewels, thereby, according to railroad standards of the day, it is fraudulently marked! Only active jewels could be included in the marked jewel count. It is among the prettiest Swiss-made pocket watches I have ever seen.

I plan on a leisurely week end, puttering around in my shop. So I thought I’d wear a pocket watch for a change. This one winked at me when I opened the vault. I’ll wear it on one of my @DaveK mystery braid lanyards.

Edited to change the name of the husband of Megan Markle, from Prince William, to Prince Harry! Duh!

Nupero · Mar 9, 2024

Down the Pocket Watch Rabbit-Hole!

Chapter I: My first pocket watch. Wife found this Zenith in a local antique store and bought it for me as a gift! 0.800 silver case, serial number dates to 1919. Movement is running strong.

Canuck · Mar 9, 2024

The rose gold decoration on the silver case is called “gallone”. Don”t see it often.

DaveK · Mar 9, 2024

Nupero
Down the Pocket Watch Rabbit-Hole!

Chapter I: My first pocket watch. Wife found this Zenith in a local antique store and bought it for me as a gift! 0.800 silver case, serial number dates to 1919. Movement is running strong.

Nice pics! Welcome to the club

Waltesefalcon · Mar 9, 2024

Nupero
Down the Pocket Watch Rabbit-Hole!

Chapter I: My first pocket watch. Wife found this Zenith in a local antique store and bought it for me as a gift! 0.800 silver case, serial number dates to 1919. Movement is running strong.

Welcome to the club. A Zenith is a good way to get started.

Bernhard J · Mar 11, 2024

Nupero
My first pocket watch.

Oh no, now you are doomed ...

Alpha · Mar 11, 2024

Far from a great image I am afraid but enjoying this pocket watch on my desk today 😀

Canuck · Mar 11, 2024

Bernhard J
Oh no, now you are doomed ...

You’re not “doomed”, having fallen into the rabbit hole, unless you turn into a pocket watch addict! Several of us are readying our pocket watch exhibit for the first of two exhibits we will attend, this year. A total of 78 pocket watches in the two cabinets. Add two dozen wrist watches to the exhibit (not shown), and three railway station clocks (we’ve added a third clock, also not shown.) Call it a harmless obsession. The closest you can come to having your cake and eating it too!

Canuck · Mar 11, 2024

Still my private label Electa (Gallet), dial name Porte & Markle Jewellers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, circa 1909. This time, shown on one of my @DaveK mystery braid lanyards. I have a suspicion this one has survived its 115 year existence in this condition because it was worn very little. It is a B _ _ _ _R to wind!