Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck

Great watch. Mint double-sunk vitreous enamel dial, case in fine condition. It is a 1908 model, 16-size, 17-jewel movement, gold centre wheel, gold jewel settings retained by two screws. Looks to be in fine condition. Here is the skinny on @padders sharp Waltham. Not railroad grade, but this thread is not solely about railroad watches as @TexOmega astutely pointed out.

watches.https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/22017203

padders

That website you link to is very informative. I have a couple of others too, which I bought primarily because they are pretty, but I suspect these might have rather less horological kudos, particularly from the US POV, nevertheless if all are welcome then here goes:

Dennison (UK) 9K cased open face, Hallmark for 1924. Swiss movement by Visible, nice blued hands.

Another 9K Dennison cased model, this time a half hunter. Dates (I think) to 1922. Swiss movement by Buren (who eventually were bought by Hamilton). Shares quite a few similarities with the above:

Open face model in 18K gold dated to 1851 by London hallmark. English movement marked M Whitehead, Westerham, which means nothing to me lol. Mens size but quite delicate in build.

Finally, chunky Sterling silver full face with yellowing cellulose crystal, has Chester hallmark for 1891. Movement, presumably English, has natty removable cover, with R Andrew and Denny engraved on it.

TexOmega

National Watch Co. (early Elgin)
Circa 1873
18s 11j Model 1, grade 12, KWKS, M. D. Ogden
Dueber 5oz coin silver case all hinges have a hefty "SNAP" (this PW can multitask as a defensive weapon in a pinch!)

Needs a thick crystal, hairspring a bit untidy, so I never sought to repair it.
Will get a crystal since they can be sourced.

DaveK

From the Fenelon Falls Gazette, July 10th, 1880

Canuck

@padders

Picture 4 shows a Demi-hunter (half-hunter). Picture 5 shows the same watch with the cover open. This watch has the correct “double-spade” hand for a demi-hunter. It allows the owner to tell the time without having to open the cover. The cover is etched then the etching filled with black vitreous enamel, resulting in a complete 12-hour dial with minutes chapter ring. Unique that the vitreous enamel is all there. That is not seen, too often.

Dennison cases. Aaron Lufkin Dennison was involved with Edward Howard, in the founding of the Howard, Davis, & Dennison Watch company in 1850. After numerous name changes, it became the American (Waltham) Watch Co. Howard was the practical technical guru, and Dennison was the impractical dreamer. Early in the years, the firm imported dials and movement components from England. Dennison moved to England, and was the point man there. After Howard and Dennison went their separate ways, Howard stayed and founded the E Howard Watch Co. Dennison stayed in England, and founded the Dennison, Watch Case Co. Dennison was also the agent in England for the Waltham Watch Co. we see lots of Waltham movements in Dennison cases.

A lot of English watch movements were started in Lancashire, to be finished by “finishers” all over England. There are far more names on English movements than there were watchmakers.

The hunter case in picture 8 is particularly attractive.

Your 12th shows a movement engraved R Andrews, location, Denny. Neither Loomes or Baillie show this dude. He was likely a “finisher”, but not a maker. As with so many English watches of this era, the balance wheel,is “undersprung”, meaning the hairspring is beneath the balance wheel, pinned to the bridge over the train wheels.

Canuck

@DaveK ,

Thanks for pulling that from wherever you pulled it. The ad was from 1880, and the watch was made circa 1900. Seems Beall had been in business for a while.

Canuck

@TexOmega ,

You want a “thick” crystal for your Elgin. There will only be so much room under that front cover! I’m not certain you’ll be able to close the cover on a thick crystal. I am wondering if your Elgin is a private label for M D Ogden, or if that was a grade of movement. Well! Wonder no longer. It was a grade, as per the attached. Interesting!


https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/265219

LesXL

This gorgeous Hanhart military pocket watch was just sold today on eBay here in Belgium for around 1,250€
Have no idea if it was a good price or not... What do you guys think?

From the item description, the following was written:
"
... Beautiful Hanhart issued French military chronograph. The watch is in mint condition as you can see on pictures!
Dial is in perfect condition.
Case is in great shape, almost perfect.
The back has “Armée Française” “1068” written on it
The Hanhart cal.40 movement is in great condition, running perfectly, all functions working perfectly...
"
A very nice piece, to my eyes!

Canuck

I have to convert to $ Canadian. That is $1,865.00 Canadian! When someone has something for sale, it is possible to have the whole world to tout your item to. When an item is within your sphere of interest, and when you like the item, and want it, I guess $1,850.00 (Cdn.) seems like a fair price. If I had that much money burning a hole in my pocket, I’d be looking for a different watch. I don’t collect military watches.

LesXL

I hear you, I guess my question is to understand if military pocket watches are as sought after as railroad ones for example, or any other type.

padders

Thanks! You have helped me to appreciate these rather more than I have in the past. These have languished at the back of a safe for several years since I knew that the rabbit hole I would need to go down to do them justice would be deep. I had forgotten how attractive these can be.

DaveK

Anyone need a Hammy 992?

https://omegaforums.net/posts/1744141/permalink