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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

noelekal
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Hah!

Whoops!

Oh well, WRUW and you can see where my heart lies.
 
V
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I don’t have an interest in pocket watches, but here’s one I owned for a brief period of time. So beautiful, it looked like new and kept close to perfect time. I belive it was from 1895.

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Canuck
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A 14-karat gold hunter case that was a tribute to the engraver who spent two days decorating it. That watch would be a keystone in many pocket watch collections! We thank you for having the foresight to take these great photos before you let it go. Also, thanks for uploading it to this thread. Do you cringe every time you see these pictures now that someone else is enjoying it? Please tell us the case wasn’t melted!

If the S# is 5702981, here is the pocketwatchdatabase site info on it.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/5702981
 
ghce
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
At great cost to the management (me) I got one of my pocket watches back from the watch doctor today
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It needed a new crystal, a couple of jewels replaced and a good clean and lube job.
The watch doctor really likes it and can’t believe it cost me buggerall.
He says that in it’s nearly 100 years it has hardly been used.
It’s not up to the high standard that some of the watches posted on this thread, but I love it!

What seems to happen with these retirement presentation watches is that the recipient pegs it soon after retirement and in the time frame of your watch people were switching over to wrist watches so the PW just sits.
I have a similar Railway retirement watch similarly inscribed, similar year, the recipient passed away 2 years later leaving the PW in near new condition.
 
V
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Canuck Canuck
A 14-karat gold hunter case that was a tribute to the engraver who spent two days decorating it. That watch would be a keystone in many pocket watch collections! We thank you for having the foresight to take these great photos before you let it go. Also, thanks for uploading it to this thread. Do you cringe every time you see these pictures now that someone else is enjoying it? Please tell us the case wasn’t melted!

If the S# is 5702981, here is the pocketwatchdatabase site info on it.
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/5702981
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/5702981

Thank you for the information. Of course I would like to have kept it, but I’m glad I got to enjoy it for a little while at least. Rest assured it was not melted, it’s out there somewhere. 😀
 
Alpha
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With advancing years and health issues I have decided that I will not be purchasing any new pieces and will be contented with what I have before I have to start selling 🙁

Evening snap 😀
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Alpha
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TexOmega TexOmega
Always a nice display👍

That is kind of you and much appreciated.
 
Canuck
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ghce ghce
What seems to happen with these retirement presentation watches is that the recipient pegs it soon after retirement and in the time frame of your watch people were switching over to wrist watches so the PW just sits.
I have a similar Railway retirement watch similarly inscribed, similar year, the recipient passed away 2 years later leaving the PW in near new condition.


I have two watches in my collection that were presentation watches back in the day. One came to me with the vinyl POS case, outer shell, and the linen sachet that contained the watch. Presented in 1937 to a person who’d been with his employer since 1912. I’m certain he never used it!

The other one, I no longer have. It was brought to me for repair 20 years ago. I quoted the owner a price which he declined. He never picked it up! I stumbled on it one day, still in the envelope with owner’s name and phone #. I kept the bag and serviced the watch, and decided to keep it. The watch had been presented to its first owner circa 1923, by the Irish lodge he belonged to. The cuvette was elaborately engraved with all the details. I enjoyed the watch for a few months, then decided to phone the owner to ask if he might want it back. His wife answered, and she told me he’d passed away. I sent her pictures, told her how I came by it, and asked if the family might want it back (for the price of the repair). She checked with her adult son, and he wanted it! He came and paid for it, and it went home with him. It was his grandfather’s watch!
 
Pastorbottle
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SOG53 SOG53
Illinois Bunn Special 23J 1928. Monty dial. Tried to show purple hands.
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Very nice……just as well there aren’t 61 minutes in the hour otherwise they wouldn’t be able to fit them all in around the dial!
 
SOG53
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DaveK DaveK
I made some grometed display straps for my watches this morning. Turned out pretty well 👍

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very nice. are you in business yet? Price per dozen????
 
SOG53
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Very nice……just as well there aren’t 61 minutes in the hour otherwise they wouldn’t be able to fit them all in around the dial!
yes. I was crazy about the Monty dials in my early collecting days, but as time passed I have come to appreciate the simpler large number dials (I can actually see them with my aging eyes!)
 
SOG53
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noelekal noelekal
This brings up a question I've been meaning to ask.

Can the neato fill in the Illinois lettering be touched up or replaced?

This Sangamo Special retains most of its color so isn't worth messing with, but I've considered other Sangamo Specials and Bunn Specials that had degraded fill.

Could replacing fill correctly be a successful diy project?



Very nice. I think this case is called "Santa Fe" with the swirly wave like pattern. Not sure exactly why there are no waves in Santa Fe that I know of.....
 
Waltesefalcon
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SOG53 SOG53
Illinois Bunn Special 23J 1928. Monty dial. Tried to show purple hands.
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I've found that the plum color shows up best in indirect natural light, I like to use my front porch, and at an angle helps.
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Canuck
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Getting ready for the first show of two that four of us will exhibit at in 2024. This is actually a model railroad show with the focus on spectacular model train layouts. Numerous vendors will be there selling items related to the hobby. There will be artists exhibiting art related to railroading 100 years ago or so. Numerous other exhibitors representing railroad museums, etc. We exhibit railroad standard pocket watches, railroad standard wrist watches, and Seth Thomas World railroad clocks. In the picture, 88 pocket watches (mostly railroad standard) arrayed with the display labels that will be displayed with the watch. Come show day, they’ll all be running and set to time. But show day, there might be the odd surprise when we wind them! The show draws between 10,000 and 15,000 guests. We look forward to these shows. This one is the largest show of its kind in Canada.

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