Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

[Bernhard J]

The movement clearly is Swiss made, the so-called "Jürgensen type", produced by several high grad manufacturers. The case does not seem to be Swiss, but American rather. The mark in question is not a continental European mark, see for a list for various eras and places: https://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Kontrollstempel.

It looks similar to e.g. this English mark, but misses all other marks, assay office, date letter, etc., so that I would exclude English marking.

Edited: Sep 11, 2024

 

[Canuck]

Considering the expected stampings one might find in a karat gold case of Swiss (or English) origin, this case is remarkably devoid of any stampings that one would find useful in discovering anything (maker, country of origin, etc.) about it. It would seem that about 220 years ago when the case was made, nobody gave any thought to the possibility the watch would still exist in the 21st century, and that there would be all this conjecture.

 

[Bernhard J]

Did American case makers perhaps "copy" English marks for identifying case materials? I do, however, know about the frequent "abuse" (in ex post European view) of karat marks in American pocket watch cases before respective legislation came into force, but think that some indeed minded showing what the material truly is. This case clearly is solid gold.

 

[Canuck]

@Bernhard J ,

There is no question in my mind that the case is solid 18-karat gold! I’m not certain as to when the process of producing watch cases out of gold filled material began. But most certainly a long time after your watch case was made. Did U S case makers “copy” English precious metals stampings? A common stamping on an American watch case might be “warranted xxkarat gold U S assay”. Not a copy of English marks at all. In the U S and Canada (and likely elsewhere), by law a case HAD to be marked with a registered trade mark (registered in Canada with the Department of Corporate and Consumer Affairs), or in the U S with a trade mark (registered with the Federal Trade Commission IIRC), as well as the gold karat stamp. Prior to the legislation that was laid down (as above), I suppose there were myriad ways of stamping a case that were meant to deceive.

 

[DaveK]

pdxleaf

This arrived today from ebay. The seller said he has collected pw for about 40 years and this was an early purchase from an older gentleman at a NAWCC mart. Pretty decent condition, aside from needing a service. No brassing that I can see.

I still know little but knew of the Bunn Special reputation so was looking for one. The Gothic font on this captured my attention. The dial is solid.

It joins my 992, which also has a beautiful dial and keeps fantastic time after its service.

Now to find someone to service it.

That looks great! Nice pickup : )

 

[DaveK]

TexOmega

992B for a RR line that crosses Time Zones

Nice! I'd love to find one of these someday

 

[Canuck]

In preparation for our railroad standard wrist watch exhibit at a train show, this coming week end, here are 17 watches comprising 3 mechanicals (not set to time) including a stem wind Elgin, two Ball Trainmasters (self winders), one Seiko quartz, one Rodania quartz, one Bulova quartz, and 12 Accutron 214 and 218 models. They will be grouped out of the display cabinet shown, and in several groups of similar watches. I have one Hamilton Electric to add to the exhibit, for 18 in total.

 

[DaveK]

J johan gardin

This watch, found in a box belonging to my grandfather (1890-1946), is, if not a railroad watch, at least a bit of a train wreck. The case is bashed, the face is defaced, all hands are lost at sea and the movement is anonymous. The case is marked 'H VI', 'IL 629' and very faintly scratched 'H f v' in handwriting.

Great description 😁. If you were so inclined, this piece would be a good candidate for being put into a shadow box with other related trinkets. It’s beaten up, but still tells a story.

 

[TexOmega]

DaveK

Nice! I'd love to find one of these someday

Whereas this one I bought already as you see, I have seen the red hour hand sold separately at e$Bay, and even all 3 as a set in NOS packaging.

 

[TexOmega]

Hamilton
Teardrop glass crystal and stiff bow.
12s 17j grade 912 circa 1938
Cool blued hands

 

[DaveK]

TexOmega

Hamilton
Teardrop glass crystal and stiff bow.
12s 17j grade 912 circa 1938
Cool blued hands

Nice, We need a “show me your blued hands” thread

 

[pdxleaf]

TexOmega

Hamilton
Teardrop glass crystal and stiff bow.
12s 17j grade 912 circa 1938
Cool blued hands

Nice to see some of that eclectic design that Hamilton wristwatches are known for.

 

[TexOmega]

pdxleaf

Nice to see some of that eclectic design that Hamilton wristwatches are known for.

Pocket watch.......a precursor to those effete wristwatches

 

[ghce]

pdxleaf

Nice to see some of that eclectic design that Hamilton wristwatches are known for.

Well ya know Hamilton had to get their design ques from somewhere.....

" Hey, lets just buy the company" or the Remington ad

Edited: Thurs. 5:07pm

 

[pdxleaf]

WHAAAT? Hamilton dispersions?!! Elvis must be rolling over in his grave.

Look at these cases. Nothing like it. And these are the boring round ones, not the asymmetric ones.

 

[ghce]

pdxleaf

WHAAAT? Hamilton dispersions?!! Elvis must be rolling over in his grave.

Look at these cases. Nothing like it. And these are the boring round ones, not the asymmetric ones.

All in jest of course as at that time all of the major US PW makers (some european too) were doing similar cases with etched Silver dials just the similarity and the later takeover of Illinois struck a chord.

My example dates to 1927 regardless of the inscription and Hamilton purchased Illinois WC in 1928 though they still continued making Illinois watches and continued the brand name for some time after.

PS the only Hamilton WW's I am ever likely to buy are those that predate the Swiss takeover of Hamilton, and to that end is the one on the left a US made or a later Swiss?

 

[pdxleaf]

ghce

PS the only Hamilton WW's I am ever likely to buy are those that predate the Swiss takeover of Hamilton, and to that end is the one on the left a US made or a later Swiss?

Both US made.

A 1955 'StormKing I'


This watch "has a Hamilton 735 movement inside. This movement was introduced in 1955 and replaced the 748 movement [that first appeared in the Stormking I.] The only difference between the two is the 735 has shock jewels to protect the balance staff."
-Dan Keefe


A 1959 'Thin-o-matic T-101'.


To quote Dan Keefe from his blog 'HamiltonChronicles':

"The movement inside is a 620 caliber, made by Buren for Hamilton. Within a few years Hamilton would purchase Buren too and eventually close the Lancaster plant and move production to Buren's Swiss factory."

​

 

[Bernhard J]

I do not believe that these so-called "wristwatches" will prevail in the long term.

Edited: Fri. 5:30am

 

[ghce]

Bernhard J

I don not believe that these so-called "wristwatches" will prevail in the long term.

Yes, what's this 100 years of wrist watches compared to the 300 year history of the Pocket Watch! Just a fad.

Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Handle and Hadyn et all are probably played more than ever with increasing popularity.
Modern people live in the now and don't have a longer or wider view than what's presented in the popular media of the day on the day.

Edited: Fri. 4:06am

 

[Pastorbottle]

ghce

Yes, what's this 100 years of wrist watches compared to the 300 year history of the Pocket Watch! Just a fad.

Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Handle and Hadyn et all are probably played more than ever with increasing popularity.
Modern people live in the now and don't have a longer or wider view than what's presented in the popular media of the day on the day.

Well the pocket watch has overtaken the wrist watch in the popularity stakes..... "How so?" I hear you ask
It is because most people don't wear wrist watches anymore as they now use their mobile phone to tell the time which they carry in their pocket, as such it could be considered a multi function pocket watch