Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

A bit of a curiosity! The name on the dial is Porte & Markle, Winnipeg (Manitoba). This firm was likely a railroad watch inspector which merged with Henry Birks & Sons Jewellery in 1913. The movement in the watch has been identified as having been made by the Swiss maker Electa. Electa was acquired by Gallet, early in the 20th century. This movement is curious because it is marked 23-jewels. Legislation concerning jewel counts was changed (likely about 75 years ago) which specified that jewel counts could apply ONLY to jewels that were functional. This watch has four jewels that serve no real function. They serve only as decorative cap jewels that cover actual functional hole jewels. Thereby, by the current definition, the watch has only 19 active jewels in it. But circa 1910 when this one was produced, no laws were ignored.



But even more curious was a recent call I got from the fellow who runs the Alberta Central Railroad Museum at Hobbema, Alberta. He had acquired a SethThomas number 17 railroad regulator clock that needed attention. Pictures include the clock showing the same name (Porte & Markle) on the door. This clock leads me to believe this jewellers regulator likely hung in the Porte & Markle railroad watch inspectors store circa1910. I have included pictures of the finished repair of the clock, without the front door.

Quick question for the experts ... about my Hamilton Franklin (12 size, 912 movement, made in 1924) that I originally presented here:

What material is the dial on this one? Is this an enamel dial, i.e. is it plausible that the dust on it can be cleaned off without damage? Or is this a lacquered dial with some damage to the surface of the lacquer?



With the new year coming up, it will be time to squeeze this in for a service somewhere along the way, but I'd be more enthusiastic about it if the dial could be made all sparkly again.

Speaking of "sparkly" - wishing you all a relaxed last week-end before Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

Not vitreous enamel, metal, probably silver plated, then lacquered. Trying to improve it could well make it worse! Considering the watch could be 80 to 90 years old, the dial is quite good as it is.

As promised, these are the 2 I'm having a hell of a time getting the balance wheel to start. The Depose (Tempus) has a new mainspring and I used the dimensions and thickness of the old one to order a replacement. It winds well. The Lanco will need new hands, but other than that, cleaned up well. When I get back from my Christmas trip I can disassemble for any further pictures. All of the pallet forks move when under tension and all wheels spin freely before the pallet fork is out on, to include escape wheel and I used the correct lubricant for all wheels. I have another balance on the way for the Tempus. Just in case.

Cheers for confirming what I thought 😀

Yes, this pocket watch has lived for 100 years now, no need to do treat it wrongly now. Agree the dial is still nice, the print is crisp and I love the shape of those numerals. I was just a bit hazy on when Hamilton used which type of dial.

Adding my new one here too... You might have seen already in one of @TexOmega 's posts

@LesXL is honouring the festive season by wearing a favourite 992B pocket watch. Great idea! Aside from the two wrist watches I’m wearing, I have dug out a favourite (difficult to choose from about 50 pocket watches) to wear. This watch came from a fellow for whom I serviced a wrist watch. He wanted to GIVE me this one, for parts! I insisted that I pay him for it, even though I knew it needed work! It needed a balance staff, foot hole jewel in setting, mainspring, crystal, minute hand, and cleaning. The following day, I proceeded to my workshop, to find I had everything I needed to return it to health! This is an 18-size, 1877 model Waltham, R E Robbins grade, with 13-jewels, circa 1885, a gold filled Dueber hunter case. Royal Robbins was the chap who turned a faltering watch company that was on the brink of bankruptcy, and turned it into the powerhouse it became! Worn on my @Duracuir1 leather lanyard.

Might just need a new battery🤔🤣

Commercial Ball circa 1904
Grade 331
Stem set
Heavy coin silver case
Great double sunk porcelain dial

Unhappy about my chosen profession? Nobody is embarking in this craft because there are not many institutions that teach it. And the speed of life and the cost of everything is advancing so rapidly, a beginner will be lost in the dust. The cost of outfitting a workshop would be another deterrent! Finally, those of us who do this are dying off, or taking up more remunerative lines of work. But I have no regrets!