Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

HamDoctor · Dec 21, 2024

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

https://omegaforums.net/posts/2321107/

HamDoctor · Mar 20, 2024

Now that I have just won my second pocket watch in an auction, maybe it's time to present my first ;-)

First off, I love "classic" Hamilton wristwatches (well, from their period in the U.S., anyway) - my oldest working one is a "Clark" from 1938, and the oldest non-runner is a 1930 "Palisade" that I still need to find out if it can be made to run again.

But at some point, I had to have at least one pocket watch from Hamilton, so I was happy to find one here in Germany several months ago. And the best part is, it came with the original box! I'll start the avalanche of photos before I...

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!

Canuck · Dec 21, 2024

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.

UNLucky · Dec 21, 2024

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.

PXL_20241222_025916395.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.webp

PXL_20241222_025925155.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.webp

PXL_20241222_030218086.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.webp

HamDoctor · Dec 22, 2024

Canuck
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.

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.

LesXL · Dec 23, 2024

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

Canuck · Dec 23, 2024

@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.

TexOmega · Dec 23, 2024

UNLucky
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.

Might just need a new battery🤔🤣

ghce · Dec 23, 2024

TexOmega
Might just need a new battery🤔🤣

WD-40 and a mechanics kick!

I am glad I am not a watchmaker and I am sure everyone else is as well.

TexOmega · Dec 24, 2024

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

Canuck · Dec 24, 2024

ghce
WD-40 and a mechanics kick!

I am glad I am not a watchmaker and I am sure everyone else is as well.

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!

UNLucky · Dec 30, 2024

TexOmega
Might just need a new battery🤔🤣

Why didnt I think of that?! 😝

TexOmega · Dec 31, 2024

Hamilton 992 circa 1910
Gold checkerboard gilt inlays

But the uncommon dial is the Star

All the leaves are off my giant oak tree reflected in the picture above

Here is one inside

Canuck · Dec 31, 2024

The pocketwatchdatabase database listing for @TexOmega ’s handsome Hamilton 992.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/786094

The dial is indeed unique. And the checkerboard damask finish as well. Exquisite condition!

DaveK · Dec 31, 2024

noelekal

I picked up quite a tasty 1921 vintage,19-jewel, grade 706, Illinois 16size watch just before Thanksgiving. The case has a nice rosey hue. Haven't given it a test run until today.

Was an Ebay purchase for too cheap.

I find the Illinois "Red Dot" dial to particularly appeal to me. A 21 Jewel Illinois Capitol with with the Red Dot dial was picked up a couple of years ago and introduced me to the style. Apparently the Red Dot dials only were supplied on the mid-grade Illinois watches and shouldn't be found on the railroad grade Illinois watches.

I’ve never seen these dials before. A nice looking arrangement.

DaveK · Dec 31, 2024

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

That was an excellent choice of watch 👍👍👍

DaveK · Dec 31, 2024

TexOmega
Hamilton 992 circa 1910
Gold checkerboard gilt inlays

But the uncommon dial is the Star

All the leaves are off my giant oak tree reflected in the picture above

Here is one inside

That’s a real gem, such a nice dial. How deep is the dibs list on that one?

pdxleaf · Dec 31, 2024

992 day

TexOmega · Jan 10, 2025

Hamilton 18s grade 943 with a finish date 12/22/1902.....so, belated happy birthday, sold to Chicago watch inspector JW Forsinger 5/18/1903. Hunting cases were still considered RR grade.

Well dolled up by Hamilton.....finely polished and chamfered parts(even the whip-spring) and special dameskeening.... an earlier example of their skill, eventually culminating with their grade 946/947 as their pinnacle 18s PW.

And as the document states, some unsold 943's were returned to Hamilton and made to be a grade 947 in the 1910's.

Nice, tight hinges on the gf case.

Not marked, produced prior to Regulations requiring such on RR grade watches.

Not many produced and very few known to have survived, NAWCC estimated less than 20 at their Forum.

Canuck · Jan 10, 2025

This is he definition of “limited edition”!

Canuck · Jan 10, 2025

I just did a visual comparison with my Hamilton grade 941 (hunter model) which came along much later than the handsome grade

943 posted by @TexOmega . The most notable difference between the two is extensive addition of engraving listing the features that were mandated for railroad standard watches at the later date on my 941. The other notable difference being rarity. My 941 was produced circa 1913. By the time my 941 was produced, it is very likely that it wouldn’t have been considered to be railroad standard because of the hunter case.