Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Mar 1, 2025

It is always interesting to see some of the interesting design features on such early European watches. Particularly the ratchet wheel beneath the main winding gear. This one appears to have had a stop works feature on the mainspring barrel cover. Even as early as this movement is, I noticed the jewels are friction fitted into the plates. This is different to the U S made watches I collect. Finding a case will be a challenge I suspect, but this is certainly a worthy project.

Canuck · Mar 2, 2025

I see the West Coast Canadian contingent is awake, with @DaveK ‘s post featuring his Hamilton 992B. So l’ll continue the trend with pictures of a favourite pocket watch of mine. This is a Hamilton grade 952 model from circa 1909. It is a 19-jewel version of the venerable Hamilton 23-jewel grade 950. I bought this one about 40 years ago when it was flying under the radar. Since then, it has become recognized, partly because of its fairly low production. There were three versions of the grade 952, this version being the earliest. This case has a hinged front bezel, hinged back, and hinged cuvette. The strictest time service rules forbade hinged covers, but this one might well have been considered to be of railroad standard by some railroads. The movement certainly was railroad standard.

noelekal · Mar 2, 2025

Now I'm wanting a decent example of a Hamilton 952.

Thanks just a whole lot Canuck!

Canuck · Mar 2, 2025

noelekal
Now I'm wanting a decent example of a Hamilton 952.

Thanks just a whole lot Canuck!

Good advice to folks who are building a collection. There is so much choice to be had it can be difficult for a newby to settle on what tickles his fancy, most. This thread is a great place to sort the wheat from the chaff. Learn about the items others collect, and you’ll find yourself using the “rifle” approach to building a collection, rather than the “shotgun” approach. When you find yourself that precious 952, you can thank me! 😉

P.S. I see a few 952s on offer at present. Ranging from under $300 (non original case), to $400 (looks okay), to over $1,100.

noelekal · Mar 2, 2025

I shotguned it Canuck. Concentrated on railroad grade selections from Elgin, Hamilton, Illinois, and Waltham ... and then electric railroad, interurban, and commercial models started creeping in.

Bernhard J's influence here is beginning to bug me. I find I could enjoy some European examples.

That's all I need, is more watches!

ghce · Mar 2, 2025

noelekal
I shotguned it Canuck. Concentrated on railroad grade selections from Elgin, Hamilton, Illinois, and Waltham ... and then electric railroad, interurban, and commercial models started creeping in.

Bernhard J's influence here is beginning to bug me. I find I could enjoy some European examples.

That's all I need, is more watches!

Wot, are you saying that we are all PW enablers on this forum? 😀

Here is one I have been eying up but I am not enthused with the single sunk dial or its markings.

Canuck · Mar 2, 2025

ghce
Wot, are you saying that we are all PW enablers on this forum? 😀

Here is one I have been eying up but I am not enthused with the single sunk dial or its markings.

Speaking for myself, I don’t collect 12-size watches. However, this Hamilton grade 900 has everything its big brothers have. Could set a trend, I suppose. I do have a few pocket watches in that size range in my collection that are special interest watches.

noelekal · Mar 2, 2025

Ya' could have a new favorite right there ghce!

Waltesefalcon · Mar 2, 2025

My only 12s Hamilton is this 920.

noelekal · Mar 2, 2025

Have to admit that I am fond of the double sunk dial.

The only pocket watch I have without such a dial is an Illinois Texan I picked up about a year ago.

Canuck · Mar 2, 2025

Waltesefalcon
My only 12s Hamilton is this 920.

The 920 is so close to the grade 922 Masterpiece, that it has occurred to me that the only difference might be the addition of the word Masterpiece engraved on the plates of the grade 922. And of course, the price!

Waltesefalcon · Mar 3, 2025

Canuck
The 920 is so close to the grade 922 Masterpiece, that it has occurred to me that the only difference might be the addition of the word Masterpiece engraved on the plates of the grade 922. And of course, the price!

The 920 is definitely the budget friendly version of the high end 12s Hamilton. I think the only real difference between the 920 and the 922 is the pillar plate size, the 920 has a 14s pillar plate and the 922 has a smaller pillar that requires a special case. At least, I think that's the only difference.

constellationM · Mar 3, 2025

Some of my Omega Pocket watches
Canadian Pacific Rail

TexOmega · Mar 3, 2025

Nice handful, especially the double sunk dial examples👍

Can you post movement pictures of #1?

Canuck · Mar 3, 2025

My two Brandt (Omega) railroad standard pocket watches. One, a private label for A Logan, Greenwood, B C., the other for Louis Brandt & freres. Brandt founded the watch company that became Omega circa the early 20th century. These are both the 19-jewel version grade CCR. One from circa 1902, the other from circa 1908.

constellationM · Mar 3, 2025

TexOmega
Nice handful, especially the double sunk dial examples👍

Can you post movement pictures of #1?

Thank You 😀
Here you go.....

Copy from OAJTT of a similar watch

Canuck · Mar 3, 2025

Regarding the A Logan Brandt (Omega) grade CCR pocket watch from circa 1908, that I pictured above. Here a picture from circa 1905, looking west, taken on Dominion Day on Copper Street, in Greenwood B C. The arrow points at the sign in front of the A Logan jewellery store. Greenwood was the site of huge copper mines, and it thrived until after WW1, when the price of copper hit the skids. Copper ore was transported by rail. The narrow gauge Columbia & Western railway which served Greenwood, provided passenger service, and also hauled copper ore to smelters in Trail, B C. C & W railway was eventually absorbed by the CPR. Logan was likely a railroad watch inspector, but there were several jewellers in Greenwood at that time. Greenwood is a stone’s throw from the Washington border.

Bernhard J · Mar 3, 2025

Bernhard J
I do not normally buy movements, but here I could not resist. It is a Glashütte movement by Grossmann from around 1867, with a pointed-tooth lever escapement. It has some technical features that are typical for early Grossmann watches, for example winding wheel, ratchet wheel, escape wheel and lever made of aluminum bronze, Grossmann fine adjustment, concealed ratchet with its own ratchet wheel under the large “ratchet wheel”. All cocks and bridges bear a “9” hallmark on the underside, the final digit of the serial number. The condition is flawless, the dial is perfect, the hands are original, only the winding stem is missing. Early Grossmann watches were still signed “Dresden”. Later Grossmann watches were then signed “Glashütte” and had the usual three-quarter plate and Glashütte escapement.

I will give the movement a service, make the missing winding stem and then see if I can find a suitable case.

Copyright first two photos: Dr. Crott Auktionen, the other ones are by myself.

In the meanwhile I have cleaned all components (Wugasol, Wugaclear, ultrasonic) and reassembled the movement. It runs nicely, the amplitude is about 250°. While I do not know the appropriate lift angle, it does not seem to be too far away, as evident from observation of the balance wheel. The balance vibration is really vivid, and this with winding for 5 clicks only. That is insofar remarkable as the setting is (as often) missing, thus we are just at the beginning of the main spring force. The movement obviously still needs to be regulated (after demagnetisation as a matter of caution).

Cheers, Bernhard

Canuck · Mar 3, 2025

constellationM
Thank You 😀
Here you go.....

Copy from OAJTT of a similar watch

Love those Canadian private label watches. I have about a half dozen or so. Logan (Brandt), Greenwood B C. Pequegnat (Waltham), Guelph, Ontario. Beall, (Waltham CRTS), Lindsay, Ontario. Rioch, (Hamilton), Kenora, Ontario. Dingwall (Hamilton), Winnipeg. Porte & Markle (Swiss Electa), Winnipeg. Black’s (D E Black, Calgary, Swiss Cortebert). I think that’s the most of them.

Canuck · Mar 5, 2025

Before and after. Questions often arise as to “improving” a deteriorated dial. The answer is, “depends”. When the dial is fair, with only minor deterioration the answer is (IMO) is to remove any loose smutz, but leave the dial alone. However, when the dial is a bad as it can get, you can’t make it any worse! In fact, you may improve it a bit by a stroke of luck. Case in point. These two pictures are of a dial on a Gruen pocket watch acquired by @Duracuir1 . The before, and the after.

I have added a third picture of a dial I found in my stash on a very close version of the subject watch. This dial is on a donor watch, which I was unaware that I had until I stumbled on it, looking for something else. This dial would be a perfect fit on the subject watch. @Duracuir1 has decided to stay with the “improved” dial for the time being.