Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

TexOmega · Tues. 2:04pm

And, i've probably had this one 15 years and only noticed an anomaly this morning. Can anyone spot it?

Must, again, been a Monday.

noelekal · Tues. 2:05pm

OOOooo... thanks for the dial signature reference!

noelekal · Tues. 2:09pm

Does the anomaly have something to do with regulation indication and where the F and the S are placed?

TexOmega · Tues. 2:19pm

The paper warranty case serial # is "off" by one

Case ends with "8" paper "9"

Gotta instruct those entry level group to swallow a few cups more on a Monday!

Canuck · Tues. 2:22pm

TexOmega
A solid 18s pocket watch by Hamilton
Grade 924 circa 1905 17j. Encased by an equally solid, one could even say, heavy duty gf Keystone J. Boss 20 year case.

Look at the coin edge and those massive hinges and equally massive glass crystal.

Not RR grade but built rugged and unadorned to give a great value to a working man.

Private labels are always fun. Pop plowed the hard ground and it appears son followed.

On the right type of chain, that would be a lethal weapon in a fight!

TexOmega · Tues. 2:33pm

noelekal
OOOooo... thanks for the dial signature reference!

And, there were some signatures that didn't quite reach exact Factory Requirement.

This is from my post 5-6 pages back grade 970 with a unique font, especially the "H"

ghce · Tues. 7:36pm

Bernhard J
I would not be too sure about that. There likely are Timex collectors, just like e.g. the Roskopf pocket watches having a considerable following. Or think of the Dollar watches. And: low cost mass products have a much harder life surviving decades and even centuries, compared to collector items from new.

Collectors of all kinds and price ranges of watches have one thing in common, all are watch enthusiasts and contribute to history.

Some of these "Cheap" though I dispute that supposition for some are very dependable and well made for example this Russian Molnija is an excellent well made time keeper thats going strong more than 50 years after it was made and often available for peanuts.

I grabbed this one from my collection to weigh the heavy Sterling chain and see what its scrap value might be having recently purchased quite a few Sterling chains at well below melt values.

Generally Sterling 2nd hand or vintage chain commands a very high price compared to its melt value, at times easily by a factor of 10 or more so I took the time out to look up Sterling chain values from very reputable trade suppliers, in this case Cousins in the UK and was very pleasantly surprised to see that you can easily buy Sterling chain of any size and style from them for very reasonable prices compared to 2nd hand treacherously priced dealers thus making the purchase of chain to make new watch chains for our PW's very affordable.

Please note I am in no way intending this as advertising for a supplier and my only relationship to them is having an account with them that I frequently use however I often see on this forum and other PW forums watches that are not protected by a chain or any other form of attachment when it is such an easy and affordable thing to rectify be it from one of the many suppliers here for leather ones or as an alternative Silver Chain.

Canuck · Tues. 7:42pm

The Russian watch industry more or less began when the Russians bought the American Dueber-Hampden Watch Co. when it folded. They moved it lock stock, and Barrel to Russia. There’s a niche for every taste, I guess. But Russian watches don’t interest me in the least, I’m afraid.

ghce · Tues. 7:48pm

Canuck
The Russian watch industry more or less began when the Russians bought the American Dueber-Hampden Watch Co. when it folded. They moved it lock stock, and Barrel to Russia. There’s a niche for every taste, I guess. But Russian watches don’t interest me in the least, I’m afraid.

Same for me, this particular Russian PW was purchased because I wanted the chain and T bar which from the poor sellers photos it was indeterminate whether it was just a brass, steel or plated chain but I took a punt and for my US$14.00 or so dollars got a heavy Hallmarked Sterling chain and a perfectly working and accurate PW to boot. The Chain having resided on the original owners much older PW which wasn't likely to be Russian from the hallmark dates.

Canuck · Tues. 7:53pm

ghce
Some of these "Cheap" though I dispute that supposition for some are very dependable and well made for example this Russian Molnija is an excellent well made time keeper thats going strong more than 50 years after it was made and often available for peanuts.

I grabbed this one from my collection to weigh the heavy Sterling chain and see what its scrap value might be have recently purchased quite a few Sterling chains at well below melt values.

Generally Sterling 2nd hand or vintage chain commands a very high price compared to its melt value, at times easily by a factor of 10 or more so I took the time out to look up Sterling chain values from very reputable trade suppliers, in this case Cousins in the UK and was very pleasantly surprised to see that you can easily buy Sterling chain of any size and style from them for very reasonable prices compared to 2nd hand treacherously priced dealers thus making the purchase of chain to make new watch chains for our PW's very affordable.

Please note I am in no way intending this as advertising for a supplier and my only relationship to them is having an account with them that I frequently use however I often see on this forum and other PW forums watches that are not protected by a chain or any other form of attachment when it is such an easy and affordable thing to rectify be it from one of the many suppliers here for leather ones or as an alternative Silver Chain.

I fell heir to the watch in the picture. The watch with the chain, another Swiss Electa (Gallet) pocket watch on a 10 karat chain, and a third junker, all told, for $150.00 (Cdn.) about 3 years ago. I gave the gold chain back to the guy I bought the watches from. It had a scrap value of about $500.00 (16.5 grams). But he’s not getting the sterling one in the picture. It weighs over 2 ounces Troy! The watch is in a sterling case, and is by an English jeweller, Stewart Dawson, who had stores all over the British Commonwealth.

ghce · Tues. 8:02pm

Canuck
I fell heir to the watch in the picture. The watch with the chain, another Swiss Electa (Gallet) pocket watch on a 10 karat chain, and a third junker, all told, for $150.00 (Cdn.) about 3 years ago. I gave the gold chain back to the guy I bought the watches from. It had a scrap value of about $500.00 (16.5 grams). But he’s not getting the sterling one in the picture. It weighs over 2 ounces Troy! The watch is in a sterling case, and is by an English jeweller, Stewart Dawson, who had stores all over the British Commonwealth.

I also have one of those PW chains somewhere around my house, bought about 2 years back for about US$20.00, I've turned my house inside out trying to locate the darn thing all to no avail. I wonder if it was from the Steward Dawson retailer as they had and have an ongoing presence here with many PW's branded by them.
I only bought it because it was cheap and didn't expect it to weigh as much as it did, that chain link format is deceptively heavy.

Canuck · Tues. 8:24pm

I believe the Stewart Dawson store in the picture I posted was in Liverpool. But they had many stores in many other cities in the British Commonwealth. In an earlier thread, it was mentioned that there are still stores that exist, with his name.

ghce · Tues. 8:38pm

Still going strong here in NZ, most of their establishments were iconic multistory buildings on prominent sites in all of NZ's largest cities.

Whilst that has changed a bit in recent years they still maintain a strong presence in many Malls throughout NZ.

https://www.stewartdawsons.co.nz/st...RjWWkQb19aohsWrIPIIiEbPEOspZcWO8c1R3intvH3tLb

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/87...m-the-corner-they-have-occupied-for-116-years

Canuck · Tues. 9:37pm

Thanx to @ghce for the interesting background for the Stewart Dawson jewellery stores. His business is listed as a manufacturing jeweller. I just checked the case on my Stewart Dawson pocket watch, and the trade mark inside the back cover is S.D. & CO. The case may have been made by them, but I rather expect it was made by a watch case maker, and marked with the Dawson trade mark. This was all perfectly legal if the trade mark had been registered. The hallmark, standard mark, and date letter are all there, as well. When a precious metal item is trade marked by someone other than the maker of the item, the person who owned the trade mark became liable for the standard mark. I’ll check the heavy chain…….when I find it. I had help taking down the exhibit, and I don’t know where they put the heavy chain! Chances are, the chain may have been made in Dawson’s own shops.

Duracuir1 · Thurs. 5:47pm

This pocket watch is now a daily. I wind it daily and it’s keeping time as I knew it would. Wallet, keys and pocket watch whenever I leave the house. Heck, yesterday I was cleaning the garage floor and I had it with me.

Cat likes it too… maybe.