Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Bernhard J · May 18, 2025

Canuck
I assume it has a fusee?

Of course it does 🙂

Rune · May 19, 2025

JimInOz
It may be a combination of both, the balance cock doesn't have the same finish as the other bridges, so I'd say it's a replacement from another watch.

What's the dimension of the movement plate (if you can access it).

The dimensions was D:43.0mm d:42,5 H:6.7-6.75mm Got some more pictures also and the movement is older than the case but close enough that it could be the original case for the movement.But i`am not sure about this one.Guess it want matter.I like the movement and the case.I haven`t got any omega movement with so nice finish.

Canuck · May 19, 2025

The number 057 stamped into the underside of the balance cock ties in with the serial number of the movement. This tells me that the balance cock is original to the movement.

Rune · May 19, 2025

Canuck
The number 057 stamped into the underside of the balance cock ties in with the serial number of the movement. This tells me that the balance cock is original to the movement.

Thank you very much.That means i got a movement and a case that match.Still wondering about the grade..I think it is a high end finish B grade.But maybe someone will know.Thanks for the help and i learned something today also😀

Canuck · May 19, 2025

Omega produced railroad grade watches as well. These were sold under the name Louis Brandt & Freres, in two sizes, and four grades. Many of the parts in yours likely would interchange with an equivalent Brandt. The Brandt models were railroad approved in Canada, but doubtfully in the U S A. I have 2 Brandt grade CCR,19-jewel models. Look closely and you’ll see see distinct similarities in the movements. Louis Brandt founded the watch company Omega.

Rune · May 19, 2025

So maybe my movement was for the us/Canada marked ?Do you know when they started having the serial number visible in front of the movement and not on the dial side?

WestCoastTime · May 25, 2025

Elgin 336, c.1917. Very old, very dirty, & non-running.

It's of its era, looks like the regulator is pulled pretty far over towards F...

Early 1900's keyless works is a bit of a Rube Goldberg contraption (also of its era...)

The click spring should lay overtop the click, but one way or another these have swapped places. Click no longer retains the ratchet wheel, so the mainspring can't ever hold stored winding power.

Disassembly

The old mainspring barely uncoils once it's free of the barrel

Ready for the cleaner

All clean (no longer smelling like 100 year old watch oil, thankfully), & coming back together

NOS Elgin 812 mainspring

Last of the dial-side

Balance back in & off it goes (always a good feeling)

PXL_20250517_024849445.LONG_EXPOSURE-01.COVER.webp

At rest the roller jewel looks pretty much dead-center between the banking pins, but the Timegrapher reports huge beat error. However, keeping good time & not showing any significant positional variation, so I'm not going to bend over backwards trying to please the Timegrapher. Before was filthy & non-running, after is cleaned up & keeping good time. Good enough for me on this one.

PXL_20250525_001520062.LONG_EXPOSURE-01.COVER.webp

Hope everyone (who gets one) is enjoying a great long weekend 😀

ghce · May 25, 2025

WestCoastTime
Elgin 336, c.1917. Very old, very dirty, & non-running.

It's of its era, looks like the regulator is pulled pretty far over towards F...

Early 1900's keyless works is a bit of a Rube Goldberg contraption (also of its era...)

The click spring should lay overtop the click, but one way or another these have swapped places. Click no longer retains the ratchet wheel, so the mainspring can't ever hold stored winding power.

Disassembly

The old mainspring barely uncoils once it's free of the barrel

Ready for the cleaner

All clean (no longer smelling like 100 year old watch oil, thankfully), & coming back together

NOS Elgin 812 mainspring

Last of the dial-side

Balance back in & off it goes (always a good feeling)

At rest the roller jewel looks pretty much dead-center between the banking pins, but the Timegrapher reports huge beat error. However, keeping good time & not showing any significant positional variation, so I'm not going to bend over backwards trying to please the Timegrapher. Before was filthy & non-running, after is cleaned up & keeping good time. Good enough for me on this one.

Hope everyone (who gets one) is enjoying a great long weekend 😀

Don't like that sub second hand, looks a little short, is it the correct length?
But aside from that a lovely restoration of a very nice piece 👍

Canuck · May 25, 2025

Rune
So maybe my movement was for the us/Canada marked ?Do you know when they started having the serial number visible in front of the movement and not on the dial side?

Sorry, no idea.

Canuck · May 25, 2025

Listings for two 18-size Elgins from the pocket watch data base site. One is yours (s# 19707333), and one I used to have (s# 15850212). The picture is of s# 15850212, the one I used to have. I found it buried in a drawer of scrap watches. I liked the dial, so I serviced the movement. It needed balance staff, foot hole jewel in setting, mainspring (I had all those parts, NOS), a crystal, two hands, replacement case, and cleaning. It isn’t railroad grade, but it was a stellar performer! It was in my collection for a few months, until someone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. The “rocker bar” winding arrangement on these 18-size American watches takes some getting used to, but when in good shape and set up properly, they work great. Mine is a few years older than yours. Thanks for your presentation. It looks great.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/15850212

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/19707333

Duracuir1 · May 25, 2025

Illinois for a sunny Sunday.

WestCoastTime · May 25, 2025

ghce
Don't like that sub second hand, looks a little short, is it the correct length?
But aside from that a lovely restoration of a very nice piece 👍

Agree, the stubby little seconds hand doesn't look great, but this is how it came to me. I just chalk it up to 100+ years of not so gentle use...

Canuck · May 25, 2025

I’ve shown this one here, before. My 18-size, 1892 model Waltham, movement marked Canadian Railway Time Service. The Waltham 1892 model is probably my favourite 18-size American watch. This one checks a lot of boxes for me. A favourite model, Canadian marked, a perfect double-sunk, vitreous enamel 24-hour dial. The case is less than perfect, and I don’t think it is original. The movement is 17-jewel, lever-set, and was railroad approved in Canada. This one came to me from a collector in Dalmellington, Scotland, about 10 years ago. Today it will be on my @Duracuir1 leather lanyard.

TexOmega · May 28, 2025

Hamilton grade 992 and also the #992/1000 ordered by the US Army circa 1917-18. The Army recruited civilian RR workers to build/coordinate/organize/deliver goods and soldiers during WWI.

Rune · May 28, 2025

Canuck
Omega produced railroad grade watches as well. These were sold under the name Louis Brandt & Freres, in two sizes, and four grades. Many of the parts in yours likely would interchange with an equivalent Brandt. The Brandt models were railroad approved in Canada, but doubtfully in the U S A. I have 2 Brandt grade CCR,19-jewel models. Look closely and you’ll see see distinct similarities in the movements. Louis Brandt founded the watch company Omega.

I tested the movement and it runs great 310 amplitude 0,2ms beat error and +/- 1 second in the 0 position on the balance.But is 310 in amplitude to much?haven`t got to test other positions yet.But i see the similarities in the movement you got compared to mine.But its a common case with rose gold and ingraving on the back so i wonder if someone ordered this movement for this case?And there is no omega logo on the dial.Just can`t figure out this one.

Rune · May 28, 2025

Rune
I tested the movement and it runs great 310 amplitude 0,2ms beat error and +/- 1 second in the 0 position on the balance.But is 310 in amplitude to much?haven`t got to test other positions yet.But i see the similarities in the movement you got compared to mine.But its a common case with rose gold and ingraving on the back so i wonder if someone ordered this movement for this case?And there is no omega logo on the dial.Just can`t figure out this one.

Does this case back tell you something?

ghce · May 31, 2025

Bought this Revue PW this afternoon for NZ$20.00 in close to perfect condition, it is only a nickle case but the previous owner obviously took care of it as is evidenced not only by it almost perfect cosmetic condition but also the profusion of service marks in the case back.

DaveK · May 31, 2025

What’s the deal with the subseconds at 3:00 in this c1899 Waltham? Were they just using up already produced hunter dials but printing them in the more modern orienteation?

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/9160904

What’s the term for pocket watches with 12 at the top? Non-hunter? Not sure if I thought about it before

Canuck · May 31, 2025

Hunter cased movement fitted to an open faced case. These “conversion” dials were available back in the day. This allowed the movement to be rotated 90° counter-clockwise so the keyless works was compatible with the pendant on the open faced case, and the crown at the 12:00. Ergo, the seconds bit ended up at the 3:00 position on the dial. Consider an open-faced movement fitted to a hunter case. The movement would be rotated 90° clockwise. The 12:00 would end up the crown, and the seconds bit likewise out of position. Name for a watch with the “twelve at the top” (as in, at the crown), call that open faced. I am not aware that any watch manufacturer would produce a watch like the subject watch.

Here is the pocketwatchdatabase info on that movement which is identified as “hunter”.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/9160914

Waltesefalcon · May 31, 2025

I've owned a couple of hunters with conversion dials over the years. I thought they were kinda cool about twenty years ago, but no longer own any.