Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

TexOmega · Sep 27, 2025

Peoria Watch Co. was only around 5 years, 1886-1890 but introduced the US to a new technology from the Swiss, anti-magnetic metal from Palladium to make their hairspring and balance, "Paillard's patented non-magnetic alloy".

18s 15j RR grade for RR Service.

But to my eyes, it's the handsome GW Ladd stiffened gf case (profile facing left) that makes it special.

Canuck · Sep 27, 2025

If I recall correctly, urban and inter-urban railroad systems began using electric locomotives, circa 1898. It would seem that there was early realization that railroad standard watches of the era were not anti-magnetic. The Peoria Watch posted by @TexOmega is evidence that some companies were aware of magnetism and how it affected watch performance, in those early years. I once ran into an 1892 model Waltham that was similarly equipped to be unaffected by magnetism. I have pictures of that watch. It was a “sidewinder”, meaning the movement was produced for a hunter case, but it was placed in an open faced case, leaving the seconds bit at the 9:00 position, rather than the 6:00 position. It could be that the Waltham has Swiss-made non-magnetic parts in it. There was a Swiss firm named the Non-Magnetic Watch Co. that operated until 1905, that were early adopters of non-magnetic watches.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/guide/companies/non-magnetic-watch-co

How it is that Hamilton waited until 1931 to introduce the 992 Elinvar (992E), and Waltham with their “Conium” alloy, and Elgin with their “Elginium” alloy, both at about the same time remains a question in my mind.

The Illinois Watch Co. also dabbled in non-magnetic watches.

Canuck · Sep 27, 2025

In 1996, the NAWCC sponsored a seminar on railroad timekeeping which was held at the (now defunct) Tower Clock Resort in Rockford, Illinois. Seth Atwood (owner of the resort) had built perhaps the foremost museum dedicated to watches and clocks. Sadly, after Atwood’s death, the museum artifacts were dispersed, and the museum no longer exists. Two of us from Calgary went to that seminar. Such a pity that the museum is no longer, and many of you hadn’t had the opportunity to see it.

As a memento of the seminar, a book was compiled, editor James L. Hernick. This book pictured 219 railroad standard pocket watches and clocks, some from the museum, and some loaned for the exhibition connected to the seminar. The book.

On page 8, item # 18, is shown a Peoria watch which is a brother to the watch posted by @TexOmega .

gilb12 · Sep 27, 2025

TexOmega
Peoria Watch Co. was only around 5 years, 1886-1890 but introduced the US to a new technology from the Swiss, anti-magnetic metal from Palladium to make their hairspring and balance, "Paillard's patented non-magnetic alloy".

18s 15j RR grade for RR Service.

But to my eyes, it's the handsome GW Ladd stiffened gf case (profile facing left) that makes it special.

Stunning 😍😍😍

Canuck · Sep 29, 2025

Just purchased. Waltham 1892 model, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR LOGO). Circa 1918. From the pocketwatchdatabase, one of 2,600 of this model. Look for an after photo, once I’ve been through it.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/22017626

Canuck · Sep 29, 2025

You’ve seen the “before”, above. My newly acquired Waltham model 1892, CPR pocket watch. One of 2,600 made, from circa 1918. I saw no evidence it had ever been worked on in its 107 years. This series of pictures shows the “after”.

From the top.

-The watch.
-Stripped, gold jewel chatons polished, jewels pegged, ready for cleaning.
-In the ultrasonic cleaner. Two rinses and heat dry in an L & R Mastermatiic machine.
-Cleaned and ready for assembly.
-Finished. Now to case, and enjoy.

Canuck · Oct 2, 2025

Well, the Waltham CPR I showed above was re-set on Wednesday morning, after a minor adjustment. 24-hours later, dead on! Thrilled to say the least. Worn today on my @DaveK mystery braid lanyard. 107 years old and still performing to railroad standard. Almost unbelievable, I’d say!

DaveK · Oct 2, 2025

Canuck
You’ve seen the “before”, above. My newly acquired Waltham model 1892, CPR pocket watch. One of 2,600 made, from circa 1918. I saw no evidence it had ever been worked on in its 107 years. This series of pictures shows the “after”.

From the top.

-The watch.
-Stripped, gold jewel chatons polished, jewels pegged, ready for cleaning.
-In the ultrasonic cleaner. Two rinses and heat dry in an L & R Mastermatiic machine.
-Cleaned and ready for assembly.
-Finished. Now to case, and enjoy.

Beautiful!

Canuck · Oct 2, 2025

DaveK
Beautiful!

‘Tis! Thanks!

TexOmega · Oct 5, 2025

Hamilton circa 1910 grade 992, gold pkg checkerboard with very uncommon dial markings.
@Duracuir1 custom lanyard.

Canuck · Oct 5, 2025

From the pocketwatchdatabase site:

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

I don’t recall ever seeing the two-tone checkerboard pattern on a Hamilton 992. I suspect this feature was rare on Hamilton, of any grade.

Canuck · Oct 5, 2025

My 107-year old 1892 model, 18-size Waltham CPR pocket watch was last re-set 4 days ago. Since then it had lost five seconds because it came close to running down on Thursday. I didn’t re-set it at that time. Here we are at 9:45 am on Sunday, and this 107 year old watch in one second fast! Worn 12 hours per day on my @DaveK lanyard, and parked face up over night. Currently my best non-quartz timekeeper. Inopportune shot might seem that it is not running if you check the balance wheel. But it is running in this shot.

DaveK · Oct 5, 2025

Canuck
My 107-year old 1892 model, 18-size Waltham CPR pocket watch was last re-set 4 days ago. Since then it had lost five seconds because it came close to running down on Thursday. I didn’t re-set it at that time. Here we are at 9:45 am on Sunday, and this 107 year old watch in one second fast! Worn 12 hours per day on my @DaveK lanyard, and parked face up over night. Currently my best non-quartz timekeeper. Inopportune shot might seem that it is not running if you check the balance wheel. But it is running in this shot.

Fantastic result!

DaveK · Oct 5, 2025

My ‘44 Hamilton 992b yesterday at the big pumpkin weighing contest.

Winner came in at 1758 pounds!!

Canuck · Oct 5, 2025

DaveK
My ‘44 Hamilton 992b yesterday at the big pumpkin weighing contest.

Winner came in at 1758 pounds!!

While @DaveK was away from his car, this happened! The runner up pumpkin and @DaveK ‘s car suffered a mutual fate!

Canuck · Oct 8, 2025

Three seconds fast in 5 days! But I have to remember to wind it every 24 hours. It only runs for 32 hours on a wind. Typical of 107 year old watches, particularly the 18-size ones.

gilb12 · Oct 8, 2025

+3 secs in Five days are 0.6 s/d ... Just incredible 😱😱😱😱😱

TexOmega · Oct 8, 2025

1950 Hamilton grade 950B with their Model “A” gf case. This was their 2nd Model “A” case which they made 1948-1956. This one had no shoulders.
The movement is the pinnacle of all their R&D and would never be topped as the popularity starts to decline.
Melamine dial, 1st generation, with associated craze lines was improved upon, but the decline was steep and there would never be a renaissance.
Blued baton hands exclusive to the grade.

Adjust for Temperature and 6 Positions

noelekal · Oct 8, 2025

You educated me TexOmega.

I had to do sone quick research upon your mention of the Hamilton “A” case.

So, my mid-1920s Hamilton 950 didn’t originally appear in a Hamilton “A” case.

Canuck · Oct 8, 2025

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/S10016

The pocketwatchdatabase info on the handsome Hamilton 950B posted by @TexOmega .

I too have a 950B. Mine came to be with a melamine dial as well. A friend was at a watch supply house in Vancouver about 35 years ago. He asked them if they had vitreous enamel dials in stock. They had three. He bought them, and gave one to me for my 950B. So that watch now has the vitreous enamel dial on it. Mine is in a bar over crown case style #2, near as I can discern. I’ve shown the 950B with my fancier but much earlier grade 950. It has a vitreous enamel dial.