Community Stories

Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

gilb12
Posts
328
Likes
3,260
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
It would seem the more images of trains and railway stuff a watch has the less likely it is to be of railway standard!


It seems strange, but you’re absolutely right!
One of the most well-known watches issued to Italian railway workers didn’t have any images of trains, tracks, or anything else - just an acronym FS for "Ferrovie dello Stato" 👍👍

s-l1200 - 2025-11-20T093914.852.webp
 
JimInOz
Posts
17,934
Likes
37,502
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
It would seem the more images of trains and railway stuff a watch has the less likely it is to be of railway standard!
Yes, but there are exceptions. Row 2, column 3.

IMG_5117.webp


Close-up for you.

IMG_5116.webp


and who can spot the other real railway watch?
 
TexOmega
Posts
8,482
Likes
60,613
^
In the US there were strict standards for RR grade/approved PW’s both inside and out for function and esthetics.


Zenith WWII circa 1940, issued by the British to their Hydrographic Service which supported the Royal Navy amongst other branches.

Nifty set of blued hands.

IMG_9622.webp IMG_9620.webp IMG_9618.webp IMG_9621.webp IMG_9623.webp
 
Canuck
Posts
15,466
Likes
45,795
That would match the Hamilton 3992B. The 16-size Zenith calibre 5 was approved for use on Canadian railroads. I am unaware if sweep seconds hands were ever approved for use on Canadian railroads. The Hamilton 3992B (like the subject Zenith) was primarily aimed at the navy. The only Swiss made pocket watch approved for use on U S railroads was the Ball grade 435 (B & C).
 
Canuck
Posts
15,466
Likes
45,795
TexOmega TexOmega
Yes indeed and Webb C Ball is STILL rolling in his grave.🤣
It might have been Ball who stipulated that railroad standards specified that railroad standard watches with “private label” dials were disallowed. The name on the dial was to be the actual manufacturer. Hinged bezels and case backs were likewise, disallowed. Yet a Swiss made movement behind a Ball ORRS dial were allowed. That, plus I have a railroad approved Hamilton grade 952 in its original case, with hinged bezel and back! Not every railroad observed Ball’s standards to the letter.

There was a way around private label dials on railroad standard watches. I show a picture of my 1883 Waltham GW Beall pocket watch. Notice the American Waltham Watch Co. marking around the seconds bit.


P2248540.webp P2248542.webp
Edited:
 
Waltesefalcon
Posts
3,948
Likes
11,019
I'm wearing this circa 1900 Illinois Sangamo in a sterling case today. My favorite thing about this one is the two tone ribbon dameskeening.

20251123_072938.webp 20251123_073013.webp
 
ghce
Posts
4,737
Likes
47,589
Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I'm still wearing this Sangamo. After five days in my pocket it's lost 14 seconds.

20251126_081037.webp

You must have a hole in your pocket for all those seconds to be slipping away! 😀
 
Waltesefalcon
Posts
3,948
Likes
11,019
ghce ghce
You must have a hole in your pocket for all those seconds to be slipping away! 😀
I mean that is a lot, almost -3 sec/day. I should have saved up and bought a Rolex.
 
352 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...