Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Thurs. 8:36pm

@bobertdob mentioned he has a Pequegnat private label pocket watch. A distinctly Canadian name, the Pequegnat family emigrated from Switzerland late in the 19th century, settling in Berlin, Ontario. They made bicycles, but were looking to diversify when the automobile appeared. They got into manufacturing clocks, buying their cases. They eventually bought out their case maker. One of the family (Joseph) opened a jewellery store in Guelph, Ontario. He used the Pequegnat name on his watches.

My Pequegnat (Peg-in-aw) is an 18-size, 1883 model Waltham made about 1899.

At the outbreak of WWI, Lord Herbert Kitchener was secretary of war in the British cabinet. He was on his way by ship to a conference in 1916, when the ship he was on was sunk by a German mine. Kitchener died. There was such a hatred for anything German in Canada, that Berlin was re-named Kitchener in 1916.

Edited to change 20th century to 19th century.

Waltesefalcon · Fri. 9:47am

Despite promising myself I would not buy any watches this year, I ran across a couple of deals on Ebay that seemed too good to pass up. This is the first, a 17J, 1892 Appleton, Tracy & Co. Waltham circa 1902. It was advertised as serviced and running good. Even though I don't collect Waltham, I feel like this is one model that should be in every collection. I rolled the dice because the price was low, and nabbed it for $120 after tax and shipping. I have used it as my desk clock this past week and after a couple of days noticed it was losing a bit of time. I put it on the timegrapher and was pleasantly surprised with the results: DU 277, DD 280, PU 247, PR 244, PL 220, PD 222. Dare I say it? This guy didn't lie about it being serviced. It wasn't poised real well but other than that seemed good. A bit of adjusting, no I didn't bother poising it since I am just using it as a desk clock, and it is keeping time to within a few seconds a day now.

Canuck · Fri. 9:51am

My latest 1892 model Waltham is a CPR model. It is listed on the PWDB site as Appleton Tracy grade, as well. 17-jewel, lever set.

TexOmega · Fri. 10:05am

From the beginning, my focus has been wide and not so deep across USA brands. RR grade mostly. The deepest focus for me has been Hamilton because they cranked out many many top notch watch grades over 65 years or so.

But sometimes one is attracted to a watch due to beauty(dial or movement) and sometimes just a cool, well manufactured/designed watchcase like the GW Ladd cases I have shown and ya gotta just count out the pennies and take it home.

bobertdob · Sat. 11:10am

Canuck
@bobertdob mentioned he has a Pequegnat private label pocket watch. A distinctly Canadian name, the Pequegnat family emigrated from Switzerland late in the 19th century, settling in Berlin, Ontario. They made bicycles, but were looking to diversify when the automobile appeared. They got into manufacturing clocks, buying their cases. They eventually bought out their case maker. One of the family (Joseph) opened a jewellery store in Guelph, Ontario. He used the Pequegnat name on his watches.

My Pequegnat (Peg-in-aw) is an 18-size, 1883 model Waltham made about 1899.

At the outbreak of WWI, Lord Herbert Kitchener was secretary of war in the British cabinet. He was on his way by ship to a conference in 1916, when the ship he was on was sunk by a German mine. Kitchener died. There was such a hatred for anything German in Canada, that Berlin was re-named Kitchener in 1916.

Edited to change 20th century to 19th century.

Thank you thats an exceptional J Pequegnat 18S and thank you for your story Re Lord Kitchener. I found my Pequegnat this morning its a 16S 15 or 17J unmarked and I believe Swiss likely Longines but I'm not certain. The dial is signed J Pequegnat Stratford as the family was large with several major cities in South West Ontario with stores for their products. The dial is unmarked except for the J Pequegnat Stratford again. Runs like new!!! Re Lord Kitchener the only pin lever dollar watch I have in my collection is a recruiting watch for voluntary enlistment in WW1 with Lord Kitchener or George V its hard to tell on the dial pointing out as if reaching out to you....over crossed Union Jack Flags. Watch is just a New Haven dollar watch but runs which is amazing for a dollar watch with that age....anyways take a look at my Pequegnat please....came out of an estate sale in Whitby Ont.

bobertdob · Sat. 11:37am

Canuck
My latest 1892 model Waltham is a CPR model. It is listed on the PWDB site as Appleton Tracy grade, as well. 17-jewel, lever set.

I have to say the Waltham 18S 1892 movement is one of my favourites along with the higher end Crescent Streets. Thats a really nice CPR railroad watch. Im still looking for a CPR but I did manage to acquire a Waltham 18S 17J CRTS on the 1883 model movement built in 1904. Its also reads as an AT Co movement in the PWDB.

TexOmega · Sat. 12:12pm

18s 1898 Hamilton Private Label
Grade 928 15j
Closed Morning Glory hands

bobertdob · Sun. 10:43am

I haven't gone through earlier posts in this Calling All Pocket Watch Buffs forum to see if any E Howards have been posted so I thought I would show a few that I have collected through the years.
My favourite is an E Howard Series VII Silver Hunter N Size 15J running well and a pleasure to carry.
I will also show my two E Howard Series III Key Wind/Set Silver Open Face watches made in the mid 1860s. One is based on the Merson's Regulator and the other is not but sitting in a 5 oz silver case.
Heres the Series VII

bobertdob · Sun. 10:48am

bobertdob
I haven't gone through earlier posts in this Calling All Pocket Watch Buffs forum to see if any E Howards have been posted so I thought I would show a few that I have collected through the years.
My favourite is an E Howard Series VII Silver Hunter N Size 15J running well and a pleasure to carry.
I will also show my two E Howard Series III Key Wind/Set Silver Open Face watches made in the mid 1860s. One is based on the Merson's Regulator and the other is not but sitting in a 5 oz silver case.
Heres the Series VII

And Here are the Two Series III N Size 15J KWKS Open Face Watches the First with the Mershons Regulator the second without and note the see through back cover which I assume was a customization sometime back in the day..

bobertdob · Sun. 10:52am

bobertdob
And Here are the Two Series III N Size 15J KWKS Open Face Watches the First with the Mershons Regulator the second without and note the see through back cover which I assume was a customization sometime back in the day..

I have a Series VIII as well. I used to have a Keystone Howard but it was stolen and Ive never replaced it....I prefer the original E Howard Watches. I was lucky to have gotten the four I own now all in heavy silver cases well before the run up in silver prices.

bobertdob · Sun. 11:09am

I thought you might be interested in one of my Elgin pocket watches that I believe is historically relevant. I live just outside of Oshawa Ontario Canada the home of General Motors here. General Motors started in 1918 but the original startup dates back to 1907 when they started building the McLaughlin Buick in Oshawa. That project was so successful General Motors Canada was formed in 1918. The actual startup in 1907 depended heavily on key engineers Buick in Detroit provided to the McLaughlin enterprise in Oshawa. And I believe I have found an early 1910ish pocket watch which in all likelihood was a production award handed out during that early and likely complex startup project. This Elgin watch is an 18S 17J BW Raymond with a special order porcelain dial. The Edward VII medallion is dated 1911. Edward VII had passed away by then so I am thinking the watch was awarded likely at year end 1910 maybe as an engineering or sales award. The chain came with it and tested as 10K. It came out of an estate sale in Oshawa.

Canuck · Sun. 11:20am

bobertdob
I haven't gone through earlier posts in this Calling All Pocket Watch Buffs forum to see if any E Howards have been posted so I thought I would show a few that I have collected through the years.
My favourite is an E Howard Series VII Silver Hunter N Size 15J running well and a pleasure to carry.
I will also show my two E Howard Series III Key Wind/Set Silver Open Face watches made in the mid 1860s. One is based on the Merson's Regulator and the other is not but sitting in a 5 oz silver case.
Heres the Series VII

E Howard marked their watches with three different grade symbols, depending on adjustments. The HOUND, (unadjusted), HORSE (adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, no positions), and STAG (adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, and 6 positions.) I have read that the maximum jewel count found on E Howard watches was 15-jewels.

Canuck · Sun. 11:36am

I have one E Howard pocket watch. Series VII. Size N. This one is marked with the STAG grade denoting adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism, and 6-positions. Circa 1884. The majority of the 18-size movements produced by the U S watch companies were full plate design with the balance wheel sitting on top of the movement. The E Howard watches shown in the past few posts (including mine) are all of 3/4 plate design. I believe this to be true of all E Howard movements.

bobertdob · Sun. 1:05pm

Canuck
E Howard marked their watches with three different grade symbols, depending on adjustments. The HOUND, (unadjusted), HORSE (adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, no positions), and STAG (adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, and 6 positions.) I have read that the maximum jewel count found on E Howard watches was 15-jewels.

Thank you I didn't know what the animal symbols meant. Mine was a horse on the Series VII and my VIII is only marked as Adjusted no animal symbol. These E Howards are getting harder and harder to find and mostly with ridiculously high prices. I have stayed clear of buying any movements unless that becomes necessary if one of the models I currently own goes down...I really like the Series III key wind models the workmanship is unbelievable considering being down in the mid 1860s....the Mershon's patent Series III looks quite different than the standard Series III I don't know why they didn't do another model.

bobertdob · Sun. 1:08pm

bobertdob
Thank you I didn't know what the animal symbols meant. Mine was a horse on the Series VII and my VIII is only marked as Adjusted no animal symbol. These E Howards are getting harder and harder to find and mostly with ridiculously high prices. I have stayed clear of buying any movements unless that becomes necessary if one of the models I currently own goes down...I really like the Series III key wind models the workmanship is unbelievable considering being down in the mid 1860s....the Mershon's patent Series III looks quite different than the standard Series III I don't know why they didn't do another model.

Your E Howard Series VII is georgeous being Gold Filled. All the ones I have come across have been silver or silveroid....so far anyways

Canuck · Sun. 7:33pm

bobertdob
Thank you I didn't know what the animal symbols meant. Mine was a horse on the Series VII and my VIII is only marked as Adjusted no animal symbol. These E Howards are getting harder and harder to find and mostly with ridiculously high prices. I have stayed clear of buying any movements unless that becomes necessary if one of the models I currently own goes down...I really like the Series III key wind models the workmanship is unbelievable considering being down in the mid 1860s....the Mershon's patent Series III looks quite different than the standard Series III I don't know why they didn't do another model.

E Howard movements don’t fit standard U S made watch cases. The “N” size might appear to be 18-size, but it isn’t. So if I were you, I wouldn’t plan on buying E Howard movements with the idea of re-casing them. Some folks have managed to do it, but it is tough to do.

bobertdob · Sun. 9:29pm

Canuck
E Howard movements don’t fit standard U S made watch cases. The “N” size might appear to be 18-size, but it isn’t. So if I were you, I wouldn’t plan on buying E Howard movements with the idea of re-casing them. Some folks have managed to do it, but it is tough to do.

Yes I have heard that before but one member of the Toronto Chapter 33 has made stainless steel cases but its expensive and ends up with a bit of an unconventional look....his main focus is turning nicely jeweled ornate pocket watch movements into wrist watches....I have a few 12 size beauties including a 21 Jewel Illinois and a 23 Jewel Waltham Riverside Maximus.....so Im considering perhaps doing that but I don't like eliminating a good pocket watch so likely won't.....
I only have N size watches at this point. Im not sure I will focus on E Howards much at this point. Ive got into early Illinois lately and hope to continue looking at Canadian Private Labels. But if a nice Columbus, Aurora or Seth Thomas comes around it will get my attention.

ghce · Sun. 11:41pm

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This substantial lump of fine English Silver is fitted with a Suisse Lever movement.
Fattorini and Sons Bradford England a very well established retailer who used a wide mixture of movements.

Canuck · 2026-05-18T18:17:12-0500

Canuck
@bobertdob mentioned he has a Pequegnat private label pocket watch. A distinctly Canadian name, the Pequegnat family emigrated from Switzerland late in the 19th century, settling in Berlin, Ontario. They made bicycles, but were looking to diversify when the automobile appeared. They got into manufacturing clocks, buying their cases. They eventually bought out their case maker. One of the family (Joseph) opened a jewellery store in Guelph, Ontario. He used the Pequegnat name on his watches.

My Pequegnat (Peg-in-aw) is an 18-size, 1883 model Waltham made about 1899.

At the outbreak of WWI, Lord Herbert Kitchener was secretary of war in the British cabinet. He was on his way by ship to a conference in 1916, when the ship he was on was sunk by a German mine. Kitchener died. There was such a hatred for anything German in Canada, that Berlin was re-named Kitchener in 1916.

Edited to change 20th century to 19th century.

I recently discovered that my 1883 model Waltham private label watch for Joseph Pequegnat was not running. So today was the day to solve that matter. The roller jewel was gone, and the balance wheel foot hole jewel was loose in its setting. Since it has been decades since it was last serviced, I attended to these matters, today. The movement has 16-jewels (not 15 or 17), and the screws and regulator components are all rose gold in colour. Circa 1899. Listed in the PWDBsite as “Special”, which likely means many were offered as private label watches.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/9133593