Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Jun 22, 2026

Wearing this one, today. Keystone Howard series XI, circa 1914. 21-jewels, lever set, adjusted to 5-positions plus heat, cold, and isochronism. Railroad approved. Keystone owned the New York Standard Watch Co., makers of mostly low end, popular priced movements. After Keystone acquired NYS, they upgraded a seven-jewel, 16-size NYS movement to produce the series XI KH movement. The series XI is not highly sought after by Howard collectors as a result of its humble origins. It is very much plainer than other movements produced by KH. This one has one of my favourite dials in my collection. Bought from an elderly senior who was downsizing, and was bound and determined he wasn’t going to leave it to his drug addict grandson.

Duracuir1 · Mon. 5:36pm

Not pocket watch related but I saw this old picture at my neighbour’s place. He’s the picker that I have mentioned before.

Railway related…

The scene is of a herd of deer.

Note the markings on the bottom of the wooden frame.

He also had an impressive clock. What impressed me even more was the glass dome. He offered it to me for $200. Tempting but I have enough clocks.

I did not take shots of the back. What was most evident in the back was the little bell.

Now back to pocket watches.

This thread is 300 pages now.

Duracuir1 · 2026-07-04T04:58:26-0500

Illinois, bought in Detroit, serviced in Calgary, with a lanyard made in my shop.

Happy 250th celebrations to our American friends.

Although I cranked her up, the Illinois will stay confined to the air conditioned house today. Hot, wet and humid here.

bobertdob · 2026-07-04T11:39:03-0500

Duracuir1
Illinois, bought in Detroit, serviced in Calgary, with a lanyard made in my shop.

Happy 250th celebrations to our American friends.

Although I cranked her up, the Illinois will stay confined to the air conditioned house today. Hot, wet and humid here.

Very nice leather lanyard Steve and I recall the exceptional pocket watch case you showed some time ago. I have not seen you advertising the leather products you appear to be fabricating ie. cases or now these lanyards on either the CWC forum or on this Omega Forum.....I managed to find an interesting 18 Size Illinois key wind back in April which came with a very aged black leather case which I have found both interesting and comfortable to wear loosely in my pocket. The odd time I have wanted to use the little pocket in my jeans I have tended to use one of my smaller 12 size watches. The black leather case appears to be as old as the Illinois watch which dates to 1886 and interestingly on the inside it says Compliments of A.J. McInnes. When I researched on that name and timeframe I got this back......A.J. McInnes was a historically recorded late 19th-century Canadian jeweler and watchmaker. He operated primarily in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, known in horological and Canadian trade directories for retailing fine timepieces, pocket watches, and custom jewelry. The location is interesting as its about half way between Ottawa and Montreal but I can not be sure its the same person as VanKleek Hill didn't really boom until the railroad arrived in the late 1890s so maybe about teh years out of phase to the watch serial of 1886...pics attached. I don't like wearing any of my metal FOB type lanyards but have been thinking about buying a pair of leather boot laces and trying to make something useful that can attach to my belt.