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 · Jun 29, 2026

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 · Jul 4, 2026

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 · Jul 4, 2026

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.

TexOmega · Jul 9, 2026

Howard (Keystone variety)
Nifty case, the "Extra" had a thicker layer of 14kt gold than the normal J.Boss cases.

Canuck · Jul 9, 2026

A 12-size. Nice!

bobertdob · Jul 10, 2026

I got delivery yesterday of my recent auction buy a British Private Label Longines 19B KWKS 15J timepiece. Dates to 1874 maybe 1875 as these early Longines are sometimes difficult to peg.
In terms of size its roughly the equivalent of the American 16 size, weighs 220 grams and cased I believe by Longines due to the absence of any familiar British proof marks on the Sterling Silver case.
I got my first British Private Label Longines back in February sold by AH Russell. This new find was sold by the George Edward and Sons Company in England. The dial is inscribed Edwards and the movement is inscribed Edward Machine Lever. The Longines 19B movement bears the early trademark of the winged hourglass. Ive had it running for about 12 hours now and it runs very well....came with a nice heavy chain and what looks to be a very old key....

Waltesefalcon · Jul 10, 2026

I believe that key is an American patent from 1874 the same time period. I have a few that look identical and read on one side "patented" and on the other "Sep. 11 1874."

Duracuir1 · Jul 10, 2026

Waltesefalcon
I believe that key is an American patent from 1874 the same time period. I have a few that look identical and read on one side "patented" and on the other "Sep. 11 1874."

You made me look through my stash. I may have one of those 1874 keys…

While I was in there, I gave the Illinois a wind. To me, Waltesefalcon = Illinois.

Pics with different angles and lighting. I have only one Illinois, but that dial can take so many different looks.

bobertdob · Jul 10, 2026

Waltesefalcon
I believe that key is an American patent from 1874 the same time period. I have a few that look identical and read on one side "patented" and on the other "Sep. 11 1874."

I just checked the top of the key and I can read patented and there is more writing but I will need to dig out my loop to figure out what the remainder of the script says...but thank you I missed that first time around..

bobertdob · Jul 10, 2026

Duracuir1
You made me look through my stash. I may have one of those 1874 keys…

While I was in there, I gave the Illinois a wind. To me, Waltesefalcon = Illinois.

Pics with different angles and lighting. I have only one Illinois, but that dial can take so many different looks.

I love the look of your Illinois pocket watch. A very dressy watch. So in the last auction where I got the Longines detailed above I scored a rather sickly looking Illinois for a mere $38 but the comment was it runs so how can you go wrong getting a running Illinois anything for 38 bucks...so this watch does indeed run....have had it running now for 24 hours and its accurate to the minute...but I can not get the case apart which the auction folks couldn't do either...so looking at what I bought you would think this is a 16 size Illinois and like yours with a metallic dial...gold metallic in this case...but in my hands I can see there is a gold looking smaller case of probably 12 Size inside the base metal case which includes its own crystal....there is a ring holding the two outer base metal case pieces to the inner case but it won't unscrew so likely needs to be pried open....Illinois ceased operations in 1927 I believe so this is most likely an early 1920s 12 size watch hopefully with a decent movement. There is a lot of grit on the dial surface but it looks like a premium single sunk metallic dial....I will figure this out

Waltesefalcon · Jul 10, 2026

Duracuir1
You made me look through my stash. I may have one of those 1874 keys…

While I was in there, I gave the Illinois a wind. To me, Waltesefalcon = Illinois.

Pics with different angles and lighting. I have only one Illinois, but that dial can take so many different looks.

Steve, that one is a beauty. If my focus wasn't so much on earlier Illinois at the moment I would probably be on Ebay scouring it for one similar.

I got really close to scoring a first year production Illinois Currier yesterday, but the auction was lost at literally the last second. It said I was the winner but when I went to pay I had been outbid.

Duracuir1 · Jul 10, 2026

Waltesefalcon
Steve, that one is a beauty. If my focus wasn't so much on earlier Illinois at the moment I would probably be on Ebay scouring it for one similar.

I got really close to scoring a first year production Illinois Currier yesterday, but the auction was lost at literally the last second. It said I was the winner but when I went to pay I had been outbid.

So the hunt continues. I think mine is from one of their final years.

Canuck serviced it a few years ago. Excellent runner.

I bought it at DuMouchelles in Detroit. I remember driving North into the tunnel, made a quick right, a Michigan turn and there was a free parking spot directly in front of DuMouchelles. I was in and out of Detroit in less than 30 minutes.

The Customs agent on the Canadian side did not send me in to pay taxes.

Bonus!

TexOmega · Jul 12, 2026

Had an occasion to look at some of my 992B watches and this one is always a treat.
Model 4 case, White gold filled with rigid bow. Dates to 1948 with Melamine Dial.
What’s not to like?

Canuck · Jul 12, 2026

Hard to tell. Is that one of the two tone models with the ygf mid-case? One of those I don’t have.

Shown is my 1910 Keystone Howard model V which I serviced recently. I’ve been using it as my bench chronometer for several months.

TexOmega · Jul 12, 2026

Canuck
Hard to tell. Is that one of the two tone models with the ygf mid-case? One of those I don’t have.

Shown is my 1910 Keystone Howard model V which I serviced recently. I’ve been using it as my bench chronometer for several months.

Not Two-Tone. All 14kt White Gold Filled......

This is my 1946(serial # c135049) Two-Tone example. Model #3. The Model #3 case was introduced in 1946 and ended 1948. Marketed as Stainless Steel but most were like mine, stamped base metal.
So, yellow gold filled mid-case and silver base metal back and bezel.

Bonus: Canadian Dial

bobertdob · Jul 16, 2026

bobertdob
I love the look of your Illinois pocket watch. A very dressy watch. So in the last auction where I got the Longines detailed above I scored a rather sickly looking Illinois for a mere $38 but the comment was it runs so how can you go wrong getting a running Illinois anything for 38 bucks...so this watch does indeed run....have had it running now for 24 hours and its accurate to the minute...but I can not get the case apart which the auction folks couldn't do either...so looking at what I bought you would think this is a 16 size Illinois and like yours with a metallic dial...gold metallic in this case...but in my hands I can see there is a gold looking smaller case of probably 12 Size inside the base metal case which includes its own crystal....there is a ring holding the two outer base metal case pieces to the inner case but it won't unscrew so likely needs to be pried open....Illinois ceased operations in 1927 I believe so this is most likely an early 1920s 12 size watch hopefully with a decent movement. There is a lot of grit on the dial surface but it looks like a premium single sunk metallic dial....I will figure this out

Pleased to report that my watchmaker got my Illinois pocket watch opened up and its just amazing how different and beautiful it looks. Indeed inside the 16 size outer case is a complete (except the bow) running Illinois 12 Size 17 Jewel model called the Autocrat. The gold filled case is excellent and the dial cleaned up relatively well. Got a replacement bow on it and its complete and suitable to use as a dress watch. The serial dates it to 1919 and no question pocket watches are multi-generational I suspect the 2nd owner in the family likely had a tougher working life. The durable shell case was really tight and fitted with cotton baton so it protected the 12 Size Illinois inside.

Waltesefalcon · Jul 16, 2026

Today the postwoman delivered two new watches for my Hamilton collection, a 992E and a 992B. Now, I have an example of each grade of 992.

First up is the 992E, this one's serial number dates its manufacture to 1937 and it is housed in a Model 10 Hamilton Railroad case, made by Wadsworth.

Next up is the 992B. Its serial number places its date of manufacture in 1946. It is housed in a Model 11 case made by Keystone. This watch was a presentation to J.M. Carpenter by the employees of the P.R.S.L (Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines) in May of 1947.

Waltesefalcon · Jul 16, 2026

My 992B came with this case, if anyone wants it, it's yours for the price of shipping.

Edit: I couldn't spell "wants" correctly.

SOG53 · Jul 20, 2026

I got this Waltham AWC Broadway Model 1877 SN 2322929, key wind 18s plus a second movement/ dial
The key wind turns freely with no resistance so I assume the mainspring is broken.

I found this NOS ? 2203 mainspring and plan to get my toes wet and try to replace mainspring.
Of course this will require buying new tool(s) starting with mainspring winder.

I saw set of 6 KD PW winders but pretty pricey, and then saw this KD adjustable single winder and wonder if that’s a reasonable start. But it may be for wristwatch and too small? The 1877 barrel inside diameter is 17 mm.

Suggestions welcome.