And while I was looking at the latest catch, I remembered that I had a similar movement so I managed to find it.
Another lesser known brand, a "Devina"...the movement is an HPX40, but this time it has a surface finish, not sure what it's called.
I recently got a call from an on line auction outfit in town, telling me one of their clients has 9 watches that are up for probate. They asked if the executor could bring them for advice and information. Ther are really only three that amount to anything, and only one that belongs in this thread. The skinny:
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/waltham/15133432
You will notice that the vitreous enamel dial is damaged, unfortunately. It is an 1899 model Waltham, 19-jewel, Riverside grade, make circa 1906. I think these 16-size, higher grade Walthams are about as pleasing to look at as any watch. I gave the executor chapter and verse on this one, and there is a chance it will stay in the family. Strangely, nobody in the family knows who had owned it. The monogram script on the case back doesn’t speak to any of them. The case maker is REGAL, and the case, including the cuvette, are 14-karat gold.
I'd be enthused to have one railroad watch from each of the major brands.
My problem is that I don't know which are major brands and which aren't. I suppose that Hamilton, Waltham, Illinois, and Elgin would be considered major. Not sure where that leaves Hampden, Howard, Rockford, and South Bend.
I remembered another movement that had the unusual "hammertone" finish (my terminology).
A recent Tissot with an ETA 6497 movement.
While not in the league of the American of finer Swiss watches, it's still an attractive watch to use as a daily wearer.
@noelekal ,
I once read that Hamilton paid a survey outfit to canvass active railroaders to see what brand of railroad standard watch they were carrying. IIRC, the survey results indicated that 58 % of active railroaders were carrying Hamilton railroad standard watches. The other 42% were carrying railroad standard watches from other makers who made such watches. We might well ask if the results of the survey were skewed by someone, to yield favourable answers. Elgin probably produced 5 or six times the number of watches than Hamilton did, but Hamilton specialized in railroad watches, calling themselves “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy” in their ads, for decades. You could possibly build a collection of 2 dozen or so railroad grade and railroad standard Hamiltons, and have no duplicates! Could you with any one of the other U S makers? I don’t know. You mentioned the names of 8 watch manufacturers. The big 4 were Hamilton, Waltham, Elgin, and Illinois. But the other four makers were in the business as well, and produced railroad standard watches. Why are you concerned with who were the “major” manufacturers. Is it because you want to focus only on the majors? I would call the first 4 you mentioned, the “majors”. You can acquire a collection by the “rifle” method, or the “shotgun” method. A narrow focus, or a broad focus. Has perusing the offerings in this thread helped at all in giving you a focus? My collection of railroad standard watches comprises mainly the “big 4”. But I also have Keystone Howards which I quite like. And I have two Brandt (Omega) 19-jewel grade CCRS. I just like railroad watches, period.
Do you plan on fixing it?
I'd be enthused to have one railroad watch from each of the major brands.
My problem is that I don't know which are major brands and which aren't. I suppose that Hamilton, Waltham, Illinois, and Elgin would be considered major. Not sure where that leaves Hampden, Howard, Rockford, and South Bend.
I enjoy collecting this way also. It's fun for me to have some classic examples of certain styles of watch. I greatly respect collectors who "go deep" in a particular brand or style, but that's just not my preference.
