Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · May 29, 2021

S ScDevon
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Thank you for your efforts. If the movement is out of the case for any reason, I’ll look for additional marks. I think you’re exactly right about it being sort of a private label for a local New York jeweler. Again, thanks!

A quick on line check of Hamann & Koch, New York, reveals a buffet of watch and clock related listings. None of which would have been made by the firm, I’d wager. Many of those items might have the company name on them, which means they are private label items. Much the same with your box hinge watch case. Any manufacturer of a precious metal object can put his registered trade mark on the item, OR the registered trade mark of his customer , provided the customer has had his trade mark registered with the Federal Trade Commission (USA), or the Deportment of Corporate and Consumer Affairs in Canada.

Alpha · May 29, 2021

I truly love my pocket barometer, a birthday gift from my wife a few years back but if it could only tell the time as well 😁

Canuck · May 30, 2021

DaveK
Let’s talk about pocket watch stands for a moment. I was bidding on this until I was outbid beyond the point of it being fun-money (after all, that Rolex isn’t going to buy itself!).

I’d love to see some pocket watch stands make an appearance in this thread 😀

@DaveK recently brought up the topic of pocket watch stands. Throughout this thread, an occasional watch is shown on a pocket watch stand. I didn’t join in prior to this, as the only pocket watch stand I have was nowhere to be found. Well, while searching for something else today, lo and behold, what do I find? My only pocket watch stand.

This one is much more utilitarian than any other stands that have been shown. This stand, with the watch it is holding, is the combination that stood on my late father’s watch repair bench for (IIRC), about thirty years, or possibly even forty years. The stand is stainless steel, and the watch is his Hamilton 992 which I inherited at his passing, in 1976.

Canuck · May 30, 2021

Today, my Accutron Spaceview and my D E Black, Swiss Cortebert on my @DaveK lanyard.

WestCoastTime · May 30, 2021

Canuck
Today, my Accutron Spaceview and my D E Black, Swiss Cortebert on my @DaveK lanyard.

Does the DE Black use a Longines ébauche movement? It looks in fine shape.

Edit: Oh wait, I see that you already say that this is a Cortebert...

Canuck · May 30, 2021

WestCoastTime
Does the DE Black use a Longines ébauche movement? It looks in fine shape.

Edit: Oh wait, I see that you already say that this is a Cortebert...

D E Black used a lot of Longines movements in their private label watches. This one has a Cortebert (Swiss) movement in it. The dial is damaged at the 11. The case is gold filled, and it replaces an ugly, badly worn rolled gold plated case. Black sold to Birks in 1920, so I suspect this one is earlier than 1920, and I think it might have been a service loaner to a railroader whose railroad watch was in for service. This one is timed to 4 positions, temperature compensated, vernier regulator, safety mainspring barrel. An excellent runner!

WestCoastTime · May 30, 2021

Canuck
D E Black used a lot of Longines movements in their private label watches. This one has a Cortebert (Swiss) movement in it. The dial is damaged at the 11. The case is gold filled, and it replaces an ugly, badly worn rolled gold plated case. Black sold to Birks in 1920, so I suspect this one is earlier than 1920, and I think it might have been a service loaner to a railroader whose railroad watch was in for service. This one is timed to 4 positions, temperature compensated, vernier regulator, safety mainspring barrel. An excellent runner!

Some family history from the grandson of D E Black
http://hydrometrica.com/wp/david-e-black

Rdelgao · May 30, 2021

Knowing about my recent interest in watches, I was given my grandfathers watch that had been kept in a drawer for good 30 years since he passed away. It looks destroyed but will take it to watchmaker see if he can make it work and bring it back to life. Still dont know anything about the brand, model, etc. will need to do some research. I will post it when watchmaker opens it and will tell the story of the piece. Not being a military watch, it has an interesting military story that will for sure entertain some of you guys that are fond of this matters.

Canuck · May 30, 2021

WestCoastTime
Some family history from the grandson of D E Black
http://hydrometrica.com/wp/david-e-black

@WestCoastTime ,

Thanks for the item on D E Black. One comment on the story you gave is that, in 1903, when D E arrived here, Calgary was Calgary, N W T (North West Territories), having become a province in 1905. D E Black supplied the Seth Thomas 16A tower clock, that is in the original sandstone City Hall. Price including installation was about $3,750.00! I knew who D E was, but never met him. When he sold to Birks, one condition was that he would have an office in the Birks store, as long as he wished to remain active. He has a staff of over 60 when he sold out. I used to see him on 7th Ave.,downtown, very often. A natty dresser he was.

JimInOz · Jun 1, 2021

Canuck
@WestCoastTime ,

Thanks for the item on D E Black. One comment on the story you gave is that, in 1903, when D E arrived here, Calgary was Calgary, N W T (North West Territories), having become a province in 1905. D E Black supplied the Seth Thomas 16A tower clock, that is in the original sandstone City Hall. Price including installation was about $3,750.00! I knew who D E was, but never met him. When he sold to Birks, one condition was that he would have an office in the Birks store, as long as he wished to remain active. He has a staff of over 60 when he sold out. I used to see him on 7th Ave.,downtown, very often. A natty dresser he was.

He certainly was one of the movers and shakers in Calgary.

Here's an interesting article I found describing his watchmaking activities and other achievements.

noelekal · Jun 5, 2021

The railroad grade pocket watches are interesting to me so I've been watching them on Ebay and other online sites that sell them. When did the waning need for the railroad watches first begin? It seems they were still marketed and sold for years after railroads adopted centralized traffic control. Who was buying them by the end of the railroad grade pocket watch's time?

Canuck · Jun 5, 2021

The writing was on the wall when the railroad standard wrist watch appeared on the scene. This, at a time when time service rules were changing, and railroads were becoming more automated. At one time, a railroader who required a railroad standard watch was obliged to carry an inspection card which was updated every time he visited the railroad watch inspector. Caught without a current card, and chances are he didn’t work! I am not aware when that changed. The electronic railroad standard wrist watch was far more convenient to use than a pocket watch, and likely the most popular railroad standard wrist watch was the Accutron which was (forget 30 seconds per week accuracy) usually within one minute per month. Time service rules now only require that a watch reads 24-hour time, is accurate to within 30-seconds per week, and is reliable. Enter Timex Iron Man! One of the last firms to produce a watch that had any semblance to earlier railroad standard watches was Bulova with the 955Q railroader. It was dropped simply because time service rues now allow a $20.00 watch.

Likely the last company to supply American-made railroad standard pocket watches was Hamilton. Hamilton was a major supplier to the Ball Watch Co. When Hamilton folded the tent circa 1969, the Ball Watch Co. went to the Swiss Record Watch Co. who cobbled together the late lamentable (in my opinion) Ball 435B and 435C which Ball sold until the early 1960s. That was about the end of the road for the railroad grade and railroad approved pocket watch. GONE! Along with railroad watch inspectors. Although, a railroader who has a favourite 80-year-old Hamilton 992B that he refuses to let die, could likely still use it, IF he has connections with someone who can maintain it, and isn’t bothered by the expense of maintaining it.

This is among the last of a dying breed. The Bulova 955Q railroader. Discontinued about 15 years ago.

Zapatta · Jun 5, 2021

Someone shared this on Facebook. What a beauty 🥰

Zapatta · Jun 5, 2021

Also, what do you think about this one? Looks original to me, but I'm no expert whatsoever! Do you think around 100€ is fair price for this piece?

Canuck · Jun 5, 2021

Zapatta
Someone shared this on Facebook. What a beauty 🥰

Not often seen. Art Deco, vitreous enamel decoration on the bezel, pendant, and bow. Equally unusual, all the vitreous enamel appears to be intact! I expect the perimeter of the case back might be decorated the same way? Original blued steel hands in a style called “arrow” by Donald DeCarle in his book Watchmaker’s & Clockmaker’s Encylopaepdic Dictionary. An 18-karat gold case, dial decorated to match the bezel, is in outstanding condition! My reference dates this circa 1920 which is correct for the style of decoration. And to top it all off, the original fitted case, likely leather, velvet interior, gold-leafed with original seller’s identification. What an outstanding contribution to our pocket watch thread. Thank you!

TexOmega · Jun 5, 2021

Illinois made for H.M. Jacobson & Son a jeweler in Philadelphia (also famous for their Pennsylvania Special private label Illinois)
Two-tone(appears to be, anyway)18s 17j Model 6 Grade 64
RR grade circa 1901
Duebber Special gf case
One of the three Gothic designs on the double sunk porcelain dial.

Canuck · Jun 5, 2021

Meggers & Ehrhardt list this grade as being railroad standard if produced circa 1900, and marked “Adjusted”. The skinny on this sharp private label Illinois.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/1599320

Zapatta · Jun 5, 2021

Canuck
Not often seen. Art Deco, vitreous enamel decoration on the bezel, pendant, and bow. Equally unusual, all the vitreous enamel appears to be intact! I expect the perimeter of the case back might be decorated the same way? Original blued steel hands in a style called “arrow” by Donald DeCarle in his book Watchmaker’s & Clockmaker’s Encylopaepdic Dictionary. An 18-karat gold case, dial decorated to match the bezel, is in outstanding condition! My reference dates this circa 1920 which is correct for the style of decoration. And to top it all off, the original fitted case, likely leather, velvet interior, gold-leafed with original seller’s identification. What an outstanding contribution to our pocket watch thread. Thank you!

This isn't my territory at all, so I'm glad that contribution is made 😀

As I understood it was inherited piece from some distant relative.

Canuck · Jun 5, 2021

Zapatta
This isn't my territory at all, so I'm glad that contribution is made 😀

As I understood it was inherited piece from some distant relative.

As I have said before, and I’ll say again, pocket watches are a whole lot more interesting than some other kinds of watches (ahem)! Your friend is very fortunate. Maybe forward this information to them. An item can be said to have sentimental and intrinsic worth. Intrinsic worth happens whenever the owner learns about the item.

JimInOz · Jun 5, 2021

Zapatta
Someone shared this on Facebook. What a beauty 🥰

Just a tap on the shoulder for you @Syrte, just in case you missed it.

Early Art Deco showing influences from Art Nouveau?