Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

DaveK · Oct 26, 2021

Fritz
WTF!

pardon my french but what a piece! it amazes me to no end that items like this can still turn up.

and in such beautiful condition as well.

without getting into really, really complicated watches it would be very hard to surpass that watch. Made when America was at its peak!

now... if only it was on an @DaveK magic lanyard...

The watch will need to be sent to me to ensure we get a proper fitting for the lanyard 🙄

vibe · Oct 26, 2021

Canuck
Were she your girl friend and not your wife, I would call the chain situation a “missappropriation” (mis-spelling intentional). But since she is your wife, we could call it a “mrsappropriation”. Or a “msappropriation”.

Haha!

Canuck · Oct 27, 2021

Canuck
Up for grabs. Free to whoever might want this orphan watch, and who will pay the postage in Canadian dollars. Background: This watch was given to a friend of a friend, and he gave it to me. I want to give it to somebody who might be interested in English watches (which I am not!)

Details- Dial marked Stewart Dawson, Liverpool. Case is hallmarked Birmingham (England), case makers trade mark S D & Co. (Stewart Dawson & Co.), date letter for 1885-86. Sterling silver. Case S# 124238. Single sunk vitreous enamel dial is dirty, but in excellent condition. Missing a glass, hour hand, and seconds hand. Movement marked Stewart Dawson, Liverpool, s#124238. Loomes lists Dawson in business in Liverpool, 1878-1888. Movement is a gilt 3/4 plate design, key wind, key set, English lever escapement, appears to have 15 ruby jewels. Balance staff is good, as is the steel hairspring. I haven’t tried winding it, so no report on the mainspring.

Anyone interested in this watch for the cost of the postage, PM me.

Bump, before I make it available on the main board.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 27, 2021

vibe
I reckon this one is pretty fancy, belong to my grandpappy. Green, rose, white, and yellow gold.

Just like everyone else I'm in awe of this watch, that case is truly a work of art. Congratulations on having such an amazing family piece.

noelekal · Oct 27, 2021

We just moved yesterday so everything's upside down here, but it's gratifying to take a break and look in here.

Vibe's Waltham is astounding! Thank's Vibe for posting the photos and family history.

Canuck · Oct 27, 2021

Indeed a star among stars, that one,

ding · Oct 27, 2021

My father had one, I think I'd probably own one soon.

UncleBuck · Oct 27, 2021

Canuck
Indeed a star among stars, that one,

As are you, Canuck!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread, don't know how I missed it.
Good example of the rock foundation of Omegaforums.

I only own a few pocket watches and only one that I will keep. Please don't get me started down a new avenue!
("If you see a fork in the road, take it". Yogi Berra, my father-in-laws neighbor and also my f-i-l's watch.)

I thought there were only 6 adjustment positions?

Canuck · Oct 27, 2021

UncleBuck
As are you, Canuck!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread, don't know how I missed it.
Good example of the rock foundation of Omegaforums.

I only own a few pocket watches and only one that I will keep. Please don't get me started down a new avenue!
("If you see a fork in the road, take it". Yogi Berra, my father-in-laws neighbor and also my f-i-l's watch.)

I thought there were only 6 adjustment positions?

Indeed, 6 position adjustments. But I suspect your Elgin 571 has only 5 position adjustments, plus heat, cold, isochronism, for a total of 8 adjustments. Your grade 571 has an alloy balance wheel, and an alloy hairspring (Elgin called the alloy “Elginium”, the equivalent of Hamilton’s “Elinvar Extra”, and the Waltham alloy “Conium”). So, eight adjustments, but also anti-magnetic, because of the non-ferrous alloy in the balance wheel and hairspring.

The skinny on your Elgin. The pocketwatchdatabase site says it was adjusted to 6 positions. Could be! Perhaps isochronism was taken for granted.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/V532249

I have an Elgin 571 as well. Mine developed a problem shortly after I bought it. A component in the lever set mechanism failed. This model was famous for this part failing. At the time, S Larose (now out of business) had a kit comprising the parts from an equivalent stem setting movement which enabled me to convert mine to stem setting.

Waltesefalcon · Oct 27, 2021

UncleBuck
As are you, Canuck!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread, don't know how I missed it.
Good example of the rock foundation of Omegaforums.

I only own a few pocket watches and only one that I will keep. Please don't get me started down a new avenue!
("If you see a fork in the road, take it". Yogi Berra, my father-in-laws neighbor and also my f-i-l's watch.)

I thought there were only 6 adjustment positions?

Mine says hello.

Canuck · Oct 27, 2021

Salutations from my grade 571, as well. Over 30 years ago, a woman I knew told me her truck driver husband liked pocket watches, and asked if I had one I’d sell. I sold her about the nicest Elgin B W Raymond I had ever seen. Shouldn’t aughtta have done that! I regret it to this day. The one I have uploaded isn’t nearly as nice. This is the one I mentioned earlier…..converted to stem set.

Jopi · Nov 3, 2021

A Tissot chronograph pocket watch. Well it is not American and I don´t know if you are into European watches. But I share it anyway as I like it myself.

Canuck · Nov 3, 2021

This forum is for pocket watches……all makes, and from any country of offering. Your Tissot is very welcome! Chronographs are one field of horology where the Swiss excelled. And also ultra complicated watches. Just not a lot of activity from the U S makers. Other than possibly Hamilton in the specialty watches for the military. Military watches are a topic of which I am almost totally ignorant. Who else among the U S makers did much in specialty timers and chronographs? Waltham dabbled in them, but chronographs were not a big item with them. Anyone looking for a spectacular U S version of the subject watch is likely to look for a while. The Tissot is a spectacular chronograph in anybody’s book, I’d say. Thanks for posting it.

noelekal · Nov 3, 2021

I agree with Canuck and am enthused to see your watch Jopi.

MarktheTime · Nov 5, 2021

Picked up another nice vintage Movado pocket watch, this one in steel (last one was 14k YG) with Art Deco numerals on a two-tone silvered dial. Engine is Caliber 800M, and about 47mm. Inside caseback notes reference as 15515, and serial that begins with 8857xx, but don't know much else about it. Would love any additional information anyone might be able to shed on it, or any old catalog/advertisement pictures. Thanks in advance!

Canuck · Nov 5, 2021

Clean. Neat. Top condition. Looks like Movado calibre 800. Thanks for showing it.

MarktheTime · Nov 5, 2021

Canuck
Clean. Neat. Top condition. Looks like Movado calibre 800. Thanks for showing it.

yes, I can confirm 800m. But it’s amazing how little information is out there about these beauties…at least that I can find!
😕

Jopi · Nov 8, 2021

Longines pocket watch.

Waltesefalcon · Nov 8, 2021

A new arrival here. A 1923 Hamilton 920, 23 jewels, sapphire pallet jewels, ruby pivot jewels, gold train and center wheel, adjusted to five positions, in a 12s 25 year warranted case. All in all, one fine timepiece. The dial is slightly damaged but it really doesn't present badly in person.

Canuck · Nov 8, 2021

Jopi
Longines pocket watch.

It is unusual to find a case that has niello in such deeply sculptured carving on the case back. I’ve never seen a niello case as nice as that. The French engraving on the balance cock is a bit unusual. I don’t see a serial number on the movement, but the fact that it is pin-set might indicate very early 20th century? What does the engraving inside the case back say about the case material?