Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

DaveK · Jan 14, 2022

I saw this on Etsy. I’m not interested at anywhere near that price, but thought it looked pretty cool 😎 Anyone here have one of these?

www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1078034934

Canuck · Jan 14, 2022

@DaveK ,

One of those I do not have. Certainly apropos for the pocket watch thread.

The picture I have uploaded is certainly relative to wrist watches. This one is not on Etsy, but on my kitchen counter.

Canuck · Jan 17, 2022

In a thread posted elsewhere on the message board (Creative Watch Photos), I posted this picture of my 1885 Stewart Dawson pocket watch with a picture of the store (Liverpool?) that may well have sold it.

View attachment 1353894

Alpha · Jan 18, 2022

WW2 in France, surprised the shopfront was intact.

Sorry about my watch blanking out some of the image

Canuck · Jan 19, 2022

This one came my way for an opinion, recently. Julien and Pierre LeRoy were important, innovative 18th century French horologists. The LeRoy name was still around, later in the 19th century, but it had nothing to do with the original LeRoy family. Latter day LeRoy watches were based on Swiss movements, and these watches don’t carry the cachet of watches of the original LeRoy family. This is a latter day LeRoy, but I find it quite interesting.

I was unable to locate any standard marks on the case that would identify the gold content. But the watch weighs 103 grams (with movement), so I would estimate the case weight to be about 60 grams. Since it was a presentation watch in Brazil in 1914, I think it is a safe assumption that the case is 18-karat gold. It was an award for a competition in Brazil in 1914. The case features what is known as a “Jurgensen lip” after the famous Danish watchmaker, Urban Jurgensen. This lip is a collar on the edge of the bezel and back, below the pendant. The case has a makers mark that appears to be LeRoy.

i don’t recognize the movement, so I have no idea who the maker might be. It appears to have 17-jewels, and is”pin set” (see the extra button on the case edge next to the crown). The movement is engraved L LeRoy et Cie., but since the company was importing Swiss movements, I think it is a safe assumption that it is Swiss.

The cuvette (inner case back) iso marked with information about the Jurgensen firm, and that they had been appointed as horologers to the French Navy.

ArmbandUhr69 · Jan 20, 2022

More as a result of the thread on using old pocket watch movements as new watch movements, I pulled out two of my fathers pocket watches. Both 100 years old I would guess and while one is reasonably easy to identify in part, the other has so far eluded my efforts. I have learnt one hell of a lot in the process though. So, any help or comments would be gratefully received with anything that may go to make the picture more complete.
Firstly the easy one, a Tempo, Rolled Gold case with a movement that has so far defied my efforts to identify.

Now, the puzzle. 9 ct gold case, Pin adjustment, Swiss Movement with HJC stamped and a rather unusual face. All my life it has always been stored in a leather case with a French Jewellers address in Paris.
I have absolutely nothing on the movement, case or face. I have drawn a very long bow on the HJC being HJ Cooper, who retailed watches in England but that is literally just a starting point to be proved incorrect. This watch does interest me a lot and this is the one I would like to get to know.

JimInOz · Jan 20, 2022

A ArmbandUhr69
.........................
Now, the puzzle. 9 ct gold case, Pin adjustment, Swiss Movement with HJC stamped and a rather unusual face. All my life it has always been stored in a leather case with a French Jewellers address in Paris.
I have absolutely nothing on the movement, case or face. I have drawn a very long bow on the HJC being HJ Cooper, who retailed watches in England but that is literally just a starting point to be proved incorrect. This watch does interest me a lot and this is the one I would like to get to know.

The marks in the caseback indicate that it was assayed in London as an imported gold item (the "U" looking stamp) and the sponsor (importer) was George Stockwell (the GS stamp).

(thanks to David Boettcher for the info)

I can't make out the other circular stamp, but it should be a date letter.

The other marks indicate 9 carat gold.

I haven't had the opportunity to research the movement yet.

Tony C. · Jan 20, 2022

Occasionally, I discover a pocket watch that creates in me something of a religious fervor... 😁

JimInOz · Jan 21, 2022

Tony C.
Occasionally, I discover a pocket watch that creates in me something of a religious fervor... 😁

JimInOz · Jan 21, 2022

and now we resume regular programming.

A ArmbandUhr69
'..........................
Now, the puzzle. 9 ct gold case, Pin adjustment, Swiss Movement with HJC stamped and a rather unusual face. All my life it has always been stored in a leather case with a French Jewellers address in Paris.
I have absolutely nothing on the movement, case or face. I have drawn a very long bow on the HJC being HJ Cooper, who retailed watches in England but that is literally just a starting point to be proved incorrect. This watch does interest me a lot and this is the one I would like to get to know.

At the moment, all I can offer is that the movement is a "Swiss Generic", similar to many thousands made in the 19th/early20th century.

Fritz · Jan 21, 2022

coin silver 1900 Waltham model 92 Vanguard... odd because its pendant set.

TexOmega · Jan 21, 2022

Doxa

Pre shock protection

Canuck · Jan 21, 2022

Fritz
coin silver 1900 Waltham model 92 Vanguard... odd because its pendant set.

The 24-hour dial might indicate a Canadian watch. I see the pendant set Vanguards (Canadian ones) from time to time. Particularly the 21-jewel models. I don’t recall ever having seen a 23-jewel Vanguard that was stem set. My favourite American 18-size movement grade.

Fritz · Jan 21, 2022

Canuck
The 24-hour dial might indicate a Canadian watch. I see the pendant set Vanguards (Canadian ones) from time to time. Particularly the 21-jewel models. I don’t recall ever having seen a 23-jewel Vanguard that was stem set. My favourite American 18-size movement grade.

My favorite movement as well.

I was at a watchmakers shop one day when he told me he had bought a shoe box of old watches from an old lady and asked if I'd like to look through them to see if there was anything I would like to buy.

The box contained about 30 watches, all top of the line 18s railway pieces. I picked the above Vanguard and agreed to a price that included a service. When we opened the watch is was full of Brasso, as were all of the other watches. Seemed the collector who had gathered them up just polished them and looked at them. Good thing he wasn't running them!

I'd like to have purchased the entire box as they were all beautiful examples of the best of American watchmaking, but times were tighter then so I just bought the one I liked the most. I still think I made the best choice!

do love those Waltham 92s!!!

Canuck · Jan 24, 2022

Here’s a cute one, from 1901. A 6-size Waltham in a 14-karat gold hunter case. It appears to have had little use. In fine condition in every respect. A pretty 15-jewel nickel movement, one of about 900,000 of this grade made, so while the watch isn’t rare, it is in rare condition. The front and rear covers are good examples of the hand-engravers art. This was considered a woman’s watch 120 years ago. It was likely carried on a very long chain, and hooked onto a chatelaine which was a brooch looking pin worn on a woman’s lapel.

Canuck · Jan 24, 2022

A friend and I pool our pocket watches (railroad standard and others), and exhibit them at a local event called Supertrain by the organizers. This event invites model railroad hobbyists, retailers that cater to the hobby, artists, museums, and associated groups like our small group of two. We also exhibit railroad standard clocks, and railroad standard wrist watches. This is a two-day show, and on a good week end, it will draw about 15,000 people. It is one of the largest shows of its kind in Canada. It draws hobbyists and others from the four western provinces. We typically exhibit about 100 watches at this show. Well, this is the third year it has been cancelled because of Covid, Delta, and Omicron (sp?). Needless to say we are again disappointed, but who hasn’t been likewise frustrated with this ongoing scourge. I have shown pictures of the 2019 show, the last one we did. I have to get it out of my system, somehow. Incidentally, everything is running and set to time in this exhibit. Except for the odd 100 year old watch that developed a problem.

DaveK · Jan 25, 2022

Sorry that he event has been cancelled again this year @Canuck 😬 You’re welcome to set up the display in my living room - no need to spend time counting them when you pack them up at the end of the exhibition 🙄

Canuck · Jan 25, 2022

DaveK
Sorry that he event has been cancelled again this year @Canuck 😬 You’re welcome to set up the display in my living room - no need to spend time counting them when you pack them up at the end of the exhibition 🙄

That certainly would solve a storage problem for me. Thanks for the offer, but I don’t see that happening. 😗

Fritz · Jan 25, 2022

Canuck
That certainly would solve a storage problem for me. Thanks for the offer, but I don’t see that happening. 😗

Gee, @Canuck makes you a swell offer like that and you turn him down!

some people just don’t know when fate smiles upon them!

Canuck · Jan 25, 2022

Fritz
Gee, @Canuck makes you a swell offer like that and you turn him down!

some people just don’t know when fate smiles upon them!

@Fritz ,

I didn’t offer @DaveK anything. He offered to store my watches, and it was ME who did the declining. Not him,