Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Being such a nice guy, I’ll make my livingroom available to store anyones watches 👍

Last seen in February 2021 when it went to the spa 😲, I just picked this up from the watchmaker My new (to me) regular wearer, a Hamilton 992b railroader with a “Canadian” dial and model 11 case. Serial dates it to 1945. This watch was in regular use by an employee of the CNR (Canadian National Railway) who ran a route between Winnipeg and Ontario. I adore these model 11 cases for the “speeding train wheel” motif around the bezel and caseback.

The evening lighting is terrible, but photos are a must 👍

Here is a E.Howard series III key wind with Mershon patent. The E.Howard brand was the Rolex of their day.


Only one I have that was not recased as it has original holes for double keys one you wind it the other does the time from the back not the front as most key winds do.


Probably made around the time of the American civil war.

The pattern engraved on the bezel is an attractive addition. The case appears to be silver alloy (coin silver, or better). Howard movement sizes aren’t the same standard as other U S watchmakers. The model 3 in the Howard system is an “N” size which is larger than the standard 18-size. Indeed, many Howard movements have been re-cased. I have heard that hand style called “beetle and poker”. It is unusual to find a matching original pair. E Howard watches were individually hand finished by individual watchmakers. So interchangeability of parts was a problem back in the day. Most “N” size movements had the size letter engraved on them, but I don’t see the N marked on the subject watch.

Starting circa 1871, with the model 5, Howard added an engraved symbol on the movement signifying grade. The “dog” grade was unadjusted. The “horse” grade was adjusted to position. The “stag” grade was adjusted for temperature and position. I don’t think sizes smaller than N size were marked like the N size was.

Got this one from a big Howard collector at a NAWCC mart. He had a cool series II that had a gold case the case was a convertible that could be made into a hunter or open face a real cool watch and the only case I seen made that way. The pride of his collection. The hands on mine might be replacements think this style hands were use on later Howard watches. They are Howard hands.

I have a Howard series VII, , N-Size, Hunter, stem wind, lever set, 15-jewels, original gold filled H. Muhr case. Watch from circa 1884. Notice below the serial number, the image of a stag, indicating Howard’s highest grade. Also notice the bridge is marked N, signifying the size (18) of the movement. Once in a while we find a case with its original case paper such as the one shown.

It's a bit chilly today so I'm wearing a vest. I figured it was a good chance to wear my 992 and albert chain. Somehow my usual fob's ring has broken so I've reverted to the Elk's fob that was on the chain when I bought it back in the 90s. I tried to get both the watch and the chain in the photo but my phone kept changing focus between the watch and fob.

i don’t recall ever seeing a 992 in Hamilton model 2, bar over crown case. But apparently, that case was introduced circa 1926, so it is possible the movement is a 992. I usually see that case with a 992E or 992B in it. Is the subject watch actually a 992? I’d wear a vest today, as well, (but I no longer have one that fits)!

The Fenchurch name as related to watches, shows up all over the ‘net, with modern wrist watches. @Helvetia History , do you know anything more about the second one of your two Helvetias?

@Canuck yup, it's a 992. The serial number dates it to 1927 according to the Pocketwatch Database. https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/2440830

Were Hamiltons being factory cased at this point or still being cased by jewelers when sold?

They were factory cased. Yours is an early style # 2 case, it appears. But looks in nice shape.

To continue the trend, here is my 992E. In 1931, Hamilton modified the 992 by changing it to a friction balance staff, rather than riveted. They also fitted Elinvar hairsprings, to render the watch non-magnetic. Early movements had problems with the Elinvar hairsprings. The alloy was very soft, and tended to sag. Watchmakers hated these hairsprings because they were accustomed to blued steel hairsprings. So Hamilton dyed these early hairsprings blue. Many 992E movements had the hairsprings changed to Elinvar Extra, under warranty. Early electric trains came onto the scene (urban and inter-urban) circa 1898. By the mid 1920s, diesel-electric locomotives appeared, and by about 1930, they were in extensive use. Railroad standard watches were prone to being affected on these locomotives. Non-magnetic watches first appeared late in the 19th century. The Non-Magnetic watch company watches I have seen, were generally modified Illinois models. Waltham dabbled in non-magnetic models around this time as well. I have seen an 1892 model Waltham Vanguard with an non-ferrous hairspring.

If you look real close, you can see the alloy hairspring on my 992E (normally colourless), has been dyed blue! These movements are not marked 992E. They carry only the 992 grade number. But notice that the pallet cock is marked ELINVAR!

The 992, 992E, and 992B shared the number, but they were different models.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/any-hamilton-fans.73663/page-31#post-1929813 👍

My how time flies! Here you go then…