Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck · Jun 18, 2022

Jopi
Inherited this Omega. I try to learn more about it. I looked up the serial number but the lists I found varied somewhat in the date, but 1910-1914? Can that be correct? Also, can anyone tell me something abot the movement?

The movement looks like a 15-Jewel model 19L as seen in the Ranfft archive. Your idea of age appears to be very close.

The case is Swiss made. The stamp .935 refers to the fine silver content in the case alloy of 93.5 % pure. This grade of silver was compounded specifically for silver items exported to Great Britain (and possibly other locales.) You can read more the Swiss case marks here. Specifically, scroll down the the section devoted to .935 silver.

The disc converting the dial to 24-hours was an after market add on.

https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/swisshallmarks.php

DaveK · Jun 18, 2022

TexOmega
I posted a 1926 WG version last year. I would bet the case was made by Wadsworth, too.

These are fun little dress watches.

Yours' has quite an Art Deco dial, very nice.

24hrs before the auction some other folks also realized it was mis-identified as gold fill. It went for more than fun money, but less than silly. CDN $400ish I think.

TexOmega · Jun 18, 2022

Gold value plus $50-75 for movement is good rule of thumb. Esthetics pushed it up a bit more, it appears.

TexOmega · Jun 18, 2022

Hamilton 912
12s circa 1938 17j GF
Stiff Bow
Teardrop(non-round) glass crystal

In line for a 1st service while in my hands, so dial should POP a bit more with dirt removed.

sathomasga · Jun 18, 2022

It's with pleasure that I add my contribution to this post.

As noted in my intro post, I'm a diehard Apple Watch wearer, but finding and restoring my grandfather's Bulova pocket watch made me realize that there were other ways to enjoy the beauty of mechanical watches. This watch showed up in an auction, and I surprised myself by submitting the winning bid. The photograph doesn't really do it justice, as the watch is in very good condition. There are only a couple of hints of hairline scratches on the case back, a bit of a patina on the dial, and minor discoloration of the hands. It winds and runs flawlessly, keeping perfect time.

Looking inside, the movement serial number is 8342768, which I believe dates it to 1934. The case has the number 9197000 engraved on it. That seems like an awfully suspicious round number, but, if it is a serial number, suggests the case is from 1939. The movement is 38.5mm diameter, which I assume means that it's the venerable 38.5L T1.

As the service history is unknown, I considered having it cleaned, oiled, etc. A local watchmaker quoted $300 for that, which doesn't seem unreasonable. But it's also only slightly less than I paid for the watch. Maybe I'm rationalizing, but I think the marking on the inside of the case back indicates that the watch was serviced on 9 June 2020 (or perhaps 6 September 2020 for us Americans). At the moment I'm considering deferring the service for awhile, though I'm open to suggestions from more experienced folks.

For now I don't plan to start a significant collection, so I'll be content with the two pocket watches I own. But I'm definitely glad I went from one to two.

TexOmega · Jun 18, 2022

Service it if you plan on winding it.

Jopi · Jun 18, 2022

Canuck
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/swisshallmarks.php

Thank you for that raply and information, very appreciated!

Alpha · Jun 19, 2022

On my recent travels I picked up this non running Ingersoll Triumph for buttons, intended as a project which I am looking forward to 👍
Popped the back today and swimming in oil so let the adventure begin, images to follow.

Canuck · Jun 21, 2022

I lost track of my @DaveK mystery braid lanyard for several weeks. I found it on Monday. So this is the inaugural photo of my “foundling” Elgin pocket watch in this thread, shown with my @DaveK lanyard affixed to it. I’m out and about today, so I will wear the combination.

noelekal · Jun 21, 2022

Must be Elgin Tuesday.

I trotted out an some iteration of an Elgin Veritas I'd gotten last summer and wore it while mowing the yard. Should have photographed it on a wonderful DaveK braided lanyard which I put on it for yard work. Pretty handy to wear tucked into the watch pocket of a pair of cut off jeans. These photos were taken earlier. That movement is a lot more sparkling and glint-y than rendered here. I may have to have a do-over photography session. Like nickel plated handguns, pocket watch movements can be hard to photograph.

This one's suppose to be a 270 movement dating to 1906. There are different Elgin movements marked "Veritas" and I don't know how good this one is compared with the other movements also marked Veritas. It looks nice with a three fingered bridge, something I wasn't aware existed until it came in the mail.

I got the impression from some internet sources that Elgin was considered by many watchmakers to be a distinct step below the other three big boy watch manufacturers of the era. I don't know about any of that. The best of Elgin watches look quite nice to my unschooled eyes.

Canuck · Jun 21, 2022

noelekal
Must be Elgin Tuesday.

I trotted out an some iteration of an Elgin Veritas I'd gotten last summer and wore it while mowing the yard. Should have photographed it on a wonderful DaveK braided lanyard which I put on it for yard work. Pretty handy to wear tucked into the watch pocket of a pair of cut off jeans. These photos were taken earlier. That movement is a lot more sparkling and glint-y than rendered here. I may have to have a do-over photography session. Like nickel plated handguns, pocket watch movements can be hard to photograph.

This one's suppose to be a 270 movement dating to 1906. There are different Elgin movements marked "Veritas" and I don't know how good this one is compared with the other movements also marked Veritas. It looks nice with a three fingered bridge, something I wasn't aware existed until it came in the mail.

I got the impression from some internet sources that Elgin was considered by many watchmakers to be a distinct step below the other three big boy watch manufacturers of the era. I don't know about any of that. The best of Elgin watches look quite nice to my unschooled eyes.

Here is the listing for your Elgin on the pocketwatchdatabase site

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/12318641

You might learn more about your watch on Wayne Schlitz’s excellent website re: Elgin.

http://elginwatches.org/

Elgin was not the largest American manufacturer of watches, but they were the largest manufacturer of quality jewelled watches in the U S. Their top railroad standard grades were: B W Raymond, Veritas, and Father Time. Comparing apples to apples, I think Elgin stacked up well with all U S makers of watches. Your Veritas is stunning! But wearing it doing manual labor! Really?

Alpha · Jun 21, 2022

This Elgin is pretty much in regular service these days, as we all know they are all so tactile 😀

noelekal · Jun 21, 2022

Hey, it was early this morning, before a watch pocket could become sweaty. All I did was walk along behind the self-propelled mower.

It's too hot for this ol' tub o' lard to do manual labor outside this afternoon.
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=32.0071&lon=-97.1302#.YrIwRR1OnF2

Thanks for the views and links! You're always great here!

Canuck · Jun 21, 2022

Pocket watches take stresses quite differently than wrist watches. Some people think they gain toughness because they are large. Exactly the opposite is true. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

I am quite astonished at the “foundling” Elgin I posted, this morning. For an ordinary grade, non-railroad grade watch with 15-jewels, this watch keeps astonishingly precise time!

Canuck · Jun 21, 2022

Alpha
This Elgin is pretty much in regular service these days, as we all know they are all so tactile 😀

Other than the 24-hour dial on my Elgin, you could call mine a twin to yours.

DaveK · Jun 21, 2022

Happy Elgin Day everyone! Here’s my incoming Elgin Deluxe grade 542. Made in 1947 and gifted as a 25yr service award in 1949. Seller’s pics, more when it arrives. A pretty boring looking movement, but it has 17 jewels & 5 adjustments, so nothing to sneeze at.

Canuck · Jun 21, 2022

DaveK
Happy Elgin Day everyone! Here’s my incoming Elgin Deluxe grade 542. Made in 1947 and gifted as a 25yr service award in 1949. Seller’s pics, more when it arrives. A pretty boring looking movement, but it has 17 jewels & 5 adjustments, so nothing to sneeze at.

By the 1940s when the Elgin was made, this is generally what American-made watches looked like. In order to cut costs, the American makers adopted a lot of Swiss techniques in outfitting and finishing their movements. I just sold a Waltham Vanguard to a railroad hobbyist. It was produced a bit later than yours. It was probably a better timekeeper than the earlier, fancier models because of the modern alloys, and being immune to magnetism. But it was just as plain as yours. Likewise, the 16-size, Elgin grade 571 B W Raymond. It is just as plain as your 992B models.

Here’s what the pockwatchdatabase has to say about it.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/U772681

noelekal · Jun 21, 2022

I'd own that Elgin Dave. I'd wear it too.

OLSKER · Jun 22, 2022

What a great thread!

Canuck · Jun 22, 2022

Nobody asked about the dp symbol on @DaveK ’s Elgin pocket watch dial, but just in case someone wondered, it refers to the patented “Elgiloy” Dura-Power unbreakable mainspring used in Elgin watches of that era.

This link takes you to Wayne Schlitz’s Elgin site. It discusses the Elgin mainspring, but it is a wealth of information covering antique, and vintage watches, generally. FWIW

Edited to add!

http://elginwatches.org/help/what_is_a_watch.html