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Garrett N
·This watch is new to me. Is there any standardized markings on the inside of case backs?
Is there any way to know what was done?
Is there any way to know what was done?
Case back watchmaker markings
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Dan S
·No.
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hant26
·IMO they only need to mark the date of the last service but of course there is no standard so they can write whatever they like 😀
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DaveK
·My ‘44 Hamilton has a boatload of watchmakers marks on the caseback, many in the same hand, which makes sense since railroad worn watches required regular servicing.
I’m glad hat the watches aren’t getting scratched up like this anymore, but I do think it’d be interesting to do research using these service codes to match watches to the watchmaker (and the related histories behind the watchmaker, watch and owner/region), something AI could probably help with.
I’m glad hat the watches aren’t getting scratched up like this anymore, but I do think it’d be interesting to do research using these service codes to match watches to the watchmaker (and the related histories behind the watchmaker, watch and owner/region), something AI could probably help with.
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Canuck
·One of my favourite railroad standardpocket watches is a 16-size, 1908 model, 21-jewel Crescent Street Waltham that did service in the bib overalls of a CPR employee who wore this watch from 1917 until retirement in 1962. That s 45 years of service as his only watch. It was maintained by the same railroad watch inspector for about 40 of those years. When I acquired the watch, I noticed 32 repair numbers scribed inside the case back in tiny characters, all neatly in two rows. I was able to access this watch inspectors records to discover what had been done, and when. There is some value in watch repair marks permanently marked inside case backs. However, whatever floats your boat!
![Byers Waltham repairs[8703].webp](https://omegaforums.net/data/attachments/1856/1856294-caa308abbe75ec50596228995465e606.jpg?hash=YHARESb-Ts "Byers Waltham repairs[8703].webp")
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CalgaryJim
·One of my favourite railroad standardpocket watches is a 16-size, 1908 model, 21-jewel Crescent Street Waltham that did service in the bib overalls of a CPR employee who wore this watch from 1917 until retirement in 1962. That s 45 years of service as his only watch. It was maintained by the same railroad watch inspector for about 40 of those years. When I acquired the watch, I noticed 32 repair numbers scribed inside the case back in tiny characters, all neatly in two rows. I was able to access this watch inspectors records to discover what had been done, and when. There is some value in watch repair marks permanently marked inside case backs. However, whatever floats your boat!
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Canuck
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clockoclock
·I belong to those people who like to find old service markings inside the watches. They tell a story that would otherwise be untold. I have several watches with them.
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TreborJ
·I have a watch with very similar markings. I find it hard to believe this wasn't Omega or at minimum a large service center.
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clockoclock
·Now, someone may argue you don’t know that for sure. Well, you don’t know for sure a general service was performed even if you have a service report.
I know that unscrupulous sellers/dealers can write a date if the movement looks good to get the sales price they want.
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Lucky14
·I have a Hamilton 990 that has, at least, fourteen legible watchmakers marks in the caseback. I personally love seeing those. There’s a very good chance the case is original so those marks give a cryptic history of my watch. Since I can’t decipher them, I have no idea what they are telling me….but I like that they’re are there.
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Dan S
·
I once saw a watch posted online that had my local watchmaker's mark in it (he puts a distinctive form of his initials before a code). The watch was in Europe and I'm in the US.
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sheepdoll
·I guess someone could create an AI for watchmakers marks.
Most of them are probably a date code of some sort. The idea as I understand was to create a record of warranty.
In theory there should be paperwork, ledgers and receipt books which detail such things. Given the focus on the mechanical work, It could be that the watchmaker simply signed the watch rather than create a paper trail.
Pawn marks, though would tell how often the watch is borrowed against. This also would likely be some sort of date code.
The tricky thing would be how to capture a significant data set. The scrapes can be tricky to photograph. Compression obfuscating some of the detail.
Most of the ratwatch cases I have collected have marks in them. So there should be plenty of data one could collect.
Most of them are probably a date code of some sort. The idea as I understand was to create a record of warranty.
In theory there should be paperwork, ledgers and receipt books which detail such things. Given the focus on the mechanical work, It could be that the watchmaker simply signed the watch rather than create a paper trail.
Pawn marks, though would tell how often the watch is borrowed against. This also would likely be some sort of date code.
The tricky thing would be how to capture a significant data set. The scrapes can be tricky to photograph. Compression obfuscating some of the detail.
Most of the ratwatch cases I have collected have marks in them. So there should be plenty of data one could collect.
