"Pocket watches"... out with 'em! Come on, lets see them!

WhereMadnessLies · Nov 24, 2018

Canuck
I’ll go'out on a limb, and call it English. Possibly an English lever, with fusee. As with many of these we see, the movement is not marked with a name. If it actually had a name on it, i’m 99 44/100 % certain it would be a retailer’s name. Not a maker. Lancashire was the source for many English watch movements of this type. The case appears to have been hallmarked in Birmingham (see the anchor) inside the case back. I think I can see a date letter but can’t make it out. If there is a trademark inside the case back, please show us. I have reference material that might give info on the case maker. Also, please give us a good, clear picture of all the stampings inside the case back

@Canuck Here are some clearer photos of the case backs. Both of them have the inscription "W.E" in them, does this mean anything to you?

Canuck · Nov 24, 2018

The hallmark (anchor) is Birmingham, and the date letter (lower case Old English G) appears to be 1881-82. According to Phillip Priestley in his book on English watch case maker trade marks, the W.E. trade mark appears to be for William Ehrhardt, Watch and case maker, 72 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham. (Birmingham Time Worksj. This listing is from November 1867. The movement has all the earmarks of a typical English watch from the period. Watches were assembled from parts from specialty parts manufacturers (wheels, pinions, escapements, springs, screws, plates, dials, cases, hands, etc.), then assembled by “finishers” who assembled these parts into a running watch. I am not aware of any actual watch movement factories in that era where raw stock came in one door, all processes taking place within the factory walls, and finished watches coming out of another door. Could be that Ehrhardt was the one who bought the running movement, and cased it into a case from his own factory. Without a maker attribution on the movement, that is a guess.

WhereMadnessLies · Nov 24, 2018

Canuck
The hallmark (anchor) is Birmingham, and the date letter (lower case Old English G) appears to be 1881-82. According to Phillip Priestley in his book on English watch case maker trade marks, the W.E. trade mark appears to be for William Ehrhardt, Watch and case maker, 72 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham. (Birmingham Time Worksj. This listing is from November 1867. The movement has all the earmarks of a typical English watch from the period. Watches were assembled from parts from specialty parts manufacturers (wheels, pinions, escapements, springs, screws, plates, dials, cases, hands, etc.), then assembled by “finishers” who assembled these parts into a running watch. I am not aware of any actual watch movement factories in that era where raw stock came in one door, all processes taking place within the factory walls, and finished watches coming out of another door. Could be that Ehrhardt was the one who bought the running movement, and cased it into a case from his own factory. Without a maker attribution on the movement, that is a guess.

Many thanks for information @Canuck. I suspect my great uncle would have purchased the watch in Luton so how it got to there from Birmingham will be my next avenue of research.

I'm glad to hear that everything appears to be period correct on the watch. Does anyone have any idea of its value as I want to make sure it is insured correctly.

jimmyd13 · Nov 24, 2018

WhereMadnessLies
Does anyone have any idea of its value as I want to make sure it is insured correctly.

Full replacement value, £1200. Current market value, probably half that. Most of the value of this watch is in its gold content and the sad fact is that they still often sell at or below their scrap value.

DaveK · Feb 13, 2021

Time to welcome this thread back from its slumber 😀

So, what happens when you are searching for a really nice Hamilton 992b (with either a Montgomery or CDN dial), and you find a Montgomery-dialled beauty that seems so nice that you don't want to get any wear on it? Well, one option is to pick up one that has years and years of honest wear already on it. Note to self, the shopping spree is over 😒

Here’s my (other) new 992b railroader from 1945. Enamel Canadian dial, #11 case with some nice honest wear but no dents dings or abuse - this is my favourite Hamilton case because of the speeding train wheel motif around the bezel and caseback. The caseback reads like a novel with its rich history of service marks. This is perfect for enjoying without a care in the world. The watch came to me from Manitoba, and was owned by a gentleman who worked the CNR (Canadian National Railway) between Winnipeg and Ontario. Unfortunately, that is all the history I know on him.

An interesting story came out today about the history of black porters on the Canadian railways: https://www.cbc.ca/1.5911448. 📖

Canuck · Feb 13, 2021

I posted this elsewhere earlier today, but here it is again. E Howard, “N” size (bigger than 18-size), series VII from 1884. Original H Muhr & Son gold filled hunter case with original case paper. Vitreous enamel single sunk vitreous enamel dial, original blued steel “beetle & poker” hands. Howard and Aaron Dennison founded the company that became Waltham. The arrow points at the hand engraved image of a “stag”, Howard’s best.

Edited to add pictures of the rest of the watch. It

Tako Yaki · Feb 13, 2021

Omega and Kienzle antimagnetic.
The Kienzle I have for about 30 something yrs, I got it NOS.
The Omega around 20yrs ago, was the opposite, a wreck when I got it! Restored with the help of my watchmaker friend, think it looks quite nice. The face is the original one, it stays, to remember it was „resurrected from the ashes“!

jimmyd13 · Feb 14, 2021

Someone resurrected thia from the depths and it popped up in my email... I just happened to have a couple next to me as I read:

I think I've posted this late 19th century quarter repeater before:

I know you've seen the next before, but I was begging for an introduction to a watch maker specialising in earlier timepieces and she didn't run then. Dating to around 1760, this pair case is all original except for the Tompion plate

Next is still a work in progress. I got in to a bidding war over this one which was in pieces in a box. I Darenth say what I paid for it, particularly as I later realised it was missing its bezel. So now I'm waiting to find a bezel of the right size so I can fit a glass. Other than that, she's running fine and an 1883 English made chronograph:

And, finally, a real favourite of mine. This is a Longines 18.89M for Mappin and Webb, dating to 1924/5 in absolutely stunning condition, decorated to the N th degree with a Swan neck regulator and in its original gift box/stand:

agee · Feb 14, 2021

Here are some of my pocket watches
Illinois 60 Hour Bunn Special RR
Elgin BW Raymond RR
Both just serviced
14k Gold Waltham + 14k Gold Chain

DaveK · Feb 14, 2021

jimmyd13
...
I know you've seen the next before, but I was begging for an introduction to a watch maker specialising in earlier timepieces and she didn't run then. Dating to around 1760, this pair case is all original except for the Tompion plate

The latest Time 4 a Pint features a watch from about that era. https://www.time4apint.com/virtual-events/time-4a-pint-virtual-gtg-16 Thanks to @tyrantlizardrex for producing these 👍

And that Longines box is amazing 😎

TexOmega · Feb 14, 2021

Hamilton 4992B Keystone Base Metal case
Circa 1942
civilian conversion 12hr dial.
Hack

Fritz · Feb 14, 2021

DaveK
Time to welcome this thread back from its slumber 😀

So, what happens when you are searching for a really nice Hamilton 992b (with either a Montgomery or CDN dial), and you find a Montgomery-dialled beauty that seems so nice that you don't want to get any wear on it? Well, one option is to pick up one that has years and years of honest wear already on it. Note to self, the shopping spree is over 😒

Here’s my (other) new 992b railroader from 1945. Enamel Canadian dial, #11 case with some nice honest wear but no dents dings or abuse - this is my favourite Hamilton case because of the speeding train wheel motif around the bezel and caseback. The caseback reads like a novel with its rich history of service marks. This is perfect for enjoying without a care in the world. The watch came to me from Manitoba, and was owned by a gentleman who worked the CNR (Canadian National Railway) between Winnipeg and Ontario. Unfortunately, that is all the history I know on him.

An interesting story came out today about the history of black porters on the Canadian railways: https://www.cbc.ca/1.5911448. 📖

given the age of that watch and the area it saw service in I’d bet that the owner of that watch new my Dad and very possibly worked with him. He worked on the engines for the CNR between Port Arther (now Thunder Bay) and Winnipeg from 1948 until 1964 when he was moved into management, and its a small world up there.

DaveK · Feb 14, 2021

Fritz
given the age of that watch and the area it saw service in I’d bet that the owner of that watch new my Dad and very possibly worked with him. He worked on the engines for the CNR between Port Arther (now Thunder Bay) and Winnipeg from 1948 until 1964 when he was moved into management, and its a small world up there.

If you can get a pic of it from your family, we can compare service marks and look for matches in the writing 🍿 If it would be a meaningful touchstone to your dad, you’d be welcome to have this one

DaveK · Feb 14, 2021

Archer
At one time the Swiss made fakes of the US pocket watches. Some pocket watch collectors do collect these as a matter of "completeness" to their collections. Back then "Swiss fake" meant a fake produced by the Swiss. I always think of that when I see the Swiss advertise their "fake watches are for fake people" campaign...somewhat ironic.

Cheers, Al

Here’s an “okay” video about these fake pocket watches

Alpha · Feb 14, 2021

I don't think he is a collector 🤔

ahsposo · Feb 14, 2021

Better late than never I guess...

This is my prize heirloom, this is my grandfather's Masonic watch presented to him after his stint as the Grand Poobah of the Lodge back in the 1920s. He passed it on to my father and I will pass it on to my son. Our name is on the dial, I understand that is called a runic dial.

TexOmega · Feb 14, 2021

ahsposo
Better late than never I guess...

This is my prize heirloom, this is my grandfather's Masonic watch presented to him after his stint as the Grand Poobah of the Lodge back in the 1920s. He passed it on to my father and I will pass it on to my son. Our name is on the dial, I understand that is called a runic dial.

so, your name is Howard?

::rimshot::

ahsposo · Feb 14, 2021

TexOmega
so, your name is Howard?

Yeah, the Duck.

timjohn · Feb 15, 2021

Jules Jurgensen quarter repeater c1850. Needs a service and some work on the case opening mechanism, but hard to find a watchmaker who will accept them....

peterkirk01 · Feb 16, 2021

Here is the Zenith Ladies 18k gold I bought my wife many years ago in its original box. She wears it as a necklace and gets lots of comments.

"Pocket watches"... out with 'em! Come on, lets see them!

WhereMadnessLies

Canuck

WhereMadnessLies

jimmyd13

DaveK

Canuck

Tako Yaki

jimmyd13

agee

DaveK

TexOmega

Fritz

DaveK

DaveK

Alpha

ahsposo

TexOmega

ahsposo

timjohn

peterkirk01

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