I'll take these in reverse order.

First, this All Guard arrived at the end of this week:







This was one where the "Price is Right". A well used, but well loved watch. Looks like everything is original, including the grey gasket, which is not necessarily a good thing. There is evidence of moisture instrusion at one time, but the movement was not affected. I'm in the process of adjusting it now. I should be able to get it close to the old chronometer specs at +6 to -4.

This one came in a couple of weeks ago:



Yes, I know there is no name on the dial. But there is one on the movement:



An interesting feature of this watch is that it is pin set. That is, to set the hands you have to push in the pin at 4. I wrote away to Longines, and they have dated this cal. 13.56F movement's delivery date to 1904. The odd thing is that Longines records show the watch being delivered to Switzerland already cased as a pocketwatch. The case is an American made case made by the Crescent Watch Case Co. of Newark, NJ.



This company was acquired by the Keystone Watch Case Co. of Philadelphia, also in 1904. Research shows that Keystone continued to use the Crescent brand for some time after that year, but I can't find any evidence of silver cases made by Cresent made after 1904. My guess is that the lugs are a later addition, probably done sometime between the end of WWI and the 1920's. The lug rings are likely replacements as they look to be steel or chrome plate.

I wasn't sure if the dial was a Longines made dial or a generic enamel replacement. Finding this example on the NAWCC forum convinced me that this dial is original to the watch and of the correct time period. It also has a Crescent brand watch case.

http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?110044-Inherited-my-first-pocket-watch-Identification-help

The mystery with my example is why is the dial blank and the Longines name used on the movement? Prior to the 1930's Longines imported a lot of private label watches to the US and Canada. Longines made the movements to the specifications of the particular jeweler, then engraved the name on both the movement and dial.

As always, the help of Dennis, Bill Sohne and Adam Harris were essential in making these purchases.

Thanks again,
gatorcpa

 

So let it be written...so let it be done.
gatorcpa

 

I kinda lucked into this one. The old adage about black dials being difficult to photograph well was in full force here. Bill thought the hands were rusted, they aren't. I thought there was a chance that the seconds hand wasn't correct, it is.

Seller's photo:

I simply put in a "not gonna let anyone steal it, let's keep 'em honest" snipe, and surprisingly it won.

Thanks for the compliment. From you, it is high prase!
gatorcpa

 

That is the highest compliment that can be paid to our forum. It's what we strive for.

Thanks,
gatorcpa