Cool story. What’s the case material? I like it

 

Gun metal?

 

28 Illinois Bunn Special

 

Crisp!

 

Ahem! Bunn Special SIXTY-HOUR, no less!

 

This South Bend has been in rotation for many years. Wore it last week.

Nicely understated, elegant RR dial, but a wildchild inside.

Grade 229 The Studebaker circa 1912.

 

many on this forum don’t realize what a powerhouse the American watch industry once was.

in their time they were the best, one only has to research the turn of the century American railroad watch to see it

 

Does this count since it was once a pocket watch converted to a wrist watch?

 

rules be damned!

Allowances must be made for piece so nice!

 

Excelled at assembly-line, high production, high quality, easily serviced, lower cost movements. Egalitarian but that was the market, win-win.

 

I was driving along this morning and noticed a ticking noise which wasn’t a normal part of my little Ford’s normal rattlings. It took me a moment to realize it was the 992 Hamilton in my pocket, not the first time I’ve caught out by the racket those big balances can generate.

ya gotta laugh at that point.

 

I was going through my pocket watch collection not long ago, wound all of them up to check the timing (about 20+), knowing some needed to go for service as it had been a while. I had them in the box on the dresser and about 3 minute after turning out the lights- I hear from the other side of the bed -“for the love of god shut those things up!”.
The watches went into the office.

 

I have a pre 1910 Ingersoll Yankee (dollar) watch made by the Waterbury Clock Co. You don't know noisy pocket watches until you’ve heard that one.

 

Yeah... I've got a Wesclox Dax, another "dollar" watch... stupid thing sounds like an idling diesel.

occasionally I leave one of my older 18s monsters on my dresser with the front doors open so it can act as a sound box. If you make sure the watch is right on the wood of the top it fills the whole room with noise.... pretty much guarantees a slap in the head from the loved one. I find the older slow train Illinois best for this stunt!

I have a display case in the living room with 15 railroad pieces hanging in it. (A custom made gift from said loved one, she is soooo tolerant!)
Its fun to wind them all and watch them swing from their hooks as they run. Sounds like a big box of crickets!

 

oops... changed watches... 08 992 Hamilton

 

I had the same issue with an Accutron Hummer- if I layed it flat on the mahogany dresser- the whole room filled with this annoying humming (like a resonating chamber). I had to keep it on a pillow in the watch box to keep it from droning away in the bedroom.

 

Only one left and in top pocket all day

 

Omega ML 1140 ca 1944

 

This is one I don’t wear often. It is a 12-size Waltham, and I prefer larger pocket watches. So why do I have this one? It came up at auction locally. It came just as you see it. Cardboard outer box, display box, linen sachet with the case maker’s label on it......Keystone. The case is 14-karat gold, the movement a 17-jewel grade. The cuvette (inner case back) is engraved as a presentation by the Winnipeg Paint & Wallpaper Company to an employee who was celebrating his 25th year with the company.......in 1937. The watch has hardly ever (never?) been used! The outer case back is engraved with the recipient’s initials. I can visualize it now. The presentation banquet the president shaking hands with the celebrant, him accepting the watch, and thinking to himself, “nice, but what am I gonna do with it?” He started with the company in 1912, and either had a favourite pocket watch, a wrist watch, or didn’t wear watches.