Pocket Watches

[Colonel26]

Steve, that’s a great watch! I have my paternal grandfather’s old open face Elgin that runs, but gets hung up some. I need to find an place and have it serviced and start packing it. That’s the only one I have, but I love old pocket watches!

[Steve Warden]

Steve, that’s a great watch! I have my paternal grandfather’s old open face Elgin that runs, but gets hung up some. I need to find an place and have it serviced and start packing it. That’s the only one I have, but I love old pocket watches!

Thanks Colonel.
As I said, I received it for Christmas.
Being a double hunter (both front and back covers open), it never occurred to me until today while watching a short video about pocket watches -- open both covers and it will stand on its own!! Now I have it sitting on my desk to see everyday, rather that sitting off to the side, waiting to be used on Sunday mornings.

[Railsplitter]

Thanks Colonel.
As I said, I received it for Christmas.
Being a double hunter (both front and back covers open), it never occurred to me until today while watching a short video about pocket watches -- open both covers and it will stand on its own!! Now I have it sitting on my desk to see everyday, rather that sitting off to the side, waiting to be used on Sunday mornings.
20210106_134044.jpg

That's awesome, Steve! That watch is really nice.

[orvet]

That's a beautiful watch Steve and great pictures also.

[stockman]

Two old pocket watches I have left. They are both in good running condition.

Harold

[Steve Warden]

That's a beautiful watch Steve and great pictures also.

Thank you, Dale.
I appreciate it.

[stockman]

Steve nice watches. Harold

[Steve Warden]

Steve nice watches. Harold

Thanks Harold.
You have a couple of sweet ones there, yourself.
How old are they?
How did you come by them?
Do you carry or display them?

[rea1eye]

Hi Steve, clockman here. I too have a small collection of antique pocket watches. I'm not much on pictures ( dissapointing I know) but I will tell you about the five or six i do have. I have 3 that are 21 jewel american made railroad grade. Back in the day, up until the 1940's, maybe later, the trains ran on mechanical time as far as the train engineers were concerned. Which meant the driver of the train carried a pocket watch that was capable of accuracy to within a second or two in a 24 hour period. Watches were required to be calibrated by a certified jeweler periodically to ensure accuracy. Trains ran on very strict schedules and watches needed to be extremely accurate to prevent head on collisions from two trains being on the same track.Only watches with 21 jewels or more were generally allowed to be used by the train engineers. The more jewels a watch had the more accurate the movement. My 3

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Interesting story. I knew train engineers wore pocket watches but did not know about the exact calibration and jewel requirements.

I do not have any pocket watches but have about 8 or 9 wrist watches. They all have some stories to tell.
It is interesting that so many of you are watch enthusiasts too. I guess that makes us an even more likable group.

Bob

[stockman]

Steve nice watches. Harold

Thanks Harold.
You have a couple of sweet ones there, yourself.
How old are they?
How did you come by them?
Do you carry or display them?

I have do carry them some. The gold. watch was given to me. The silver one I found in a antique store. I had 3 or 4 more that I’ve sold. They are fun. Harold

[Railsplitter]

I only have these two. I'm not carrying either one right now but I have in the past.

1923 Bunn Special and a later model Swiss Army watch. Probably made in the 1990's.

[Steve Warden]

Too cool, Rick!

[Unk]

Very nice watch, Steve

This first pic (Elgin) was my maternal grandfathers. The watch dates to 1917.

The Illinois (Silver) in the 3rd and 4th pic belonged to my wife's grandfather. It dates to 1907.

The engraved one is one he just purchased. Would be cool to find some some descendants of Edmond J. Keller. Evidently is was a Christmas gift in 1912.

The two watches in the second pic - a Ball and a Hamilton - are the only 21 jewel railroad grade watches in the bunch.

The rest were given to me by my father in law before he passed. They are ones he purchased over the years - no family heritage. They all run fine.

[Steve Warden]

Very nice watch, Steve

This first pic (Elgin) was my maternal grandfathers. The watch dates to 1917.

The Illinois (Silver) in the 3rd and 4th pic belonged to my wife's grandfather. It dates to 1907.

The engraved one is one he just purchased. Would be cool to find some some descendants of Edmond J. Keller. Evidently is was a Christmas gift in 1912.

The rest were given to me by my father in law before he passed. They are ones he purchased over the years - no family heritage. They all run fine.

Thanks Mike.
Sweet collection you have there.

hmmm... what to buy, what to buy?
knives?...watches?...knives?...watches?...knives?...guns?...
*sigh*

[WillyCamaro]

Man, this is such an awesome thread!
Beautiful watches all the way round gents.


I've been wanting for the longest time now, to get me some good ole pocket watch. Just keeps on getting push back onto the burner...

What's you fellers recommendations on a good quality, reasonably priced, watch?
Doesn't have to be brand new.

[Unk]

Interesting info on W.B. Ball:

http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/ball.html

You can also see the history of different watch companies by clicking on the left side. Also serial numbers of those companies, so you can determine the age of your watch.

[OLDE CUTLER]

This watch, chain, and arrowhead fob belonged to my grandpa Henry and is from around 1890. It is a Swiss made Longines (pronounced Lon-gene). Wish I had a knife that was from grandpa too, but I don't. Runs good if I remember to wind it.

[Steve Warden]

That arrowhead add an extra touch of cool!
Thanks for sharing that.

[OLDE CUTLER]

That arrowhead add an extra touch of cool!
Thanks for sharing that.

I am saying around 1890 since grandpa would have been in his early 20s and the first thing of value you bought when you had money in those days was a fine pocket watch. I mentioned that I do not have a knife from grandpa, but I do have his pocket pistol.

[Challenger007]

The pocket watch is an old-fashioned but very adorable habit. Although, recently things that were in trend 50-70 years ago have come into fashion.

[New_Windsor_NY]

A very recent acquisition.

[Railsplitter]

A very recent acquisition.

Wow! That is nice!

[New_Windsor_NY]

Wow.....

Thank you.

[WillyCamaro]

A very recent acquisition.

Man Skip, dat tis a good 'un!

[New_Windsor_NY]

Man.....

Thank you.