BS: Old Pocket Watches

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 01:56 PM

Kendall - next time Jacqui comes to England, send no 12 with her....

Kitty
xx

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 08:04 AM

So, it looks like just you and me, kid.
Number 16 is right on the money. Somehow it gained those 5 seconds

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:44 PM

Well if I count my 992B's that I did not enter, one is off by about 20 secs the other it is too hard to judge, maybe just a couple secs hard to tell it is so darn accurate. I rewound the size 12 Illinois and started again just for fun ... dead nuts on after a week of solid running but it is technically out.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 07:17 PM

How many of us are still in the game?

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 05:41 PM

Well, I am learning which of these watches need service and/or adjustment.
The Crescent Street which I entered has dropped out of the running; 6 min slow after 3 weeks. Probably needs service. Dunno when it was last cleaned.

The Waltham 15j model 1879 is something like 15 sec fast. Made in 1900. It was last serviced in 1988. Looks like this is my best timekeeper among the pocket watches I have.

The Bunn Special 60 hr 21j which I got cheaply a month ago is 6 min slow, but the seller had no idea when it was serviced, it had been in a drawer as long as he could remember. Looks like a nice clean movement, however. It has a plastic crystal which is slightly discolored; it should get a new glass.

By my computer is a Bulova railroad approved wristwatch, bought about 1960, the battery replaced about 8 months ago, and within 15 seconds (Approximate only; I am reading time on my computer, I haven't used the time signal).

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 03:52 PM

When I recover from buying a new furnace, property taxes and a new radiator for the 1937 Packard I'll send number 18 to you.
Number 12 was doing great until I forgot to wind it. That's the one our friend in England worked on.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 12:11 PM

By the way Malon said "Dan what did you do" I am getting your friends watches, and I thank you ... ahh I am swamped but I will get them done for sure ... ahhh thanks I think ... LOL

On a high end 1857 key wind, full service charged me 45 bucks. Key wind service is obscene expensive else where. Takes a hell of a lot more to service one let alone by a master watchmaker

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 12:07 PM

Ya gotta figure, If I carried it for my daily time it will be dead nuts accurate. Right now I am carrying my 992B early 40's. I do shutter as if I break it ... oh boy .. but I never seen anything like it time wise. My uncle was a fighter pilot in WWII. He said even though they had top notch wrist watches that they were given, the pilots would only bet their life on the 992B. Good enough for them, good enough for me

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 11:38 AM

Holy crap, that is amazing ... amazing Kendall ...

By the way here is a great story. I took the lastest find to Malohn to get the stem reset, he did it right there fix it. He said hey dan you realize this is not 17 Jeweled but 7 Jeweled. It was not a common practice, but some Jewelers would alter the 7 to 17 back in the day to charge more money - fraud. Malohn said in 40 years this is the fifth one he saw. I will keep it forever as it is part of watch history. Kent on the watch site sent me an article from 1890 where the Jeweler was arrested for doing that ... really cool find as it was altered at the time the watch was sold by the criminal Jeweler

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 09:13 AM

Three weeks today and old number 16 has lost 5 seconds!

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 01:01 PM

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases, it will never pass into nothingness. (Keats)

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 12:29 PM

A lady just sold me this size 12 17 Jeweled Elgin for 20 bucks in a yard sale. It is in a silveroid case. It runs but the stem needs reset .. I will have the amish guy fix it up .. should be an easy repair. The watch is 1931. I will probably have 80 bucks total in it. But it will be a first class carry watch as the dial is so clean. Notice the RR spade hands .. nice touch


Elgin

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 09:43 AM

I bet it is a Ulysse Nardin then Kendall, great watch holy cow

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 08:16 AM

The Ulysse belongs to my friend, in his 70s. It was inherited from his grand dad so it it very old.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 10:00 PM

Bulls eye dollar watch is wonderful, yea it was a kids watch but it is part of watch history and I enjoy them as much as any hamilton .. neither of those watches is in the Class of the Elgin I gave you but they are fun and all part of history ... you bet .. take them and have fun with them. I love my bulls eye as I had one as a kid for my birthday. One of my favorites I love them even if they are not expensive. They did keep great time

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 06:58 PM

Warning
Ulysse Nardin was bought out in the 1980s and the watches made since that time are much cheaper "replicas". No longer a great watch.
Still no luck on "Ulysse Geneve."

The new company makes Rolex and Patek Phillipe replicas, etc.

See Genevereplicawatches.com

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 06:42 PM

I know Ulysse Nardin (of Geneva), an excellent watch company, but not "Ulysse Geneve."
Any other markings? Have you opened it?

Could be a cheap piggyback.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 05:17 PM

A friend of mine wants to give me a Westclox Bulls Eye
Did you ever hear of a Ulysse Geneva? The back is embossed with G66.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 03:14 PM

Q
please make sure there is some oil in them, you don't want to wear the bearings. Even a watch that keeps time if the oil is dry or sticky it will wear and cause bad damage my friend. You have some terrific watches in your collection

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 03:11 PM

Some good pocket watches on auction here:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/26429/page2

Not exceptional, but nice. A South Bend 227 model size 16, 21j, etc.
A 992 on the preceding page.

I will keep track for the month on the watches I posted yesterday. None has been cleaned or adjusted in the past 20 years or more. I will keep the notes with the watch. My Crescent Street is doing well, but I don't expect it to top out.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 12:29 PM

How many are still in the running? People, I mean.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 09:28 PM

The two 992B's are deadly accurate .. no more that +7-10 secs on either. Man they sure made those watches. My doc buddie said his high end Rolex loses about +5-8 sec a day ... My 992B's don't lose that in a week

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 09:08 PM

The Crescent Street is -2 min.
Among the unentered-
Model 1879 Waltham about +15 seconds
Model 1875 Elgin G.M. Wheeler about +4 min.
Bunn Special -4 min. I want to get this one cleaned and adjusted.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 08:07 PM

Good old number 16 is right on the money again.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 03:24 PM

Well I am out, I let it wind down last night. I thought I wound it yesteday but alas I did not ... Illinois is out of the competetion

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 11:11 AM

BW ... no go ... oh well such is life

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 11:29 PM

Looking at a size 16 from the 40's 21 Jeweled. I think I can get it for 100 it is in beautiful condition ... I hope I can anyway but I suspect not.

how is your time going. My illinois is finally starting to show its age. Great runner but not a 992b for sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 10:29 PM

Lots of Raymonds-16-18 size, 15-23j. Some are reasonable, some costly. Collectors like those with the wind indicator and those are the savings busters.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 10:25 PM

wish I had your crescent Q. That is a superb watch

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 10:23 PM

those 992b's from WWII are pricey for sure. They go for big bucks. my early 992b from 41 is civilian issue. It must have been made right before the war started ... incredibly accurate. I got it for 200 and boy did I make a deal ... but the military ones with the gov stamps I have seen 700 or so

ouch

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 09:58 PM

Q

yup I know the one. I saw one of them listed as ordinance something or other ... really cool but I know no one that owns one. Got my eye on a BW raymond. If I can get it at the right price ...

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 09:35 PM

The 9 page parts list for that watch may interest you.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 09:31 PM

No, this 17j is the WW2 U.S. government approved. I have one marked U.S. Navy, U. S. Bureau of Ships, with the date 1943. Model 2974B.
Good illustrations at the militarywatchmuseum website.

2974B

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 08:27 PM

Q
the one you were thinking about is the 17 Jeweled traffic special made by Hamilton ... I guess that one was for street cars and such or so the story goes. I saw one on ebay tonight at 70 bucks ...

Oh I wish I was rich

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 07:13 PM

Hi Kitty, it was keeping good time until it stopped one night. I guess I didn't wind it tight enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Mysha
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 06:42 PM

Hi Kendall,

Sure you're right about sun dials keeping better time. But then, I find my pocket watch can be set to Daylight Saving Time more easily.

Bye,
                                                                  Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 02:27 PM

The 992B Military had U.S.Govt. additionally on the movement- perhaps not all. They had a silver case, usu. with an ordinance number on the back.
There also was a Hamilton 17j watch used in the military (forget the model number).

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 02:25 PM

Kendall - I hope the Elgin that was returned to you on 9 May is keeping good time!

Kitty
xx

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 02:18 PM

992B for Canadian RR had a 24hr dial, only said Hamilton on the face.
There were 3 common face dials: Hamilton, Hamilton Special RR, and the Military model which usually had a 24hr dial- the small second-hand dial had a small 6 and 18 (top and bottom positions).

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 01:22 PM

Ususally says "railway special on the dial" but you still have to unscrew the case and see the 992B 21 Jewel, adjusted 6 pos. It is a size 16

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 12:53 PM

People with old pocket watches that are not really into the hobby should not expect the times that I get or Q or kendall or the watch forum. It takes a lot to make a 100 year old watch run like it did from the factory. Ain't cheap. A typical mechanical watch will lose over a min a day unless highly serviced.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 12:40 PM

If I see one how will I know it's a 992b?

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 11:45 AM

I have never been much of a fan of size 12 watches. But this Illinois is pretty darn good for its age. The 992B's are so accurate it is hard to measure. Far better then RR time and far better than any Rolex. Captain save your money and get a 992B but before you buy talk to me or Q (Q knows a hell of a lot more than me). I think the 992B was the best watch ever made myself. I carry mine daily now.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 10:18 AM

Impressive for sure Kendall. That 16 was my carry watch and it always keeps far better than RR time ... Very highly tuned including the regulator. It will keep doing that for years before needing a tune up

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: kendall
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:42 PM

A week and a day and number 16 is right on the money, to the second. How can anything not be called perfect?
By the way, I always use a chain.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:34 PM

That roller jewel the old Elgin G.M. Wheeler needed cost $75. It took the watchmaker 10 months to find it. Clean, oil and adjust ? Like that yacht in the marina, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:01 PM

Hey Q
did you see the watches on the watch site that the guys grandpa left him. He wanted to know what to sell them for. I could cry .. They are all solid gold, Top shelf RR .. E. Howard solid gold ... museum collection for sure.

my God what a collection .. His grand dad probably spent his life acquiring them now he wants to sell them ... how awful

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 03:38 PM

By the way, lesson learn. Use a CHAIN .. if you drop it ... normally big bucks to fix .. they are precision machines

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: olddude
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 03:37 PM

Two years ago I dropped one of mine, broke a Jewel .. 100 bucks to repair. The old saying they don't make them like that anymore .. so true with many of the watch parts. A master watchmaker today can make outstanding parts, but the time and skill needed ain't cheap for sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Old Pocket Watches
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 03:22 PM

The supply of "new old stock" is running out. There are not too many technician watchmakers who can use a watchmaker's lathe today.

Like parts for old Model Ts' to Porsches, some are being turned out in China, Japan and other countries. I heard someone in India is producing ruby jewels for old watches. Generally, these after-market reproduction parts are of poorer quality, according to collectors.