Daily carry watch

[awalker1829]

Here’s a photo of my watch today:



It’s a 16 size 23 jewel Waltham Model 1908 Vanguard with a wind indicator made in 1926. Case is a white gold filled screw back model.

Here’s my watch from yesterday.


It’s an 18 size 17 jewel Hamilton Grade 936 made in 1898. The dial may be original to the watch OR it could be an early replacement dial. Notes from a long time Hamilton Watch Company manager state that all of the early Hamilton railroad grade watches were produced with Roman numeral dials. I had a spirited debate with one of the old timers on the National Association of Watch and Clock Collecting website about whether the railroads allowed watches with Roman numeral dials in train service. He swore they absolutely did not allow use of watches with Roman numeral dials in train service-at least until a couple of us provided evidence to the contrary. He said Webb C. Ball-the most famous railroad watch inspector-didn’t allow them in service. One of the other old timers loved my response-I posted a photo of a Ball Watch Company (owned by Mr. Ball) dial with the Official Railroad Standard dial with Roman numerals on it. I could have also mentioned that I have a sister to this watch that has a Roman numeral dial on it. I’ve only studied railroad time service for twenty years, so I think I know what’s what.

I should say that both of these watches maintain excellent accuracy. Both of these watches were railroad approved and would have passed inspection on any railroad. They are fine pieces of machinery and will be around long after I’m gone.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Nice ones, I have been collecting vintage pocket watches since finding one at a flea market in 1978 that still worked. Since then many others have joined the collection 1860's-1920's. I could sit there and watch a movement tick away all day, amazing pieces of American craftsmanship from an era when people actually gave a damn. The high jewel count movements are the ones I have serviced as this is not cheap to have done 17-23 jewel.

[SA1911a1]

I like pocket watches and wish that I could carry one. The last three attempts all ended up going through the wash. They came out clean and shiny but the tick was gone.

[awalker1829]

My carry watch today:




1928 Waltham 18 size 21 jewel Model 1908 Crescent Street. Just arrived yesterday. Watch was serviced April of this year. I don’t generally go for watches with 23 jewels or more. Right now I’m trying to cycle my watches through the shop for cleaning. Got several that I’m going to pick up next weekend as they’re just sitting in storage at the watchmaker’s and not going to have their crystals replaced until his supplier ships them.

Webb C. Ball, the General Watch Inspector for many railroads, recommended against the use of 21, 23 and 24 jewel watches as they were “short lived” and more likely to get out of repair. He recommended that railroad men buy 17 and 19 jewel watches.

[awalker1829]

I like pocket watches and wish that I could carry one. The last three attempts all ended up going through the wash. They came out clean and shiny but the tick was gone.

I often put the watch in my shirt pocket. Keeps me from putting the watch in the same pocket as keys or other items that might scratch the crystal.

The other day, I had a rather animated discussion on the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors forum with some other collectors about whether or not certain features were required on railroad approved watches. One otherwise learned fellow insisted that railroad watches could not have Roman numeral dials, had to have a minimum of 17 jewels, could not be hunting case and always had to be lever set. I argued otherwise and one of the other members posted documentation that supported my argument.

The requirements that the other member argued are correct for watches entering railroad time service AFTER 1908. However, prior to that time, the minimum requirements were quite different. The regulations issued in 1908 and prior to 1908 made no reference to watch dial requirements other than requiring watches put in open face cases to wind at the 12 o’clock position. Both hunting and open face watch movements were listed as approved for time service and the minimum standard for watches already in time service required a minimum of 15 jewels. The 1898 regulations recommended the use of a lever setting mechanism, but did not require it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Most of the time my watches remain in their case, there are few occasions where I have to know what time it is. If I am wearing one then I am probably in my good suit, and if I am in my good suit then I am probably burying someone, something that is becoming an all too common occurrence these days.

[awalker1829]

I need to buy a second case as I’m out of space in the one I have. I’ve been buying again and have some coming back from the watchmaker this weekend. I have certain ones that I usually carry and a couple that I rarely carry, unless I’m going to a horological event. Then I want to take something to show the guys-usually my latest acquisition.

I’ve also been buying spare watch dials. Sometimes I can get a good deal by buying a watch that has a good movement but the dial is damaged. A good dial in new old stock condition can go for a lot of money.


Here I have two new old stock Hamilton watch dials with my 18 size, 17 jewel Hamilton Grade 936. These were the first dials Hamilton used on their railroad grade watches back in 1893. These dials are well over a hundred years old and in brand new condition.


The watch is s/n 10,376 which is a relatively low serial number for Hamilton. This watch was made in 1895 for jeweler August Hinrichs of Clinton, Iowa and is what is called a “private label” in the trade. For a small fee, Hamilton would engrave a private jeweler’s name or brand on the movement instead of the manufacturer’s name. For an extra fee, they could also have their name printed on the dial. In this case, Mr. Hinrichs didn’t pay the extra fee for the dial. It’s also not uncommon to have a private label with a personalized dial but stock markings on the movement. The case isn’t original to the watch, but the case is correct for the period in which the watch was made.


Here’s a photo of a 16 size, 21 jewel Illinois Bunn Special Sixty Hour watch that I bought for $200. The dial in the box is the one that the watch came with. That’s why it was $200 instead of $1,000. That and the case has the wrong bow on the case. The dial on the watch isn’t the greatest but it’s one of two dials that is correct for the watch. It set me back another $140.


Here’s a photo of the case and movement. The case is original to the movement and is the correct Bunn Special model, but it has brass showing through the gold fill and it has the wrong bow. The movement runs, but needs to be cleaned, oiled and adjusted. It is a project watch that I bought off another collector. Incidentally, I’ve got an Elgin BW Raymond that I’m buying that got recased in a Bunn Special model case. So I’ll need to hunt up a good case for it and find a Bunn Special movement to put in the case.

[Junk Yard Dog]

They took so much pride in their product that they decorated even the parts that would never be seen except for the occasional repair specialist. I have seen some cases that had crystals on the rear as well as the front so the works could be admired. I don't care what time it is for the most part, but I could stare at the watch movement working away all day.