Antique RR watch

[PWC]

Finally, watches that get their just recognition.

I hate it when on the Antiques Roadshow, a watch or clock thats 100, 150+ years old gets $1500, and a Civil War bayonet gets $6-8000.

[Art]

My old (1914) Waltham Crescent Street has several sets of very faint numbers with letters on the inside of the back of the case. Some are completely or partially illegible, even under magnification. A few of the legible ones are 140A (or H,) P179 and L7 (or 9.) These appear to have been done by hand with a fine tool by different individuals. The letters are mostly block but the "L" on the L7 is beautifully drawn, almost like calligraphy. The case is a 20 year Wadsworth Referee s/n. 3247094. These faint numbers, about seven in all are stacked to the right side of and under the Wadsworth logo and s/n.

Any thoughts???

[Merc]

Watchmakers would engrave the inside of the rear cover with job numbers and often included dates related to the cleaning and repairs that were performed. These entries could be an indication of the number of times a watch was serviced. You get an idea of what it was like to own a mechanical watch 100 years ago. They required lubrication and the lubricants used were not what they are today and would break down and gum up the movement every 10 years or so. Some of the more expensive synthetic watch oils used today have microscopic diamond bearings and cost around $700/oz.

[Merc]

Finally, watches that get their just recognition.

I hate it when on the Antiques Roadshow, a watch or clock thats 100, 150+ years old gets $1500, and a Civil War bayonet gets $6-8000.

The demand for anything from the Confederacy is strong. Union artifacts are fairly common and much less expensive but most Confederate items are rare and priced accordingly.

On the other hand, American watches made in the 19th and 20th century were made by the millions and are common. They were simple but well-made for a mass produced product and dependable. Some RR watches were equipped with one complication that boosted the value - the mainspring wind-up status indicator which alerted the owner when the mainspring needed winding. Even the cheaper 7 jewel watches worked well and were durable.

[PWC]

You missed 1-150+......not long ago there was a 1740, 2 key clock........not mass produced, in that time all was hand fitted. Not worth as much now as when new, when adjusted for inflation.

[Art]

Watchmakers would engrave the inside of the rear cover with job numbers and often included dates related to the cleaning and repairs that were performed. These entries could be an indication of the number of times a watch was serviced. You get an idea of what it was like to own a mechanical watch 100 years ago. They required lubrication and the lubricants used were not what they are today and would break down and gum up the movement every 10 years or so. Some of the more expensive synthetic watch oils used today have microscopic diamond bearings and cost around $700/oz.

Thanks, I thought it might be something like that. If each of those marks indicates one trip to a watchmaker or jeweler it had a very long service life before being retired, or as it is now, semi retired.

On value....laying aside the special place weapons have historically and culturally and considering the cost of good late 19th - mid 20th century watches and firearms were comparable when new: I suspect that one of the reasons antique and vintage firearms are so much more valuable now is due to attrition from hard use, including exposure to the elements and harsh chemicals (black powder and corrosive primers.) This reduced their numbers to the point that their values was greatly increased compared to watches of comparable vintage which usually had a much more sheltered work existences due to being more gently used and often being in some sock drawer or shadow box or display case after they were viewed as being obsolete. The good news is if you want a fine old watch, especially a pocket watch, even very high quality working examples can be had for several hundred dollars, unless, of course, the case isn't solid gold.

[PWC]

Hmmmm..... must be a lot of horologists that are also shooters.

[Merc]

Hmmmm..... must be a lot of horologists that are also shooters.

I agree. Must be our interest in old things that still work.

[Merc]

- - - Updated - - -

A record $31 million was recently paid for a Patek Philippe wrist watch.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/patek-philippe-watch-sells-for-record-dollar31-million-at-auction/ar-BBWDru3

[Merc]

Here’s an unusual US military aircraft dashboard clock that’s actually an Elgin 8 day running pocket watch that I picked at an antique shop yesterday.

73AF520A-0260-48E4-BA19-DEBF2868E36F.jpg762F95BC-E4E5-4D4B-BD5F-ED3150C8C62D.jpgD648FCCB-3F2D-48BF-B7D4-5FBD56740E9C.jpg

[Conductor]

Here are some photos of a nice 14K pocket watch that I bought back in 1970. It was presented to a guy who worked for the B&O Railroad (retirement gift?). It is interesting to note that it is a hunting-case watch, which was not approved for carry after the 1893 ruling on railroad approved watches.
DSCN2310.jpgDSCN2312.jpgDSCN2313.jpgDSCN2318.jpg

The inscription reads: PRESENTED TO THOMAS TAYLOR BY THE ENGINEERS FIREMEN AND SHOPMEN OF THE B&O RR NEWARK, OHIO JAN 19TH 1885

[lyman]

^

guess if a retirement present, it did not have to be an approved watch and or case??


beautiful watch!!

[Art]

Beautiful watch, I assume it runs. The days of the gold "thank you for your service watch" are pretty much over. I have my father in laws Hamilton Thin o Matic he got for 30 years with Exxon in 1961. Nice watch with a solid 14 k gold case. It still keeps good time. I joke that I feel like Dan Draper every time I wear it.

[Conductor]

^

guess if a retirement present, it did not have to be an approved watch and or case??


beautiful watch!!

There were no "approved watches" prior to the 1893 adoption of the General Railroad Timepiece Standards.

And yes. It still runs. I have it cleaned and lubed about every three years. I only wind it about every six months or so. It keeps excellent time. It's not quite up to railroad standard (loss or gain of no more than 30 seconds per week). But it's close. Generally not more than 1 minute per week.

[Cosine26]

My Ball Watch
As indicated it is an 18 size watch, almost as large as a Baby Ben alarm clock. It belonged to my uncle who railroaded in the SW prior to WWI. When he joined the navy in WWI, he sold or hocked it to my other uncle who kept it until the 1980’s, when he passed on and I inherited it.

I have my fathers 23 Jewel Waltham Vanguard and my 23 jewel; Waltham Vanguard (which I bought when I worked for the Illinois Central before entering WWII). My Vanguard is adjusted for 6 positions and has the wind indicator. I paid $40 for it in 1943.
It is becoming very difficult and expensive to have these watches repaired or maintained.

Ball (Hamilton) 18s 17j 992B LS OF S/N 28400 double roller escapement Adj 6ps temp RR Grade circa 1900 Sapphire pallets safety pinion
Dial excellent condition marked “Official RR Standard “
Runs and keeps time.
Case some wear on gold colored case.
Used by my uncle while railroading in SW US prior to WWI

https://imgur.com/GXbxDIF

https://imgur.com/7Ye4Sw7

https://imgur.com/UuqwWOD

https://imgur.com/AOvjMxn

https://imgur.com/0NAjd2p