delete

[astro]

sold

[astro]

sold

[doug sinclair]

Astro,

Welcome to the NAWCC message board!

I suspect the watch you have found is by the A. W. W. Co., or American Waltham Watch Co., Waltham, Mass. The watch you describe sounds like one produced by Waltham with the coloured vitreous enamel wood burning locomotive and tender on the dial. Examples I have seen have been the 1883 model Waltham movement. The "Dominion" refers to the long defunct Dominion Atlantic Railway.

Well! My bad half tells me I should say no more and make you a quick, private offer, sight unseen! My good half says I should tell you that, if it is the watch I describe, and if it is in good condition, it is a watch a die hard collector who is familiar with it would die for! Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it is not too far from the truth! He might be prepared to part with one body part of which he has two!

Since we are bound to not discuss prices on this board, about all I can say is HOLD ON TO IT! It is highly sought after, and if you list it for sale, the world of watch collectors will beat a path to your door!

Can you post a picture?

[mikeh]

Hi astro,

The serial number will be on the movement. Kent has a good how-to on case opening here: Case Opening (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/opencase.txt)

The rules of this board do not allow for sale items or value discussions so we can't help you there.

I can't help you much on the history, but suffice it to say that if you offer this item for sale at the right venue, my guess is that you will be pleasantly surprised. In collecting circles there are folks that will try and take advantage of uninformed individuals, and unfortunately watch collecting is no exception. Put more plainly, don't take the first offer that comes along just because it sounds good at the time.

[4thdimension]

Astro,
The dial is absolutely stunning! Take Mike's advise to heart. You have very scarce and desirable item that most collectors seldom,if ever, see and many would like to own. Congratulations! Do your research and feel free to ask questions here. I think it would be safe to say you have our attention.
-Cort

[doug sinclair]

Astro,

A quick GOOGLE search unearthed this website (http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/articles/DominionAtlanticRailway.html) which will give you some historical information on the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Just click on the link and you are there. As to the history of the watch itself, I doubt anyone other than a family member will be able to help you with who owned it, etc. It was doubtless originally owned by someone who worked for the D. A. R. So if you have an ancestor that was a railroader about the turn of the 20th century, that might be a good start. It is very possible that one of your grandparents inherited it from a family member, perhaps even a great grand parent! It will likely be up to you to start digging to find out any more about the history pertinent to the watch itself.

[doug sinclair]

astro,

The closest guy to you that I think would be your very best contact is Peter Kushnir in Montreal. Peter is the retired General Time Inspector for CP Rail, and still very active in the world of antique watch restoration, and very knowledgeable to boot. He is the president of NAWCC chapter 187. I don't have an email address for him, but his street address is: 6545 44 ave,, Montreal, P. Q., H1T 2N9.

Whatever you do, DO NOT have an accident with that dial! It is the dial that pretty well sets your watch apart from a orchard run Waltham 1883! So, seek help, please!

[rrstd]

astro,

From the dial, I would expect your movement to be an 83 model Waltham marked “Dominion Railway” on the barrel bridge. These watches are relatively uncommon, but do show up on the market from time to time. The movement could have either nickel or gilt plates with nickel being the scarcer of the two varieties.

As others have mentioned, these watches are very desirable for those who collect these types of watches. Although we are not allowed to discuss values, let me add that condition will play a significant role in the value along with what others have said. Your dial appears to be in average condition with a number of light hairlines. Condition of the movement will also play a significant part in the final value.

If you do manage to get the case opened, I would very much appreciate it if you could post a picture or complete description of the movement (including serial number).

[doug sinclair]

astro,

This is the typical DAR Waltham movement, and the barrel bridge is engraved for the DAR. The case is called a "swing ring", and it is made of coin silver which could be either .800 fine silver, or .900 fine silver.

As to selling it, you might want to try ebay, but to be on the safe side, you might want to put a reserve on it so you don't give it away.

[Hurricaneman]

Astro, if there is a chance that your watch belonged to an ancestor of yours, then you have a priceless heirloom-you might consider having it serviced and keep it in the family. I have several watches that belonged to my ancestors as well as a few of my wife's ancestors also, most of them good quality movements, but worth far more to me than market value.

[rrstd]

astro,

Thank you very much for the movement picture and serial number.

[Kent]

astro:

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Thanks,