Really Stupid Case Question

[MikeB]

Hi -

I have a Really Stupid Case Question.

Were the cutouts for levers in open face and hunters cases done at the case factories before they were sent out, or did jewelers file them when they were fitting the movements? (I am referring primarily to earlier cases that were fitted by jewelers - I ASSUME that later railroad cases all had the lever set notch cut at the factory).

I suppose that both might be true, but I have often wondered if, for example, a pendant set watch in a case with a lever cutout might still be "original" to the watch if the cutout was done at the factory before any movement was fitted...

Forgive my ignorance in these matters. I am but a humble collector...

Mike.

[MikeB]

Hi -

I have a Really Stupid Case Question.

Were the cutouts for levers in open face and hunters cases done at the case factories before they were sent out, or did jewelers file them when they were fitting the movements? (I am referring primarily to earlier cases that were fitted by jewelers - I ASSUME that later railroad cases all had the lever set notch cut at the factory).

I suppose that both might be true, but I have often wondered if, for example, a pendant set watch in a case with a lever cutout might still be "original" to the watch if the cutout was done at the factory before any movement was fitted...

Forgive my ignorance in these matters. I am but a humble collector...

Mike.

[Alan Walker]

From what I know, most of the notches were cut out at the factory. Jewelers could cut the notches but since most all open face movements had the setting lever in one standard location (2 o'clock) and most hunting case movements had the setting lever at the 4 o'clock position, it made more since for the setting lever notch to be cut by the case factory.

[John Cote]

Mike and Allen,

I am not sure if it is true that most lever notches were cut at the case factory. I have looked at bunches of cases and it seems that the ones with perfect, factory cut notches (especially early ones) are few and far between. For one thing, Mike was speaking of earlier cases, and not all the levers on early watches were in the same place. Look for instance at the 16s model 4 and 5 Illinois (Getty Model) as compared to a 16 size Bunn or Hamilton.

I think the practice of notching cases at the factory became more prevalent as time went on and factories began casing their own watches. I do think that there were always some factory notched cases, and I do think it is appropriate that a pendant set watch might be in a case with a factory notch. After all, these watches were put in the cases by jewelers and if a guy liked a case a jeweler had and the case had a notch....

BTW Mike, I don't think this is a stupid question at all. I expect that someone might post an answer here and correct me and I might learn something.


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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105) http://www.interstatetime.com

[This message has been edited by John Cote (edited 02-14-2002).]

[Tom Huber]

If you look at most Dueber cases, you can see that there are two (2) notches cut. He made them that way so they would be ready for the hampden watches, which had the lever at around 10 min. They would also be ready to accept an Elgin, Waltham or Illinois model 8 and above, which were around 6 min. South Bend watches also had the lever at around 10 minutes.

I have also seen wide factory cut notches designed to accept both lever positions.

Tom

[Peter Cox]

I have a Ball that has a notch on either side of the pendant, approx 11 and 1. I always assumed that was to accomodate left handed people, maybe a foolish assumption!! Recently there was an eBay auction for a Ball that had a lever set at the 11. This is actually the only watch I've ever seen with the set on that side. Were the 2 notches meant for what I assumed? It obviously would mean considearble reposition of the the set wheels under the face.

[Tom Huber]

Peter, Some of the later model 16S Walthams have the setting lever at 11:00. Your Ball case may be a later one and was designed to acdept a movement like this. Tom

[terry hall]

Also the swiss ball movements [435b,c] had a lever at 11:00.

[Kent]

Peter:

The 1950's era 435 series Ball watches (435, 435B & 435C), made by the Record Watch Co., Switzerland, had the setting lever at about 56 minutes. Since these watches have been looked down upon by a lot of collectors, quite a few of them had their Stirrup Bow Ball Model cases stripped off to put it on a Hamilton or Waltham made Ball watch whose case was showing brass. When that's done, a new lever slot has to be cut at about 6 minutes. So, two lever slots on a factory-cased watch indicates a swapped case.

The same thing goes for the 1623 Waltham Vanguards. If there's a slot at about 6 minutes, its not an original factory case for that watch.

Kent

P.S. Hi Terry, once again I've taken too long typing.

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 02-20-2002).]