What watch do you carry? [Archive] - National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Message Board

hc3

02-10-2002, 03:34 AM

I always enjoy human interaction with watches stories, and a previous post gave me an idea for a thread-

What do you actually carry? I don't mean the best, necessarily, but which watch gets the most actual pocket time?

I'll start- fortunately my life is such that usually I don't need to know the time, so I'm usually watchless.When I go coyote hunting in the next time zone, I pick up a blue screw Waltham Crescent St. 17j in a coin silver display case. It has time zone hands and a really thick crystal on each side, and ticks like a stamp mill.

For wrist wear, a Waltham Diamond in an early converted gold case.

BTW, I was at a buy out store the other day and found a pile of $9 remainder khakis with WATCH POCKETS! And they really fit a proper watch, not just a couple of quarters.

Any other stories?

hc3

02-10-2002, 03:34 AM

John Cote

02-10-2002, 03:46 AM

I must admit that I wear a wrist watch (not quartz) most of the time, because I do have to pay attention to time in my job. I do however, like to wear pocket watches sometimes on weekends and to watch and clock functions. I almost always wear an 18 size, because I don't like tiny watches. My latest favorites are a Hamilton 946, a 19j Ball 999, and a 17j Rockford Winnebago. I rarely wear a hunter because they aren't making any more hunter cases, and I don't want to screw up what I have.

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

Barry G

02-10-2002, 03:59 AM

It really depnds on what I am wearing, clothes-wise. If I am wearing jeans, I have to wear a watch small enough to carry in the coin pocket, which basically limits me to my 16sz railroad watches. One pair of jeans has such a tight coin pocket that the only watch I can carry in it is my 16sz Waltham "Vanguard" up/down, which has a very streamlined case.

When I wear a vest, however, I enjoy wearing my larger watches on a rotating basis. that includes my 18sz railroaders as well as numerous hunting case watches. I've also got a number of nice old keywinds that I enjoy wearing with vests, since I can attach the key as a fob to my chain.

In fact, of the 60+ watches I currently own, the only ones I don't wear on a semi-regular basis are the ones that are (a) too old [and therefore either too inaccurate or too fragile] and/or (b) too valuable. I've given up wearing my old fusee from 1776 and my early "Dennison, Howard & Davis", for example.

In short, I don't have one "favorite" watch that I wear, but instead enjoy wearing a different watch every day in the same way I wear a different shirt and tie combination.

Regards,

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

gr8white

02-10-2002, 04:32 AM

I am fortunate enough to be able to choose from a variety of watches. If I want to wear big and fancy, I wear a large box hinge Waltham with fancy dial. If I am in the mood for simple and elegant, a 16s OF Patek Philippe. For a conversation piece, a HC 5 minute repeater. I also wear a HC fancy dial Elgin a lot.

If I am wearing jeans, I do not usually wear a pocket watch, as the material is too abrasive on the watch cases, plus, lately my jeans seem to have all gotten tighter.

I like wearing them all and have no favorite.

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Paul M.

terry hall

02-10-2002, 04:35 AM

Well......I am trying to think of a watch that i won't carry at sometime or another..

Right now there is a 329 Southbend THE STUDEBAKER on the chain of my bibs.

I may carry any of mine at some point in time. This could be Brite Spot,fishscale, or 60 hour Bunn Specials, Sangamo and Sangamo Specials, Veritas,Rockfords, 992E,B,950,946,944, 999... Just what ever strikes my fancy. Of course some get carried more than others.

I like to see the looks on peoples faces when they ask what is on the end of my chain.
I love to tell them about them.

There was an older dealer from Virgina I saw one day that asked me what I was carrying. I showed him the 329 Southbend. He looked at me and said, "what are you carrying that watch for?".... I just smiled and said I just like to educate and show nice stuff.

I know that some cannot be replaced with an example in the same condition, but I sure like to look at them every now and then. What better way to keep the oil 'flowing'??

Steve Maddox

02-10-2002, 07:27 AM

I used to wear a variety of pocket watches, including a Ball 998 Elinvar, a 23j Sangamo, a Riverside Maximus, etc., but for the last couple of years, I've more or less settled into a habit of wearing a 14s Dudley Masonic in a 14k "flip back" case. This watch keeps reasonably good time (usually within 15 seconds per week), and I've found it to be a real "crowd-pleaser." It's in good enough condition to be quite presentable, but it's seen enough wear in its life that I don't mind actually carrying it. I have another Dudley model 1 in a display case, which is so crisp that I'm reluctant to wear it. As a matter of fact, it's currently on loan in a display at the Arkansas State Capitol (for those interested, there's an article about this project in the "Chapter News and Views" section).

As a curious note, I've found that when I open the "flip-back" Dudley and hand it to people not familiar with watches, it's amazing how many will marvel at it for a moment, then ask "How do you tell the time?" I was surprised the first time this happened, but it's happened so many times now I've just learned to expect it.

When I have to wear a suit and tie, I usually wear a vest with a big gold hunter case and matching gold chain with a Masonic charm (I collect watch chains and Masonic charms, and I have quite a few). I usually wear a 23j Columbus Railway King that has a big Masonic emblem on it, or an 18k Salzman & Vuille chronograph, or a Hamilton 993 in a nicely engraved 14k case. I'll post a picture of this watch sometime, but it's not an exaggeration to say that the point of a pin cannot be placed anywhere on the surface of this case that's not hand engraved.

For me, however, I carry pocket watches primarily as conversation pieces. The watch I depend on to tell me the time is usually a Rolex of some type. I've been wearing a two-tone 1961 Thunderbird for the last couple of months now, but I usually wear some type of Stainless Datejust. When I go to shows where I know I'll see people who'll enjoy them, I occasionally wear one of my Tru-Beats, or a stainless hooded "bubbleback." Those are usually "crowd-pleasers" as well.

Neat topic!

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Steve Maddox
President, NAWCC Chapter #62
North Little Rock, Arkansas

doug sinclair

02-10-2002, 07:54 AM

hc3 and all,

The wrist watch I have the most fun with is an A. Schild 1001 (same as AS 984 but with center sweep seconds hand) that I converted to run BACKWARDS a number of years ago. I used it that way with a regular dial for a while, until I had a dial made that is printed backwards as well. Once that was done, I added a bright red sweep seconds hand so it would get noticed. Then, I had a problem as most people I showed it to thought it was QUARTZ! To solve that, I machined a hole in the steel case back and fitted a mineral crystal to show the mechanical movement. That watch is fun!

Among my pocket watches, I like my pristine Hamilton 941, and I like to wear my 16 size Waltham Vanguard as I think the movement is one of the prettiest in any watch I own. I do like to show that movement. I probably wear my 992B about as much as well. The other 47 don't see as much use, but they get exhibited at collectibles shows and railroad hobby shows as often as I'm able. At these shows I like to show off my Ingersoll Yankee "dollar watch" which still has an intact case paper/warranty. Nobody gives that kind of guarantee today!

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Tom Huber

02-10-2002, 10:34 AM

From reading the other posts, it is obvious that I'm a much more simple guy when it comes to watches. My favorite watch to carry is a 16S, Illinois, grade 706. It is 17J, adj to 4 pos, and has a nice two-tone movement. When I wear jeans, I always carry a watch that is in a nickle/silver case. Over time, the denim material can really wear a gold filled or gold case. My favorite to carry when wearing jeans is a basic Elgin, model 5, 7J. It keeps time to about 30 Sec/week.

For my wrist watch, I wear a SS Rolex Datejust. Once I set it, I can wear it for 6 months and never reset it. I have never seen a watch with the accuracy of this one.

Tom

Julian Smith

02-10-2002, 10:38 AM

Hello,
My everyday watch is a gold accutron,but occasionally I will stick a pocket watch in my pocket.Any thing from a recased Premier Maximus on down to a Bulova 17AH.Most times it is a Hamilton.Or Elgin,or Columbus.
what ever strikes my fancy at the moment.
Julian Smith

Oliver Mundy

02-10-2002, 11:03 AM

Currently, I have an English pair-case fusee lever by Johnson of Liverpool (hallmarked 1820, although the case is an early replacement and the movement may be a year or so later) on full-time duty. Ancient, but tough (it survived a sea voyage from England to New Zealand when already 45 years old) and quite accurate enough for my rustic needs (3 minutes per week in a mild climate).

02-10-2002, 12:55 PM

Hi Everyone,
Well being somewhat partial to Illinois, I carry a 24J. Bunn Special. I carry this watch with whatever clothes I am wearing. I too am amazed at the expressions on both young and old when I take out my watch to check the time. I must admit I sometimes do it just to see their faces!

Alan Walker

02-10-2002, 07:40 PM

Since I work part time for a short line railroad, the watches I carry are always railroad/time service approved pieces. I have a mixture of 16 and 18 size watches but the one that sees the most use is my 16 size, 19 jewel Illinois Bunn.

I generally avoid carrying the family Elgins regularly and my nice Hamiltons as there is always a risk of serious damage, especially when boarding moving cars or handling heavy items. I don't wear a wrist watch as it would be inappropriate for the era that our railroad attempts to recreate (I don't know of any stories of steam era engineers and conductors comparing time while wearing wrist watches!).

Jacke Chilson

02-11-2002, 07:14 AM

Hi all since i work in a factory and have all my jeans with watch pockets I carry my plain jane Hamilton 992 my constant companion and on some occasions my 16s Illinois bunn special. For special occasions I carry my Seth Thomas Eagle grade in a low gold hunter case.

Mike Miller

02-11-2002, 04:23 PM

Lately, for everyday occasions, it has been an 18S OF Waltham Vanguard model 1892. For nicer occasions it is a Waltham 16S Crescent Street hunter case. Or when a small watch is needed for dress it is a 12S Waltham Riverside hunter case. Guess I'm kind of stuck on one brand. When I must wear a wristwatch it is a Gruen Precision autowind.

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Mike Miller

Freddy

02-11-2002, 08:26 PM

I keep 12 watches set aside regularly cleaned and oiled for carry. The best part of looking at a watch is viewing the movement so I have 3 of these in display cases. My two favorites are a display cased 18s 23J Waltham Vanguard and a factory display cased 18s Hamilton 940. The wonderful damaskeening on both of these movements just sparkle in the sunlight. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. I carry these in a custom made belt pouch with a chain. In 16s I like to show off my Hamilton 950, again in a display case. Also some English Levers, an IWC, a WWII Ham Mod 23, a Ham 992b, a WWI British Royal Flying Corps Aviators Watch (Zenith movement), and a Waltham Civil War era keywind. Each week I pick one out and carry it a few days. For the wrist I have a few WWI wire lug trench watches. I won't carry anything with a pristine or gold case. Christmas Day is the one day of the year I carry my special watch - a very ornate 1790 verge fusee which I wind slowly and carefully. Nothing like wearing a +200 year old timepiece.

Jack wagner

02-13-2002, 03:05 AM

I carry a variety of watches. At several places I have worked it became a running joke at to with watch I had that day. I alway try to have something to say about a particular watch. Because they are a little unusual, people will ask. Things like why the Roman Numeral IIII instead of IV or what's a railroad watch. After awhile, why would anybody buy a Trenton with fake jewels and a "Train" dial.

Makes for nice conversation.
Jack

MikeB

02-13-2002, 04:38 PM

Hi -

I always wear a vest when I wear a pocket watch, so I go for some big 18 size watches.

I never carry anything really fancy, and lately I've been switching off between a Waltham Model 1879 15J P.S. Bartlett stemwind in a nice early gold filled hunter case (my "fancy" watch) and a Model 1877 11J Bartlett key wind in a 5 ounce silver hunter case. I also carry a 15J Model 1883 Waltham in a silver swing out case with a private label movement from Stockton, Cal. (One of my "old West" watches).

My favorite watch to wear, which I have had for years, is an early 15J Hampden Railway in a silverode hunters case. I always wear it when I travel - It's turned into a tradition with me. I put a dent in the case on my last trip, but who cares. It's silverode, and there were other dents in it anyway. The watch has seen a lot of "loving," and besides, after 120 years, it still keeps PERFECT time!

Mike.

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

jmk@izzy.net

02-14-2002, 01:07 AM

I only have one pair of dress slacks that have a watch pocket. When wearing them, I wear my favorite, Hamilton 992, a real classic in white gf case.

Paul Beyer

02-14-2002, 05:43 AM

I'll probably bore you guys to death with this story but the two watches I carried back in the 60's when I was a mechanic is what really got me interested in pocket watches. In 1960,I bought a Westclox Scotty and wore this watch every day for 5 years until it wore out. In 1966,I bought an Ingraham Biltmore which I wore for another 4 years before it wore out.
Talk about bullet proof!
Both watches still run today but have to be kept fully wound and still lose about 5 minutes a day.
I also own some early key winds and a couple of railroad watches which I thoroughly enjoy and admire, but my heart has always been in the lowly dollar watches of which I own quite a few.

Jerry Treiman

02-14-2002, 06:49 AM

Being a 12-size enthusiast, I pretty much stick with that size for day-to-day wear, and prefer a Waltham with a friction staff (just in case). My everyday watch recently has been a 17j Royal grade in a nice gun-metal case. These cases are the best for everyday as I have no worry of it wearing out. I have also recently been wearing a Colonial Series Riverside Maximus in a plain gold case. I try to rotate through my collection so I can enjoy them all, but do not have too many at the moment that have been overhauled recently enough for daily wear. When I wear my suit or slacks (always with a watch pocket) I switch to a thin watch like a Colonial A Maximus (10-size or 14-size) or an Illinois Illini (13-size).

doug sinclair

02-14-2002, 06:49 AM

Paul Beyer,

Queer quirk of circumstance! I had a friend show me an Ingraham Biltmore, new in the box, just yesterday!

Regards,
Doug S.

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Whit Joyner

02-15-2002, 02:05 AM

I'm a Civil War historian and attend several seminars and battlefield study tours every year. My Tremont and my Wm. Ellery American both date to Civil War period manufacture, and they go with me often. But my sentimental favorite, a watch that's made plenty of scholars and history professors drool, is an Illinois "Gen. Lee" from about 1880.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of showing this watch to Robert E. Lee, V, a fine young man who's a teacher near Washington. He had never known such a watch existed.

AlexMar

02-19-2002, 10:10 AM

First I'll admit that my everyday watch is a Omega SM WW; however when I do carry a pocket watch it is most often my Bulova 17AH 10 size on an 8" chain. I gotta tell ya that I prefer a 10 size. They're just right & that Bulova is quite a timekeeper plus it was made in New York. Just like me. I have a Cortebert 10 size that I will sometimes carry also though not at the same time. Thanx, Alex

Kent

02-19-2002, 10:43 AM

I know I've told about my watch before, so those of you who know, please bear with it.

I've only really carried one watch during the past 25 years, a 992B. Its got a mis-matched bezel & back (which shows brass) and a Montgomery Railway Special replacement dial.

Jean's, dress slacks or a suit, it goes with everything. I don't buy pants that don't have watch pockets (Levi's 505 have the right size pocket and the tailor will add the watch pocket to better slacks and suits if you insist).

The neatest part is that I almost never have to change the time (once in the Spring and once in the Fall and once or twice in-between). The watch gets cleaned every two years and just continues doing what its supposed to do.

Kent

ww123

03-20-2009, 04:54 PM

I carry my Wm. Ellery key wind, key set OF almost exclusively. It is my favorite of three Wm. Ellerys that I have.

lak611

03-20-2009, 05:27 PM

Lately, I've been carrying an 18 size Elgin-Ball 334 in a silveroid case, an 18 size 24 jewel Waltham Vanguard 1892 model with a locomotive engraved on the case, or a 16 size 23 jewel Illinois Bunn Special. I only buy jeans that have watch pockets large enough for the watches to fit. I also get the Dockers that have watch pockets.

I belong to a local historical society. Our next meeting will feature a speaker who will discuss the history of railroads in Ohio. I plan to carry a Hamilton 950B with a Chesapeake & Ohio fob on a leather strap (the fob has the logo "C & O for progress" which is appropriate for the watch which is from the 1950s--that was the slogan for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway during the 1950s).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/C%26O_logo.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:C%26O_logo.png)

Clint Geller

03-21-2009, 03:23 PM

Most days I wear my Ball Engineer automatic wristwatch. In addition to being a fine watch, I cherish it because it was a generous and totally unexpected gift from the President of the Ball Watch Company, Jeff Hess, for my work on the 2006 NAWCC Seminar and Exhibit. Other days I wear a Hamilton 950 pocket watch. The GF case is already a replacement with some wear on it, so I don't mind putting some more on it.

49stude63

03-21-2009, 08:43 PM

I carry my Elgin grade 161 since it is a pendent set and when I want to be a big fancy. Some times I will carry my father's Elgin 12s 15j that he carried in the coal mines and for basic out doing nothing I wear an Elgin grade 342 in a stainless steel case.

Kevin W.

03-22-2009, 08:28 AM

Today a Smiths wristie and a 16 sz Southbend.
I work in a machine shop and usually i like my 17 jewel, Waltham Colonial, keeps great time and looks good.

Bigjeep

03-27-2009, 08:52 AM

I pick a watch that reflects what I will do that day. If its a day trip with a meal out, its my 18s 1895 or 1902 sterling with multi Gold inlay cased Elgins. Some days around town its an 1867 Raymond Elgin or an 1866 American Watch co Watch. If I want to go big, Its my 1/2 pound 18s Washington watch Co. with the nice Double sunk dial. If I am riding Amtrak, I take my Grandfathers 1927 60 day Illinois RR Watch! My last trip to the outerbanks the State Park Rangers at the lighthouses got a big kick out of the 1866 A.W.CO Pocket watch. Pocket Watches are fun. They are Like the Lighthouses themselves. They are working, shinning out to sea, look great, but serve little purpose today.

Rono Takagawa

03-27-2009, 10:51 AM

I tend to go out with 1904 model 18 size 24j bunn special. because it is so reliable & heavy.:0:

Peepaw

03-27-2009, 11:01 AM

When I'm at home I've been carrying a 16s 60 hr Bunn Special.
When I'm on the road I'm usually carrying one of my dollar watches.:eek:

Jon Hanson

03-27-2009, 02:42 PM

None--they could get damaged!:eek::D

Jerry Treiman

03-27-2009, 04:50 PM

I find it hard to enjoy my watches if I can't use them for what they were intended. Admittedly I don't wear the ladies watches in my collection, but none of the rest are off limits as long as I consider the risks. The more fragile ones are used cautiously. Generally I stick to watches that are easily repaired if an accident should occur and for daily wear I prefer plain gold, gunmetal or nickel cases for which wear is a negligible concern. I still favor 12-size watches (see post #33) and recently have been wearing a fine 21j Touchon in a plain-polished 14K case or a 19j Waltham Riverside.

richiec

03-27-2009, 05:20 PM

I generally carry a 17 jewel Waltham Riverside from about 1901 which is in a worn Wadsworth 25 year case with no bow(I do auto mechanical inspections so the case can take a beating in my pocket) or a swiss Centennial sold by my great, great grandfathers jewelry business in NYC from about 1880. Once in a blue moon I will pull out the M I Tobias from 1847 in its 18K Benedict Bros case, but it is purely a museum piece, it runs great but I don't want to drop it, just ask Ed Uberral.

Jon Hanson

03-27-2009, 07:40 PM

It is tough to wear "condition" watches!:eek:

CZHACK

03-28-2009, 02:13 AM

I use many of them one way or the other. On weekends it could be my 24j Bunn Special in a 5oz silver case/heavy silver chain. At formal events, it is often my 16 size gold LeRoy calendar/light gold chain. When I chair a meeting or speak at an event, I bring an 18 size/open face to keep track of time without looking at my wrist. Otherwise a few to the office to run for the day. Mike

Robert Smothers

03-28-2009, 07:43 AM

My daily watch is an inexpensive high production Seiko sports wrist watch. The stainless Seiko is very durable, and a fairly good time keeper...has the Rolex look. I also carry one or more watches from my Illinois 16s pocket watch collection. Usually the watch that I carry will be the last watch that I have had serviced or repaired. Right now I am carrying a 21j Sangamo Special(just serviced) that is absolutely on time. I often carry a 60 hour Bunn Special because I prefer the longer running mainspring, as I forget to wind sometimes. I have no watch that I will not carry, but I have cases that I will not carry. Often I will put a movement in a display case so I can carry the watch and not add wear to the case. I do not carry gold cases.....Robert

Bigjeep

03-28-2009, 10:46 AM

Reading these posts, I wonder if anyone carries a Pocket Watch Like I do? The Style of shirts I wear have a Pocket on the left side. Thats wear I keep my Watch with the chain through a button hole. Very easy to pull out my watch for the time.

tomrsey

03-29-2009, 01:58 AM

I enjoy using the watches. Right now I am wearing a 21j Crescent Street. Very good time keeper.

doug sinclair

03-30-2009, 09:18 AM

Today, I'll wesr my Brandt CCR, 5-pos, 19-jewel, railroad approved (in Canada), private label for E. Logan, Greenwood, British Columbia, D/S 24-hour dial. Considering how the American-made watch predominated in the pockets of Canadian railroaders of 100 years ago, any Swiss-made, railroad approved watch is reasonably scarce.

Doug S.

l3up

03-30-2009, 09:28 AM

I usally carry my 23 Jewel Hamilton 950L in a Model 2 case or one of the early 1st signature 992B watches both or great time keepers. Of course I only collect Hamilton 16s. Just love those Hamilton factory cases. http://mb.nawcc.org/images/icons/icon7.gif
Regards,
Weldon Hopkins

Kent

03-30-2009, 01:15 PM

Dutto11

03-30-2009, 05:39 PM

Hi Everybody,
Today I'm carrying one of my favourites, it is a Waltham 645 21 jewel that I bought off eBay that was a non running movement. So when I got it I was not sure what to expect but to my surprise It only needed a new staff which I had and replaced it, cleaned and oiled and I replaced the dial and hands and now it is one of my treasures.
Like a lot here it is always interesting to read how they got the watches and the stories behind them so even though my story is not exciting I had a blast getting it going again and bring it back to life.

Gary

GD1

03-30-2009, 05:45 PM

Ball Hamilton 999 21 jewel 16 size. I used to carry a 24 Jewel Bunn Special but put it to rest although I take it out and wear it once in awhile.

Bigjeep

03-31-2009, 04:42 AM

Would that be a chain somewhat like This One (http://static.flickr.com/34/72106062_0e684609ea_o.jpg)?

Wow! Very close!

butch45

04-01-2009, 10:53 AM

:oLove this.I wear a HOWARD SERIES O 23J GOLD FILLED CASE WITH CANADIAN 24 HR DIAL.I think its one of the best and beautiful movements.Also wear a HOWARD NO4 17J 5POS CANADIAN 24 HR DIAL.This watch was a transition watch between 1910-1912.Watch belonged to engineer Herbert Love who ran on PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND RAILWAY IN CANADA.One more watch is HAMILTON 992B CANADIAN 2 TIME ZONE HR HANDS ON DIAL used in western end of CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILROAD MADE IN 1956.People look at it and wounder what the hell it is.This allowers me to give a little history about AMERICAN MADE FINEST RAILROAD POCKET WATCHES MADE IN THR WORLD.

HUDD

04-03-2009, 03:38 AM

Mostly Hamilton & Illinois 18s RR models and sometimes my Swiss made "Limit 2" serial # 30 made for British Rail Western Region.

Hudd

River rat

04-05-2009, 09:47 AM

I am using this one today.
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/012-9.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/003-17.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/006-20.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/011-12.jpg
It's a Hamilton 992B with a nice swing out case I know it's not original to the watch same with the hands but it look's good that way and I use a fob I got this cool one on it from Buffalo Bill wild west show.

Jon Hanson

04-05-2009, 10:57 AM

that poor case................:(

River rat

04-05-2009, 08:01 PM

that poor case................:(
What's wrong with the case?:o:o:o

Jon Hanson

04-05-2009, 08:10 PM

In addition to being COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE for the movement, keep wearing it and the answer shall be obvious!

Kent

04-06-2009, 05:26 AM

River rat:

Is the movement serial number C69475?

49stude63

04-06-2009, 03:10 PM

I think Jon was commenting for two reasons, 1) any gold watch worn very often will end up wearing to the substrate, ditto for the detailing, wear it enough the the detail dissappears. 2) The 992 is a lot like the Elgin BW Raymonds from grade 5XX on, the case style is much different than earlier 1900-1930's styles. The case shown is more of a earlier period than the watch movement. If I want to wear watches everyday then I use a beater case or my Elgin grade 342 with the stainless steel case. There are some of my watches that I might wear on a special occasion but those occasions are "blue moon" type.:)

River rat

04-06-2009, 09:35 PM

River rat:

Is the movement serial number C69475?
Kent the serial number is C69475 so you got the right number.I only use this once in a while I do got a beater it's another 992B cir.1950's with out gold center wheel stainless case I did not pay a lot for this one.

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/017-3.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/001-11.jpg
And I use this leather watch holder I remember Bus driver' when I was growing up using them all you do is lift up on it and see the time.

49stude63

04-06-2009, 09:47 PM

Where did you get the leather holder at, I have never seen a holder like that but would love to have one. Here are my two carry around the most of the time watches. I tend to carry the one on the left more because it is a stainless steel case the other one is the typical silveroid case, both are Elgin Grade 342 17J lever sets. I mostly collect Elgins but have some South Bends, Hampden, Waltham and Illinois but no Hamiltons. I gave my son a 17J Waltham Swiss watch to carry at school, he never knew the small pocket in blue jeans was for carrying a pocket watch, he called it a change pocket.

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/27075/2295528500075349633S425x425Q85.jpg

Bigjeep

04-07-2009, 06:15 AM

Reading these posts, I must admit I wear all my watches. Who am I going to save them for. I guess I would think like that if I were going to live forever. But I want to enjoy my watches and not save them for who knows who. Any given day there are 14,000 to 18,000 pocket watches on ebay. They aren't scare by any means and less expensive thanks to ebay, good or bad. My auction friend had over 300 Pocket watches and I never saw him wear one! Never could understand that. The only reason I have my watches is to wear them. And they were made for that purpose.

Jon Hanson

04-07-2009, 11:39 AM

Better cases worn regularly hardly preserves them, as does overcleaning.

There are only so many remaining choice or sharp GF (or gold) cases left, why anyone would knowingly ruin them is beyond me!:mad:

Use a stainless steel, white brass (silveroid), or glass back--save that superb early case and also save it from extra case screw marks!

graybear

04-08-2009, 08:38 AM

This thing feels good in the hand, and stays within 15 seconds a day : not bad for a 1924 born watch, I deem

http://mb.nawcc.org/picture.php?albumid=69&pictureid=441

Snowunder2feet

04-08-2009, 08:49 AM

Like Greybear, I wear what feels good and keeps near acurate time. I switch everyday and mine are by no means museum pieces. I like my 16 and 18 size Walthams, Hampdens, Standards, and Elgins. I also like my KW fusee English oldies and some early 1900's Swiss 3-finger movements. I only have one Hamilton 992 from 1904, other wise my pocket watches are affordable 15-21 jewellers and in either silver, sileroid or GF cases. I even like wearing my Runswell dollar watch, so bottom line is if I'm wearing it, the watch is being appreciated and not being coveted in a felt lined box in a safety deposit box. I'm still very new at collecting pocket watches, so maybe 20 yrs from now I may even be a musuem watch collecter, but for now, just an average guy who loves the early movements.

Cheers, Roland.

Kevin W.

04-08-2009, 09:26 AM

Roland you have quite a variety of watches, do you have any favourites?
I like Elgins first and then Illinois.

Snowunder2feet

04-08-2009, 11:37 AM

Hi Kevin, hmmm, I seem to gravitate towards the Elgins. They are plentiful and easy to repair and actually keep very decent time. I have an 18 size pendent set Elgin made for the northern Canadian climate that is kinda neat with a 24 hr dial and a heat sink ring on the rear inside of the case to help transfer body heat into the movement, but its big and heavy. Overall I like the 16 size Elgin s with 17 jewels from the late 1800's as they are mostly stem wind and set, whereas the Walthams and Hampdens were still lever set. I do also like my Hampden Wm. McKinley from 1903 with the 3-finger movement, nice to look at and carry, but still not as acurate as a similar time period 3-finger Elgin.
I know Elgins are very common, and that they are not big buck items, and that helps not just myself, but others get into this whole watch collecting hobby. I don't wear wrist watches because I'm in construction, so a pocket watch is perfect.

Cheers, Roland.

Mitch M.

04-12-2009, 07:58 AM

Here's the one I favor.

It's been with me since October 8th, 1965. Been through high school, art school, 3 railroads and a head-on train wreck.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/913/mitchs992bws1.png

Mitch M.

04-12-2009, 09:54 AM

This is one of my alternates, without such a colorful history.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1736/santafe001.jpg

Mitch

Jerry Treiman

08-10-2011, 11:05 PM

For a real change from my usual 12-size watches I am wearing an 18-size 23-jewel Waltham Vanguard this week. I bought this watch about 40 years ago from a railroad watch inspector in downtown Los Angeles. He was a watch inspector for the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific and Pacific Electric, as well as local transit agencies. His shop was on an upper floor in the old Pacific Electric Building. (You may have seen this building in Disney's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"). When I bought the watch from him he had cased it in this new Star 10K RGP watch case with a new metal "Boxcar" style dial. I replaced only the dial and hands with this 24-hour Montgomery dial. I figure that the watch came to him as a trade-in (probably well-worn) and he fixed it up with the new case and dial. Fortunately by this time 18-size watches were not popular with the railroad men and I was able to get it for a reasonable price ($35).

I think this watch makes a good statement about how important (or unimportant) originality is on these working watches. The inspectors who maintained them replaced worn cases and damaged dials as necessary. Mine represents (if I had left the aftermarket metal dial on it) the working railroad watch of the mid-20th century.

richiec

08-12-2011, 03:31 PM

I was wearing this clean little Westclox Scotty today, keeps great time.

Jerry Treiman

08-04-2012, 10:37 PM

This is the first time I have worn this watch in a good number of years. It is Elgin's grade 189, a 12-size 19-jewel movement that is the sister of the open-face grade 193. I like these 19-jewel models and had been wearing my open-face gr.193 for a month or two recently (see http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?77703-The-Great-Pocket-Watch-Challenge/page17 ). Elgin alotted 10,000 serial numbers for each of these grades. This one, made around 1898, was from the first run. Later on, this same grade movement was labeled "B.W. Raymond". These are absolutely lovely movements, with a gold gear train, raised gold settings and they were adjusted to temperature and five positions.

The 18K case is remarkably heavy for a 12-size case (~57 grams). It was made by Jeannot and Shiebler for C.R. Boas, a respected Harrisburg jewelry concern that passed from father to son since its founding around 1850. The case serial number matches the movement number, something that J&S was known to do for their customers.

140267140268140269140270140271

This watch also highlights a problem with watches today in heavy gold cases. I bought this watch 36 years ago when the gold value was not such an excessive part of the price. As nice as the movement is, I imagine there are very few people who would even pay the scrap value for this watch today unless they were going to melt it. America had a fine watch industry but people today seem to forget that it was a divided industry - movement manufacturers and case manufacturers. Without the case manufactureres, these would not be watches, just interesting but nearly-useless mechanisms. To preserve the complete watch we as collectors need to pay more attention to the cases or they will continue to disappear. A large part of the story of the American watch is the cases, and that will be lost. Jeannot & Shiebler was one of the finest case makers. Their cases are solidly made, but that is also their doom -- they have a lot of gold. I would like to see collectors get just as excited about cases from the top makers as they do about the movements. There were also many early case makers (such as that I showed in this thread --> http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?90635-unidentified-early-case-maker ) who, if the cases do not survive, we may only know that they existed (from newspapers and directories) but we will have no idea what they actually made.

[I see that there has been another thread on "What's in your pocket?" http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?37507-What-s-in-your-pocket
Perhaps the threads can be merged?]