Very interesting E-bay listing

[Beelzebud]

I have never seen a watch offered like this!
Everyone should check it out!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=878213603

Just copy and paste into your browser window.

Bill

[Beelzebud]

I have never seen a watch offered like this!
Everyone should check it out!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=878213603

Just copy and paste into your browser window.

Bill

[Jeff Hess]

Seems like a bargain. Sparse description. Original case? Does nto look like it. Is it a SPringfield WAtch comapny dial? Can't tell.

Still seems cheap. THe lobbying has started with my wife already on this one.

Jeff

[Beelzebud]

There is another listing for a Hoyte with serial number in the 3000's!
I am tracking multiple auctions at this point....

[Beelzebud]

Jeff- how can you tell its not the original case?

Bill.

[Greg Davis]

I still don't know how you can assert that it "seems cheap". This is a reserve auction with no bids... you have no idea yet what it will take to meet reserve.

[John Cote]

Bill,

The case the watch is in has a winding crown. This is a key wind key set watch and would have come in a case with a pusher at the crown to open the case, but no winder.

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

[Barry G]

Greg: That's why he said it only "seems" cheap... :wink:

Barry

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

[Beelzebud]

Thanks Jon. Im disappointed that I missed the obvious. But, Im still learning.

Thanks,
Bill.

[Beelzebud]

Wow- the auction has ended! Someone must have struck a deal with the seller...
Well, at least the Hoyte is still going.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=878225016&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1023242694&indexURL=0&rd=1

[Jon Hanson]

Several points:

Does it have an Abbott's SW conversion?

It is obviously recased.

IT IS A RESERVED AUCTION! The seller reserved it at 2500.00!

Why are the pictures so fuzzy?

I can't read the dial.

Is this seller a watch guy?

Lots of sales?

Hmmmmmm......

Could be a great item, or...........???



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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
President and moderator chapter 149

[Barry G]

Jon: It's a moot point now, but the starting bid was actually $2500. The reserve could have been anything, since all we know is that it wasn't met.

Like you, I am always a bit leary of somebody selling a high-end, rare item like this when they don't appear to have any past history of selling such items.

Barry

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

[Jon Hanson]

A starting bid is a reserve-the owners reserve (although it could be even higher); call it what you want BUT IT IS NOT a pure auction. True auctions have no starting bids, unless it is a mail bid in a public auction where bids are LEFT.

These starting bid fleabay auctions are simply bidders (buyers) bidding against the house!

I will *not* get into a debate here with the typists, but wouldn't it be great to ALWAYS know (OR HAVE LISTED) what the sellers' EXACT reserve is? Certainly THAT would be a more honest way to run things.

Jon

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
President and moderator chapter 149

[lots of time]

I also wondered how someone with what looks like no experience in trading watches on ebay could come up with the detailed description he gave of the watch. He may have been listing it for a friend.
I have a friend that is as computor literate as my cat, and I buy civil war antiques for him and I know nothing about civil war swords ect.
My personal opinion is that all actions should start with zero or .01 bid. I can understand reserves and why a reserve bid is hidden but setting it unrealistically high has resulted in a wasted listing. Same applies to a "sky high" initial bid placed by the seller.
I dont know how many emails I have recieved from sellers offering to sell an item to me for only slightly more than my highest bid, when the reserve was not met.
I have noticed a lot of watches. particularily HC that show the front, back, and movement but no picture of the dial!! I for one am not about to bid on a watch that I cant check out the dial

[Gene Osten]

The following is NOT my original research, so please don't throw rocks. I am not at all an Illinois expert, so if someone has better information, please correct me. This is posted for anyone who may be interested in the two watches, but do not have access to BIll Meggers' great book on the Illinois Watch Co.
Stuart No. 5 - this watch was finished about Dec 1871 or early 1872 and the dial should be signed "Springfield Watch Co." I can't quite make out the photo, so someone with better eyes (or display) may be able to comment.
Hoyt No. 3832 - This watch was finished in Jan 1873 and the dial should be signed "Illinois Springfield Watch Co." or just possibly a very late "Springfield Watch Co." I believe the dial is not original to the watch.
Hope this helps,
Gene

[This message has been edited by Gene Osten (edited 05-29-2002).]

[Greg Davis]

Jon, I absolutely agree that the more honest approach is for a seller to indicate what the reserve price is before the bidding begins. I see absolutely no valid reason for hiding this information until some bidder accidentally trips over the reserve line. Yet that is precisely the way most sellers on eBay choose to run their reserve auctions... with hidden reserves that they absolutely refuse to divulge.

What nonsense!

Whenever I run an auction you can bet it's a no-reserve auction. It's the only "honest" auction there is, as far as I'm concerned. I will almost always avoid bidding on a reserve auction unless I know what the reserve is in advance.

- Greg

[Beelzebud]

Ive often e-mailed and asked what the reserve
price is. Most of the time I have been given that info.

Bill