i have no clue what this is other than swiss made

[vandd]

as the title says i have no clue maybe one of you can help
there is no name on the movement other than it saying swiss made and on the face it says nassu
here are some pics
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12004.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12003.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12005.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12006.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12007.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12008.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12009.jpg
this pic is bad but the case sayswarenteed b&b royal 20 years.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/45114/12010.jpg

[Ansomnia]

Hi, I'm not an expert and I only hope to suggest some details.

The inscription looks like "From Pa and Ma Jan 31, 1906". I'm guessing the word "NASSAU" on the dial probably refers to a dealer in the US. The woman in the vintage photo looks too young for "Ma" and the pocketwatch is a man's model so that she may be his sweetheart or wife. If you know where the watch "spent" most of its time it may help to ID the dealer.

There appears to be a maker's mark and serial number on the back of the movement but your photo is too shaky and fuzzy for me to guess the details. I believe cases were usually locally made or sourced from elsewhere in the US.

It's nice to have photos but to be most useful you should try to only post sharp ones (or else we all get eyestrain :D). The best way to take a sharp photo is to take it in daylight, in the shade next to reflection from bright sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the camera to wash out shadow details. That's why it's better to use reflected sunlight.

The dial looks very good and I like the red minute lettering. The inscription and vintage photo are also nice human connections. I think it would make a nice restoration. The experts can probably pinpoint the maker of the movement and suggest the correct hands if they are missing.


Michael

[vandd]

ok on the back there is a cross meaning swiss and there are some numbers. i know that this pocket watch spent most of its time in wisconsin, but i think it was my friends fathers that came from eroupe before hand.
hope this helps
and sorry for all the pictures.

[Ansomnia]

If your friend's father knows whom this watch belonged to then he can place the date of the inscription. This is something you need to do yourself. The inscription can really only be American in this context.

As far as I can see. the watch itself may well be older or the same age as the inscription. Third hand information is notorious for being inaccurate so try to get first hand information. Someone who knows when the inscription was made is the best source of some of the information.

As for the markings, better photos won't help me but the experts would probably appreciate it if they are going to help you identify this watch. A serial number can sometimes nail down the date of manufacture. To get a proper ID, people need accurate descriptions of the watch, otherwise they have to guess and that is entirely unnecessary if you have the watch there.

BTW, the name Nassau is old and is originally German so it could also be a European dealer. But if the watch case is US-made, that is much less likely.


Michael

[vandd]

well all that marking is is a swiss mark, and the serial number is 243478 and my friends father has been dead for over 30 years.(my friend is an old fart):)

[IMHO]

Pritchard's "Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975" attributes sole ownership of the tardemark "Nassua" to Hipp Didishiem, importers in New York with factory at St. Imier Switzerland (probaby Albert Didishiem & Freres, St. Imier). A "Jewelers Circular & Horological Review" ad from 1889 is also included in Pritchard's reference.

These originally low-priced watches can be found in USA mail order C.F. Meyers & Co. and A.C. Becken Co. catalogs from this same period, and therefore are not uncommon in the USA. I have two or three in my collection.

Regards,

Dave

[vandd]

thanks for the info, so do you know of anyone intrested in a fixer uper?
lol ty thoguh