Rockford Pocket Watch

[Jera]

Looking for more info on a particular model (184281). Everything I find indicates it is from 1883. This particular watch is open face with side wind, made of Fahy's Ore Silver. Any advice of finding out more about it and its worth?

[Jon Hanson]

values are not allowed here on this MB

[Jon Hanson]

here is a Rockford tool for info, compliments of chapter 149

http://www.nawcc-ch149.com/db_resch/rockford_1006.html

[Jera]

Thanks! I checked the research tool yesterday and found out a little more about it. It shows it as a Hunter case and mine is open. Also, it says series number under investigation. Does that mean research? It was my husbands grandfathers and when we got married in 03, my wedding gift was going to be to get it running again. It took a year and $373.00. But now runs excellent. I wind it daily. Recently met a watch repairer in the same building I work in, he looked at it and told me it was special and to take good care of it. Neither of us have grandparents, and both our fathers are deceased, we have a 3 year old son and just really want to pass this to him one day. Any advice on preservation of it? How often should it be cleaned? Do I need to wind it every day? Thanks again!!

[John Cote]

Thanks! I checked the research tool yesterday and found out a little more about it. It shows it as a Hunter case and mine is open.

Just so you know, hunter case has nothing to do with the type of case in which the watch may now find itself. It means specifically that it winds at the 3 o'clock position and not at 12. A watch that winds at 3 can easily be put in an open face case but it is still a hunter movement.

[richiec]

If you wear it daily it should be cleaned at the very least every 3 years depending on the enviroment. If you are not using it daily, you need not wind it especially if you are going to store it, make sure it has run all the way down so the mainspring doesn't take a set and lose power or break when it is used again. Keep it in a dry place to prevent corrosion, protect it from impact like falling off of a shelf as the shock will break the balance staff or worse. Your son will appreciate the watch when he is old enough, I developed a sense of the personal value of family heirlooms at a young age as my father had posession of his grandfathers cabinet with lots of neat stuff like my great grandfathers income tax returns from 1913-1931, old military epaulets and buttons, a watch, etc from my great, great, great, great grandfather which i inherited when my mother died 17 years ago. Just take normal care of the watch and it will take care of itself.

[Kent]

Also, Ed Ueberall, of The Escapement has put together some notes on the Use And Care of Your Vintage Watch (http://k_singer.home.comcast.net/use_and_care_of_your_vintage_wat.htm) that may be helpful.