Unio Pacific 23 jewel

[Cactus50]

I have an 18s watch labeled Union Pacific. It also has Swiss on the rear plate. Serial # is 634712 with 23 jewels, adjusted 3 positions heat & cold. My questions is who made this thing and is it worth my time to repair (pivots are pretty rough).

[Kent]

This appears to be a “Swiss Fake.” This is a term used to describe inexpensive watches made to resemble medium-to-high grade American watches. They are marked with names similar to those of American watches, or with names that sound as though they should be an American watch. They frequently have a distinctive lettering style on their plates. Another distinctive feature is the lack of a fine finish on exposed parts, such as the winding wheels and regulator (which may be gilded). Many “Swiss Fakes” made to resemble 16-size, American railroad standard watches also have "21 Jewels" on the dial, in an arc over the seconds bit. This too, is in a distinctive (red) lettering style. These watches were imported from the last quarter of the nineteenth century through the end of the American pocket watch era in the 1960’s. On some, their jewels seem to be larger than on most American watches and they may not all be functional. The Elgin Watch Collectors Site contains a 1908 Article Describing One Such Watch (http://elginwatches.org/scans/non_elgin_articles/m_1908_swiss_fake_warning.html).

Also in 1908, C.D. Rood, president of the Hamilton Watch Co. testified before congress during tariff hearings. The text of his testimony is Available Online (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/1908_Dec_31_Swiss_Fakes_C_D_Rood_Ha.jpg) (although you might have to copy it and blow it up a little to read it) thanks to Robert Sweet.

The markings on “Swiss Fakes” as to adjustment are not to be trusted. No American watches come to mind whose adjustment markings are to less than 3 positions, or 5 adjustments (heat, cold and 3 positions). Markings on “Swiss Fakes” may be 1, 2 or 3 adjustments. The deception occasionally goes as far as simulating a temperature compensated balance. On a true compensated balance, the rim of the balance (wheel) has two cuts, all the way through the rim, one near each of the two arms that support the rim. Sometimes, these cuts are faked by the use of a slot that goes half way through the rim. A real temperature compensated balance has the inside of the rim made of a different color material than the outside of the rim. A faked compensated balance is made entirely of the same material. Most “Swiss Fakes” don’t bother doing this and the balances don’t have any cuts at all. These are not to be confused with post-1930 quality watches whose anti-magnetic, temperature immune balances are not cut.

The Trans Pacific (http://photos22.flickr.com/33400513_3616bb94e3_o.jpg) is one of the better-known, 16-size "Swiss Fake" pocket watches, while the Time Ball Special (http://photos23.flickr.com/33400512_0231381254_o.jpg) is a well-known 18-size "Swiss Fake." Another 18-size "Swiss Fake," named Howland, made by a different company, Exhibits the Same Style of Lettering (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/Howland_18S_23J_M_Tom.jpg) and has another attribute which serves as a tipoff. It has an upper plate above the normal top plate. This is hard to see in the image of the Time Ball Special (visible in the manner in which the balance is recessed), but it stands out in the Howland watch, not only because of the recessed balance, but because of the way that the upper jewels are mounted. I cannot think of any high grade watches, American or otherwise, that have this arrangement.

Some "Swiss Fakes" such as the "Frisco Special" have locomotives on the Dial (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/Frisco_Spcl_D.jpg) or engraved on the Movement (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/Frisco_Spcl_M.jpg). The nearly identical "Engineers' Special" Dial (http://mb.nawcc.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=24491&d=1228937277) and Movement (http://mb.nawcc.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=24490&d=1228937256) movement also bear a locomotive. Very few American watches have this embellishment and when they do, the locomotive will be of American design, not European, as seen on the examples shown in the above links.

As to whether it is worth your time and effort to fix the Union Pacific 23 jewel watch up, that is up to you. In recent years, “Swiss Fakes” have come to appeal to some collectors. They have a charm all their own and those examples in good running condition, that have been serviced properly, keep reasonable time - nothing spectacular - but within a couple of minutes a day or better.

Good luck,