PW Chains

[Jon Hanson]

Place the watch on one end and either a key, fob, knife or ??? on the other-dress each on either side of the vest and into each vest pocket.

Yes, bow guards are best, esp. if you wear your watch daily and wind it while wearing same!

Caution: use the appropriate chain for the watch (weight) and watch out for "bad" swivels, jump rings, worn out connectors and worn out gold chains for heavy watches.



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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801

[terry hall]

Well, click on the link below to see what Pat Renwick used in 1898.....

World's Largest Pocket Watch Chain (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/1898chain.jpg)

I am sorry the image is not better... this is from February 1974 Bulletin, Whole #168.
From an article "Shades of Soapy Smith, The Klondike Gold Rush and The World's Largest Gold Watch Chain" By Eugene T. Fuller

This chain was made by Herman D. Kirmse, who came to Skagway in 1897 and hung his watchmaking "shingle".

The chain was commissioned by Pat Renwick from TEN gold nuggets. The finished chain weighed THREE POUNDS.

The story goes Pat liked to gamble and needed some money to cover from time to time. Herman did not want to see the chain melted down, so he made a deal with Pat to use the chain as collateral when he needed to cover his debts. It is stated in the article this could be two to three times a day! Herman and Pat worked out an agreement in that Pat had a combination to a safe on premises.... Herman would either find money or the chain in the safe! This arrangement continued until Pat's death in 1909 when Pat passed away. Herman did find the chain in the safe at this time. Herman asked the widow if she wanted the chain or the money, she decided on the money.

At the time of the article, the chain was still in the Kirmse family.

Herman also constructed the 'smallest' chain also. It is in the picture above the other. It consists of 283 nuggets and is 53 inches in length and weighs about a 1/2 ounce.

At the time of the article, it was also in the family.

This is just a small part of the article...worthy of archiving on the WWW.

and maybe this belongs on a separate topic... y'all tell me....

[Jon Hanson]

yes, start one on the 149 MB.

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801