Motjina Russian Made Pocket Watch

[Itoone]

I'm a new guy to pocket watch collecting and repair. Want to know how to get the back off of the Motjina Pocket Watch I just bought off eBay. It appears to screw off but I can't budge it. Thanks in advance and regards to all, Jon Black in Roanoke, Texas

[Itoone]

I'm a new guy to pocket watch collecting and repair. Want to know how to get the back off of the Motjina Pocket Watch I just bought off eBay. It appears to screw off but I can't budge it. Thanks in advance and regards to all, Jon Black in Roanoke, Texas

[RON in PA]

I have a couple of Molnija watches and the backs are snap on/offs. One was do-able with my finger nail, while the other requires a jewelers watch knife.

[Itoone]

Thanks Ron

[RL]

Yes they are snap back cases. Not a bad watch for the money (inexpensive). They have a lot of different designs on their cases. Most are 18 kamen(Russian for stone, or in this case jewels).

[Itoone]

Thanks Randy. Apparently these watches have quite a good reputation for what they are. I found this on the Internet: This is what Tom Clancy wrote in Net Force, "He examined his watch... a Russian analog mechanical pocket watch. It was a Molniya, big, heavy, mostly steel, with an eighteen-jewel movement... If you could find a non-digital timepiece this well made and sturdy in the West - an you could not - it would have easily cost ten times as much as he had paid for this one." Hey, who would disagree with Tom Clancy? Grin.

[RL]

Yep Toone-- you are right. Clancy is speaking of the watch I have in mind. You can't call them delicate and precision but as he says "heavily made". And they do keep fair time. I have had several and sold most of them. I probably only have one left which is a Columbus commerative from 1992. (1492 to 1992).

[RL]

Toone,
By the way--all I have had were knew as is the Columbus. These are in current production by the Russian factory.

[M. Cross]

Are these the ones that are being made on the old Hampden factory equipment, or am I thinking of another Russian made watch? Regards! Mark

[RL]

Mark,
If my memory serves me--the Hampden equipment was bought by the Amtorg Trading Company.
There are several Russian watch factories (pocket and wrist) such as Slava, Molinja, Boctok etc. I have some interest in Hampden and wonder that also. If any of them have that connection I would think it would be this one.

Perhaps Kent or Ed can shed some light on the subject here.

[M. Cross]

Thank you, Randy. I, too, hope Kent or Ed can clear this up. I've come across the Molinja watches all over the country, and have always assumed that was the case....Regards! Mark

[RON in PA]

Randy: Funny that you should mention the Columbus commemerative, I had the opportunity to go to the NAWCC museum yesterday and sure enough of that model was in a display case of pocket watches.

[RL]

Ron,
Wow cool--pretty nice looking case eh?

Mark,
We may have to start another thread along the way and ask if anyone knows.