Looking for information on an old pocket watch

**Baledin** · 10-14-2011, 02:44 PM

Good afternoon, first off I am an absolute newbie to pocket watches so please forgive my lack of information. Second, thank you in advance for any help!

My grandfather recently passed away, and as we were cleaning out his possessions and inventorying everything, we came across an old pocket watch. I'm attaching pictures, but I have no idea how to determine the size, model, or anything else. Speaking with a friend at work who does work with watches as a hobby, he was able to instruct me in getting it up and running, and set correctly (keeps good time) but he couldn't give me much in the way of where and when it was made other than what the markings already indicate.

So, I bring this to you. Any help in identifying the watch manufacturer and roughly when it was made (plus any other interesting or helpful information) would be fantastic. Again, thank you in advance!

EDIT: Meant to add--the serial number is hard to read in the photo but reads 207916. The small marking on the mid-right hand side of the movement is 17 Jewels. Otherwise, it's the name of the Jeweler and his shop - Paul Hohlfeldt, Escanaba, Mich. A quick search brings up an article where Mr. Hohlfeldt's shop was burnt down in 1898 so that gives me a start for the date (assuming he didn't rebuild, though an old obituary states he died around 1906 so it's not too far off). I've measured the dial and it's about 1 3/4 inches (size 18?).

**richiec** · 10-14-2011, 03:17 PM

What you have there is a Hamilton model 927, stem wind, lever set, 18 size watch made about 1903 so he must have rebuilt. It is a hunting movement and approximately 49,282 were made in 62 runs.

**Baledin** · 10-14-2011, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by richiec

What you have there is a Hamilton model 927, stem wind, lever set, 18 size watch made about 1903 so he must have rebuilt. It is a hunting movement and approximately 49,282 were made in 62 runs.

Thanks for the fast response! After reading this, I googled the model and saw pictures just about identical. Good call

May I ask what keyed you in to knowing it was this manufacturer/model? Or does it all come from experience?

Also, anything else I should know about this man/model? As I said earlier, I'm new to pocket watches.

Thanks again.

**Kevin W.** · 10-14-2011, 03:30 PM

When you look at old pocket watches quite often, you get used to the layouts by different companies.This one was easy to see its a Hamilton.As far as models and runs i would have to look it up.I have a 925 that looks like yours.Nice watch, enjoy it.

**Baledin** · 10-14-2011, 03:34 PM

I'm absolutely loving it right now. Trying to figure out the date was more an exercise in tracing who bought it... from the sounds of it, it was a great-great-grandfather (assuming my grandfather's mother's father based on the engraving on the chain)
-> posts merged by system <-
Apologies if I should put this in a new thread, but where can I go to find information on the casing? There doesn't seem to be much other than jeweler's marks. A stamping says Patented Trade Mark (with a crescent moon and star symbol) Century and the number 9518.

**richiec** · 10-14-2011, 06:06 PM

I just recognized the design and then punched the serial number into the data base and voila. No muss, no fuss. Got lucky on this one, may not be so lucky the next time.

**Kent** · 10-14-2011, 06:31 PM

Hi Baledin:

You can seee a brief catalog description of the Hamilton grade No. 927, and where it fit in Hamilton's line of 18-size watches, on page 82 or the 1903 Oy Company Catalog. This will be approximately the same as your watch with the exception that one can't always be sure about a private label watch without seeing the retailer's description.

The case was made by the Crescent Watch Case Co.

Unless you know that it has been cleaned and oiled within the last few years, you should have the watch serviced before running it very much. It may be helpful for you to read the Encyclopedia article on Watch Service and its related links, especially the one to the message board thread on the subject. The Encyclopedia article on Choosing a Pocket Watch Repair Person may be useful as well.

Having gathered and printed out information about a family watch, it is a wise idea to write out as much as you know about the family member to whom the watch originally belonged. Then, add the names and relationships of the family members who passed it down to the current holder. Make up a booklet with this and all of the watch information and try to keep it with the watch. You might even include a CD or, better yet, a USB thumb drive with copies of the pictures or information, in addition to the printouts. Even though they may not be readable 100 years from now, some more recent descendent may transfer the files to the then current format and media. This way, the watch has real family heritage instead of it just being an old family watch, the identity and relationship of the original owner having been lost in the distant past.

Please feel free to ask about anything that isn't clear to you.

Good luck,

**Baledin** · 10-14-2011, 09:35 PM

Thank you all, this has been a wonderful resource. I'm so glad I found this place. I will start tracing the information. Thankfully, I work in a library with great genealogical materials so hopefully that will help

**richiec** · 10-15-2011, 06:58 AM

Baledin, just to give you a little help, Paul Hohlfeldt was born in Stargard, Germany May 2, 1864, emigrated to the U.S. in 1883, married a woman named Anna who was born in Escabana, Mich in 1867. In a passport application he lists himself as a watchmaker in 1894, 5 foot 3 inches tall, blue eyes and brown hair.