Railway Time Keeper S/N 785630

[sixtiescycles]

Hello fellow NAWCC members! I'm new to the Association and would start by saying I've really been bitten by the bug. I recently acquired an 18s SW LS "Railway Time Keeper" pocket watch S/N 785630 with same inscription on dial and movement. See attached photos. There's no name or city anywhere on it, so I'm looking for help as to who made it, when, where, etc. The movement is pretty high grade; 21 jewels, microregulator, nice damaskeening, and another train logo on the back (this one appears to be stamped) identical to the one on the single-sunk dial. The case is a gold-filled "CASHIER A.W.C.Co." S/N 659215 and has an emblem in the middle that looks like a winged wheel. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much, Dave Walker, Boulder, CO.

[richiec]

sixtiescycles, to be gently, this is what is referred to as a "Swiss Fake" made to look like a Waltham 1883 to fake people out into buying what they think is a decent watch. I would doubt that it has 21 actual jewels. It has been recased based on the extra screw marks. The Cashier cases were made in Canada and were gold filled. It it runs well, you did ok, if it doesn't run, it will be expensive to fix. Before you buy a watch, do some reading and research before you end up like me, before I started reading, with an collection of ho hums that I can't resell for anywhere near what I paid for them so they just languish.

[sixtiescycles]

sixtiescycles, to be gently, this is what is referred to as a "Swiss Fake" made to look like a Waltham 1883 to fake people out into buying what they think is a decent watch. I would doubt that it has 21 actual jewels. It has been recased based on the extra screw marks. The Cashier cases were made in Canada and were gold filled. It it runs well, you did ok, if it doesn't run, it will be expensive to fix. Before you buy a watch, do some reading and research before you end up like me, before I started reading, with an collection of ho hums that I can't resell for anywhere near what I paid for them so they just languish.

I appreciate the honest reply; thank you. The best thing I can say is I'm doing my homework and studying up. It does run, although fast. I've read enough at this point to appreciate the irony in having a Swiss-made watch considered an inferior substitute for the real thing. Interesting how times change. Regards, Dave

[elphias]

sixtiescycles, to be gently, this is what is referred to as a "Swiss Fake" made to look like a Waltham 1883 to fake people out into buying what they think is a decent watch. I would doubt that it has 21 actual jewels. It has been recased based on the extra screw marks. The Cashier cases were made in Canada and were gold filled. It it runs well, you did ok, if it doesn't run, it will be expensive to fix. Before you buy a watch, do some reading and research before you end up like me, before I started reading, with an collection of ho hums that I can't resell for anywhere near what I paid for them so they just languish.

im just curious, how can you tell that it's a fake? im trying to learn so i have better knowledge.

[Dave Coatsworth]

Check out this encyclopedia article: http://mb.nawcc.org/showwiki.php?title=Swiss_Fakes

[richiec]

There is another method called stare and compare, look at a Waltham 1883 and then at this one and note the differences such as the barrel bridge, regulator, the quality of the materials and etching and you will see quite a difference.

[Kent]

Your watch case is gold-filled and was made by the American Watch Case Co., Toronto.

[sderek]

Did any genuine American made railroad watches have an image of a train on the dial or movement?

[Kent]

Dials bearing a locomotive were available (upon request) for the Columbus Watch Co. Railway King grade in 1891. I think that locomotive dials were also available for the Railway King and Columbus King grades around 1900-1902, but these aren't too common..

There may be one or two other railroad watches having images of locomotives, but I can't think of any at the moment.