How about posting your glass back salesman/display cases with movement.

[Paul Sullivan]

Bunn Special 18s tu-tone 21j (1895).

The watch, as purchased six years ago, came in this unmarked snap back and bezel nickel display case. The damaskeening and gold washed areas are still in very good condition and the display case suits the movement nicely.

 

[terry hall]

Ran across this one I had posted in another thread, (easier than finding on my computer)
18s Illinois Skeleton Case with nice private label movement and dial from South Carolina....
the pair just seems appropriate.

 

[yellow_sub]

Waltham 57

Waltham 83

And this Elgin No.349 is one of my favorites. Not a full glass back, but a very creative one.

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Very nice! I particularly like the Elgin 349 with it's folk art tricycle engraving and it's foreshadowing of the "open heart" balance wheel; popular
on many watches made in Japan, China, and, other locations in the far East.

Prior to collecting PWs I collected mechanical/auto wrist watches. Mostly Orient - Seiko, but also a few Swiss, Russian, Chinese models. Most had
case backs with crystals or exposed balances or other parts, but a few had the little window like yours on the case back showing the balance wheel ocillating (when it wasn't blocked by the winding rotor).

 

[Brad Maisto]

I think there has been only one other Hampden posted in this thread, well here is my Special Railway, #1,380,738. It also is marked 21 Jewels, Adjusted and Safety Pinion, and Canton, Ohio on the two-tone movement. This watch was acquired in a worn Monitor 25yr GF case and I thought it deserved to be displayed in this “Dueber >.< Hampden” salesman case with both covers being snap on. I replaced one of the crystals and kept the “size-circle” from the new/old stock crystal that I had in my inventory.
Enjoy, Brad Maisto, KY Floral #44 Secretary
Overhead LED lighting. (below). . . . . . Natural (dreary weather) lighting (below)

 

[Bostonjoe]

Her is my only salesman cased watch. It's a recent acquisition. The nickel case is marked Hamilton on both sides, the crystals are plastic, and the movement is of course a Hamilton. I was surprised that the case is a pop-on, pop-off front and back, instead of a more sturdier screw on or hinged case. The movement is a 21J, 16 size Grade 992.

 

[Rodney Leon]

I was surprised that the case is a pop-on, pop-off front and back, instead of a more sturdier screw on or hinged case. The movement is a 21J, 16 size Grade 992.

Nice watch and case and dial. Most display cases I have seen with the name stamped on them are snap cases.

 

[yellow_sub]

Hamilton 926 from about 1907

Waltham Riverside Chronograph Model 1874

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

I've had this mvt sitting around for about 25 years and just today did a little work on it. Needed a dial and a few other bits. Still needs hands. Runs but is very clunky (a previous owner must have done some staff work but didn't get everything sorted out properly and I'm not in the mood for doing further work on it). Anyway, here it is in a display case.

 

[f.webster]

The display cases are great. I am new to collecting pocket watches and wondered...

Can you take a front bezel and screw it on the back to form a display case?

 

[Jim Haney]

Yes, you can providing that you use a bezel from the same type of case so that the threads and size will be the same.

I see cases like this quite often.

 

[yellow_sub]

The display cases are great. I am new to collecting pocket watches and wondered...

Can you take a front bezel and screw it on the back to form a display case?

Eh, yes and no. You can but if you want it to look "proper" it will need to be fronts from 2 identical cases. Even then some cases have different threads from front to back, some times crystals have been replaced and then you have mismatched ones and even depending on how much one has been polished up too. One bezel may be worn down more than the other. So, yes its possible to do that but can be tough if you want it to look perfect. If you just love being able to see your movement at any time, then go for it!

And to add some more to the thread....
PS Bartlett Model 1879



An Elgin Grade 76 from 1888

 

[Rodney Leon]

A new addition in a Hamilton display case. Hamilton 990, 16 size, 21, jewel, Serial number, 1132461, Date 1915, Model 2. This was a lot of work getting it to run right it was slow by 9 minutes an hour. I would rather have a watch that runs fast to fix. I replaced the mainspring when I had it torn down which help some now it was 4 minutes an hour. Now the balance was next, the regulator pins were set far apart, then the balance screws were a mess someone had filed the bottoms and added washers to them so I took them out and replaced them. After adjusting the meantime screws over a period of time, I now have it back keeping time. Always wanted a 990 but did not think it would be so much work to own one.

 

[Paulfg]

I thought I had posted my Hampden New Railway 23 jewel already but cant see it
An 1899 model 3 serial no 1334816

 

[SpringDriven]

From Left to Right.

Vanguard M08 wind indicator
Vanguard M92 19J
992B first year production



I also have a Waltham M60 from 1863 in a salesman case. I will post pictures of it later.

 

[James J Nicholson]

Here are two of mine in display cases,

First one is from the Non Magnetic Watch Co.
And the second is a Rockford Tu Tone

 

[Jerry Treiman]

This may be cheating (for the intent of this thread) but I have many more movements than I have nice salesman cases, so many of my movements are in company shipping containers with glass back and front. All of these are Waltham Watch Co. shippers. These are 12-size and I also have a similar array of 16-size movements in these cases (without winding stems).


Here is one in a "legitimate" glass back salesman's case. It is a 12-size Waltham that was made in 1904 for the E.Howard Watch Co. For some reason Howard ended up milling their name off of the train bridge for most of these and polishing their name off the dial, as you see here. You can see a curving line just above the jewel settings in the train bridge where the plate surface now steps down. The milled surface was re-damaskeened but not a perfect match. Most of the original 12-size dials (various number styles) seem to have gotten pretty beat up. The visible serial number - 866975 - is a Howard number. The Waltham serial number was 12,066,975. The plates are unique to the Howard contract. I showed a similar 16-size model in post #19. There were possibly as few as 80 of these made in open face and about 120 of these for hunting cases.

 

[SpringDriven]

My 1863 Waltham ATCo M60.

 

[Rodney Leon]

Waltham 1919, Crescent St, Wind Indicator Model 1908 , 21 Jewels. Waltham Watch Co. snap lids, glass back case near mint, has 3 cuts for different lever models. Just finished serving it needed a new mainspring.

 

[Rodney Leon]

Just bought this Waltham Riverside 19 Jewel Railroad, Model 1908, 16 size, 19 jewel, Railroad Approved. Adjusted 5 positions. Lever set. Serial number 22328428. Cleaned it and has keep perfect time for 4 days, I put it in my last Waltham Display case I have. Had to use the last one for something nice. I read this is no longer a Railroad approved movement, when it was before. Anyone know why? ( Pocket watch database)

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Very nice! I've not come across many Waltham display cases, but I really like the Waltham model 1908 Riverside 19J A5P, along with those of the other manufacturers who produced similar 19J watches.

I also have a 1908 Riverside from the same run as yours, 22328145, which put them quite close together.



Here's a picture of the Waltham watch factory took from across the Charles river about 7 years ago the (Riverside's namesake)
and a link to an excellelnt pictured article I found online from BBC Travel, The Massachusetts city that sold time to the world.

I'm a bit ashamed to say, that although I live only 8 miles from the Waltham watch museum, I've never been there!

 

[Rodney Leon]

I also have a 1908 Riverside from the same run as yours, 22328145, which put them quite close together.

Thanks for all that, That is neat to see another watch in the same Run Quantity, They say there was 1000 made. Don't know how they managed with the end of WW1 that year, and the start of the 1918 influenza pandemic. They must have been really short staffed. Any idea why these are no longer Railroad watches?

 

[musicguy]

They say there was 1000 made.

I think it's more like 25,700

Any idea why these are no longer Railroad watches?

Here is NY Central Lines rules, make your own conclusions.





Here is my Standard one








Rob

 

[Clint Geller]

Well, here is the only "display case" in my collection, but it definitely is no "salesman's" case, because it tests at 18K gold. The angled reeding on the edges of the hinged front and screwed rear bezels both fit with that on the band of the case. The case fits a Waltham Model 1868 movement, which has a unique setting lever and movement thickness, in the sidewinding orientation. No other make or model of movement would fit that case properly. When I bought the case, it had a gilt, 15 jewel Model 1868 movement in it, but this gorgeous 18 jewel nickel Model 1868 movement needed a case, so...

 

[BillyHelbender]

Some really incredible watches here!! If I had my way I think I'd rather have a crystal over the movement than the hands anyway! LOL
I would put every watch I'm gonna own in a case that showed the movement.

 

[Clint Geller]

Some really incredible watches here!! If I had my way I think I'd rather have a crystal over the movement than the hands anyway! LOL
I would put every watch I'm gonna own in a case that showed the movement.

Hi Billy, it's great to see a new collector filled with enthusiasm for the hobby. If I had only one piece of advice to give you, and I actually have many, let many of your early purchases be books, and you will likely derive greater satisfaction from your other purchases. Cheers.

Clint

 

[Rodney Leon]

I think it's more like 25,700

Thanks for the great information, Looks like at the time of the article they were approved. I got my information from the Pocket watch Database. I guess I do not understand the run quantity number they use for the year manufacture they say 1000 for 1918. But the total number is more like the number you wrote 25700. So were these made in lots of say 1000 until they reached the total for the year? Or is that number the total made of the 19j movement? Your watch looks almost new, very nice dial.

 

[musicguy]

Looks like at the time of the article they were approved.

And that is what is most important. Download a copy of
it for your records.


Rob

 

[stickfly]

My Hamilton Grade 992 in a display case.
Regards ..... Gary

 

[stickfly]

And my 1935 Riverside 16s.
Regards..... Gary

 

[stickfly]

And finally, one of my favourites, even though some regard it as a "Frankenwatch".
An 1886 Waltham, originally imported to Britain by an Italian immigrant called Fattorini. He was a silver jeweller who would have cased this watch in a silver case. As the dial records, this watch was put together by Fattorini to celebrate Queen Victoria's 50th year on the British throne in 1887. There was a great exhibition in the Yorkshire town of Saltaire in 1887 as part of the celebrations.
Since then the watch has been re-housed into a case to be used as a wristwatch, which is how I bought it.
Regards ..... Gary

 

[musicguy]

Some new movements in glass front and back cans


My new 944 in Hamilton glass front and back case only
one side marked new to me.



Rob

 

[Joe Blossic]

I have a couple real salesman cases but have more made display cases. One salesman case I came across in looking through some ones in storage is ...
circa 1903 Hamilton, Grade 925, Model 2, 18s, 17j, HC, Lever

 

[musicguy]

One salesman case I came across in looking through some ones in storage is ...
circa 1903 Hamilton, Grade 925, Model 2, 18s, 17j, HC, Lever

These storage cases are perfect for the Hunting movements. Nice!

Rob

 

[Old rookie]

My contribution is a Rockford grade 925, model 9, circa 1908.

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Here's a Hamilton 930, 18s, 16j from about 1897 (#26031). Hamilton made about 4200 of 930s and 4000 931s from 1894 to 1899, when they were replaced by the 17j 924 and 925.

 

[Old rookie]

My latest glass back is a South Bend, 579655, Grade 329, Model 2, Circa 1909, 18s, 21j, Adj. Temp +5psns, "The Studebaker" trademark, South Bend, In., Canadian dial. It has a regulator with a precision nut and screw. Would Canadian railroad time standards at the time have approved this regulator?

 

[thesnark17]

Yes. In 1909, there would not have been any question about this watch. South Bend even advertised that if their railroad grades were failed by an inspector for not having the right features (i.e. jewel count, roller, etc.), that they would replace the watch, free of charge, with one that would pass.

South Bend only put The Studebaker name on their best grades*, and the grade 329 Studebaker was their top 18 size grade. You literally cannot get a better South Bend in 18 size than the one you have there.

*Until they decided to create the Studebaker Watch Co. mail-order subsidiary in the mid-'20s and dilute their brand, that is... Those Studebaker watches are good, but definitely not top grade. South Bend's very highest grade 16 and 18 size watches are all labeled "The Studebaker" in cursive script**. The later, cheaper versions are labeled "Studebaker" in block letters.

**Except the Polaris watches, which were made in a limited edition of 500 and guaranteed forever.

 

[4thdimension]

As I have no Os hunting case to put this little Rockford into it will have to live in this odd Os “sample” case for now. The ser.# is 622281. -Cort p.s.-needs better hands too.

 

[richiec]

Cort, think the case is pretty nice, hands aren't so bad, as long as it runs good, I'd keep it.

 

[4thdimension]

Cort, think the case is pretty nice, hands aren't so bad, as long as it runs good, I'd keep it.

Full disclosure. Since I didn’t have a proper case I was going to put it in a very nice wrist case. The hands seemed OK for that. But the case turned out to be the wrong size (doh!) . Since the movement is from 1903 or so I will wait for a more appropriate case. -Cort