New Breed of Frankenwatch Discovered

[James J Nicholson]

While checking out the usual Auction site I happened across the most unusual and ugly example of a Frankenstein watch I had ever seen. The watch was a Waltham Seaside with an Elgin dial and very ornate gold hands that were way smaller than the dial. If this was not bad enough, the seller was looking for $500.00 for this abortion.
Thank You to all those who have given your time to answer my questions and keep me from being a victim of bad science experiments. Now I've seen it all. Too bad there is not a wall of shame on here to post the worst of the worst..

 

[musicguy]

We are not looking to shame eBay sellers here(plus it's against our rules). Unfortunately there are many eBay
sellers that consistently say things like , Rare, working, Original, Rail Road watch, and many other false descriptive
statements. Knowledge is King when buying anything on eBay.
Sometimes they call Hampdens Hamilton's and also list the wrong number of jewels and many other
mistakes.

EDIT I believe I also saw a Waltham with an Elgin dial last week.

Rob

 

[LloydB]

While checking out the usual Auction site I happened across the most unusual and ugly example of a Frankenstein watch [snippage].

Oh, but pray, Sir, how does one
do a search for such a treasure?
(Uh, no, please DON'T tell me.)

 

[Kevin W.]

Yes its unreal how some sellers describe the watches they sell. The term railroad is way over used.

 

[Les harland]

I think most Frankenwatches are a result of some one making a working watch out of two or three non working ones

 

[Tom Huber]

Yes, there are some wild changes. Years ago a friend of mine who has a coin shop offered me an 18S watch in a badly corroded silveroid case. He couldn't open it. It had a roman SS Illinois dial.
He wanted $20. I figured the complete case cleaned up was worth that.

When I got the case open, I was surprised to find a nice, running 17J Columbus King movement. When I removed the dial. it was noted that someone in the past had expertly added new dial feet in the Columbus pattern. One could see where the Illinois feet had been clipped off..

The dial change was probably done many years ago at the request of a customer.

I still have the dial. So, if any of you out there need an Illinois dial that is fitted for a Columbus, I have one for you. (lol)

Tom

 

[Jim Haney]

The last word in Franken watches

 

[topspin]

I often see random watches turning up with a Waltham dial on them.

Either the seller of the $500 watch has no idea what he's got there, or he's hoping to find a clueless buyer. Either way, I say good luck to him.

 

[Les harland]

Loomes Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World lists:-
Frankenstein Jacob London 1851
There is no mention of wether he made clocks or watches
It raises the question:-
Are there any "genuine" Frankenstein time timepieces out there?
I think Sherlock Holmes would describe that as a "three pipe problem"
He liked to smoke two or three pipes of tobacco whilst solving a case