Show us your locomotive cases

[60MinuteMan]

This thread may get very long if it were about "Railroad" watches in general, but trains and watches have a special connection so show us your "locomotive/train designs". (or maybe just those extra special railroad versions)

Curious how this goes, heres' one to get us rolling down the tracks.
It's a 1905 Elgin 214 Veritas 23J, but that's not important right ! LoL

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Philadelphia Silverode
Elgin 240

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

Keystone Locomotive case with a Keystone movement.

 

[60MinuteMan]

Dave, nice the way they snuck the locomotive into the natural case design, I like it.

 

[Rodney Leon]

The case is Silveriod, Philadelphia.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I've shown this one before ... not too common in 12-size watches. It is a sterling silver case from the Illinois Watch Case Co. and marked inside for a Waltham watch.

 

[luvsthetick]

Here is one heavy case (18s) from the Illinois Watch Case Co.

 

[musicguy]

Rob

 

[Mike M.]

I love the diamond headlight in this one.

This was the one and only time I ever got lucky bidding on a watch with only a picture of the front....

 

[Steven Thornberry]

Here is one heavy case (18s) from the Illinois Watch Case Co.

View attachment 617013 View attachment 617014

I have a close cousin, housing a Waltham 1883 movement from about 1912.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

https://mb.nawcc.org/attachments/1891_r_-_r_cat_no_40_pg_09_rick_hufnagel-jpg.605830/

For some pricing reference, check out this link.


I had decided not to post that picture, as it is very worn... But the picture didn't delete correctly.. so there it is, lol. A well loved, thoroughly used swing out "Pioneer" case with an anti magnetic shield inside. Pretty neat case. Use it for work.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

If we want to get down in the weeds, here is an Ingraham Aristocrat Railroad Special (!), from 1956. However, it seems more like what we used to call a streamliner than a locomotive. (pardon the picture quality.)

 

[vintageguy]

Here are my two:

17J RRG Illinois Bunn, Wadsworth Referee "Railroad Model" 20 Year YGF Case





21J RRG South Bend 227, NAWCO Security "Railroad Model" 10K YGF Case

 

[Jim Haney]

Of course some people are intent on showing the watch more than the Locomotive engraving on the case.

Please also remember that people are and were engraving locomotives on plain case backs in the 1970's-80 & 90's and even today to enhance the value.......

 

[luvsthetick]

I have a close cousin,

Great case. I really like the inlay on Illinois cases.

 

[Mike M.]

Please also remember that people are and were engraving locomotives on plain case backs in the 1970's-80 & 90's and even today to enhance the value.......

Jim, I was thinking about whether to post this, or not. Now I must.
I bought it 7 or 8 years ago at a mart, in spite of the very obviously modern engraving...Rockford marked cases are hard to come by.
Since then, I have asked every goldsmith I met if it was possible to fill it in and smooth it... lol

 

[Mike M.]

Here is one heavy case (18s) from the Illinois Watch Case Co.

View attachment 617013 View attachment 617014

There always seems to have been a lot of discussion pertaining to the silver content of these "Hercules" marked cases. To me they have the look and feel of silver.

 

[luvsthetick]

There always seems to have been a lot of discussion pertaining to the silver content of these "Hercules" marked cases. To me they have the look and feel of silver.

I have never found a description of these cases by the manufacturer, even though one probably exists.

As you note, there has been plenty discussion concerning their composition.

After receiving and examining my case, I think my case is silver plated. The surfaces certainly have as you say, "the look and feel of silver."

Just my .02.

Look at my post #13 in this thread hercules-illinois-watch-case-co-pocket-watch-case-is-it-silver-or-silver-plated.112813

 

[Rodney Leon]

im, I was thinking about whether to post this, or not. Now I must.
I bought it 7 or 8 years ago at a mart, in spite of the very obviously modern engraving...Rockford marked cases are hard to come by.
Since then, I have asked every goldsmith I met if it was possible to fill it in and smooth it... lol

I understand your concern on the case back I had also bought one marked Loaner Ball that later I saw 2 more of. It was a silveroid so not a big loss, the cover and winder section was still good to use so made a display case. There is a person on the most popular selling site that has been selling them, along with 100’s of others they have defaced over the last 15 years since I noticed them, At first they were hand engraved using a vibrating engraving pen of about everything you could think of, Not done well at all. Now they are using a laser cutter, which if you have a good drawing it will at least look good but it still is messing up a lot of original cases. Yours looks kind of like them. Not much we can do about it, or the parting out of nice watches to make more money.

 

[Jim Haney]

In this thread look at posts, 1,2,15 almost NOS Gold inlaid Locomotives. Are they original ?

Hamilton Main Line/ Main Line Special, Private Label

 

[Clint Geller]

I have never looked for this kind of case, but I have admired some when I have seen them. Has anyone ever seen a solid gold case with a railroad image on it?

 

[darrahg]

Here are some I could locate for you train guys.
Rockford16s m2 g587 Star WCCo. nickel

Rockford 18s m6 Ill. WCCo. (Spartan)

Rockford 18s m7 BWCCo. (Windsor 20yr)

Rockford 18s m9 Ill. WCCo. (Hercules)

Waltham 16s g645 Wadsworth WCCo. (permanent)

 

[Mike M.]

In this thread look at posts, 1,2,15 almost NOS Gold inlaid Locomotives. Are they original ?

Hamilton Main Line/ Main Line Special, Private Label

Jim,
The closer I look at those the more they look like (at least in part) they were done electrically??

 

[Jim Haney]

Jim,

The closer I look at those the more they look like (at least in part) they were done electrically??

I would agree that these cases were done recently,that is, in the last 20 years.

They were part of the late Bob Bennett's estate and I knew Bob very well and we traded watches over the years.

Bob had a desire to make everything he had look perfect. He would put fancy dials on the good stuff and Time Zone hands and recase them in "Like New" cases, in other words, they would be in the best possible condition that he could make them to be.

I advised his wife Marie to contact Jones & Horan Auctions, to liquidate his watches and she did. Fred Hansen Jr. was well aware of the embellishments that alot of his watches had had done to them and the descriptions in their auction noted all of the "Improvements", so if you read the descriptions you knew what you were buying and as a buyer you can't ask for more than that

 

[Lee Passarella]

Recently got this one. It fits into the "train design" category. A train car--kind of indeterminate and somewhat fanciful on the part of the artist. Maybe an imagined caboose? Any, a Hamilton 938 in a Crescent Case Co. swing-out case.

 

[Joe Blossic]

Time I got onboard ..;

 

[Maximus Man]

A little tough to see them, but here are a few locomotive cases.

 

[Maximus Man]

Here are some nice NOS.

 

[Maximus Man]

Railroad Watch Company in 14k box hinge locomotive csse.

 

[Mike M.]

I would agree that these cases were done recently,that is, in the last 20 years.

They were part of the late Bob Bennett's estate and I knew Bob very well and we traded watches over the years.

Bob had a desire to make everything he had look perfect. He would put fancy dials on the good stuff and Time Zone hands and recase them in "Like New" cases, in other words, they would be in the best possible condition that he could make them to be.

I advised his wife Marie to contact Jones & Horan Auctions, to liquidate his watches and she did. Fred Hansen Jr. was well aware of the embellishments that alot of his watches had had done to them and the descriptions in their auction noted all of the "Improvements", so if you read the descriptions you knew what you were buying and as a buyer you can't ask for more than that

You mean those may not be the original boxes on those 992Bs I bought lol

 

[Mike M.]

Here are some nice NOS. View attachment 617570 View attachment 617571 View attachment 617572 View attachment 617573

...speechless, wow!

 

[Jim Haney]

You mean those may not be the original boxes on those 992Bs I bought lol

If you stay with the solid colors it should be fine. I did replace some different color lids than the lower box color, for Bob on several occasions

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Here's all the loco case backs I have. All are Silverode 18s cases except for #7 which is GF. Both #1 and #3 covers used the same die, though the lower case is much more worn than the other.
The bottom base metal case back (#6) has a die engraved image of the 1934 Pioneer Zephyr stream liner diesel locomotive.

 

[Kenny S.]

Fresh out of the mailbox...Pretty weak compared to everything above. Still, hand done. Now, what to put in it...?

 

[Mike M.]

I‘ve had this one a long time. I‘ve sometimes wondered when and by whom this simple locomotive engraving was done. The watch is a sidewinder, and when screwed down the locomotive also sits sideways.

 

[60MinuteMan]

Its fun seeing all the artistry, simple or ornate.
I got intrigued with the Aurora's from a recent post too, nice to see yours pop up Mike M.

 

[Les harland]

Its fun seeing all the artistry, simple or ornate.
I got intrigued with the Aurora's from a recent post too, nice to see yours pop up Mike M.

It might be worth starting a thread identical to this on the European and Other Watches section
You could end up with a whole load of different watches and locomotives

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Here's one I forgot when I listed my other cases; an 18s Rockford 925 with the gilt "tread pattern".
The some what fanciful image die engraved on the back of a plump Illinois W.C.O.nickel case shows
a 4-4-0 loco pulling a tender and two cars. The cars appear to have three pair of wheels a piece at each end and the middle. Still it's one of the better representations.

 

[vintageguy]

Here's one I forgot when I listed my other cases; an 18s Rockford 925 with the gilt "tread pattern".

That's some great photography, too!

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Thanks Rob. Those pics. were taken a few years ago with an SLR. Now my new cell phone makes pics even easier!

 

[Brad Maisto]

Fresh out of my late mother’s safety deposit box, not on a watch case, but a pretty cool advertising piece from the 1933-1934 Chicago exposition. These are slightly larger than a half-dollar coin.
The one side has: Union Pacific Lucky Piece 1934.
The obverse has: “A Sample of the Aluminum in the New Union Pacific Train built by Pullman Car & MFG. Corp.(in the shield “ALCOA aluminum”) Aluminum Co. of America Greenduck CHI
Brad Maisto, KY Floral #44 Secretary

 

[musicguy]

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I forgot that I had this 18-size base metal Star Watch Case Co. "Defiance" case --

 

[Paul Sullivan]

These late model Defiance 18s base metal cases with die engraved locos, other designs or just plain, and their interior frosty unpolished inside surfaces, are showing up more and more as 18s movements are orphaned from their GF, Silver, and Coin cases, and being scrapped as 16s and 12s took over in popularity, and moved 18s survivors down to ever decreasing decent Nickel, Silverode, etc., and finally to the bottom base metal models as the 18s lost their appeal and their gold, and gold filled cases started going to scrap. Now even some high grade or unusual 18s watches come up in nondescript base metal cases and some of those cases look in poor condition.

 

[musicguy]

These late model Defiance 18s base metal cases with die engraved locos.............................................

I have one of these in a box somewhere it held a nice Veritas with a yellow
plastic crystal.


Rob

 

[Paul Sullivan]

I have one of these in a box somewhere it held a nice Veritas with a yellow
plastic crystal.

Rob,
I have quite a few of these Defiance cases, both 16 and 18 sizes, kicking around the spares. Some times I have found some
great quality movements evicted from their gold and gold filled homes and into these Defiance base metal cases at a bargain price.

Though I must admit to my share of dogs also.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Found one today while looking through the case pile. This is one of the large size Philadelphia silverode SB&B cases.

 

[Bostonjoe]

Here is an example from 1902. 16 size Illinois..

 

[piedmontg]

Here are three of mine, the first one is a bit unusual as it is of a compound steam locomotive, ie instead of two steam engines one on each side. This one had four steam engines two on each side.

Bob

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

I've shown this one before ... not too common in 12-size watches. It is a sterling silver case from the Illinois Watch Case Co. and marked inside for a Waltham watch.
View attachment 616991

Here's another 12s, this one made by Keystone.