Time on the go

[musicguy]

The leather washer under the crown has disintegrated and I would be interested in where to find a replacement.

I'm not familiar with these?

Rob

 

[darrahg]

I'm not familiar with these?

Rob

Off topic but:

I have encountered one or two over the past several years that needed replaced. Find someone that works with leather or go to a leather craft shop (Tandy Leather ) and get a scrap of one or two ounce leather or weight of appropriate thickness and cut or punch your own.

 

[179]

These are most often found on cases with a threaded cap on the pendant under the crown. Thought to help seal against dust intrusion.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Off topic but:

I have encountered one or two over the past several years that needed replaced. Find someone that works with leather or go to a leather craft shop (Tandy Leather ) and get a scrap of one or two ounce leather or weight of appropriate thickness and cut or punch your own.

These are most often found on cases with a threaded cap on the pendant under the crown. Thought to help seal against dust intrusion.

Thank you both! Had not seen this before either.

 

[viclip]

Restorers of vintage items such as fountain pens will often seek to replace leather seals, with modern rubber components. This includes using off-the-shelf O-rings as well as punching out custom gaskets from sheet rubber. Modern rubber compounds provide a better seal plus have greater longevity. Of course if period authenticity is important, then leather's the way to go.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

This watch was a learning tool, and although very worn, served it purpose well. It's very evident it was well loved and meticulously cared for throughout the extent of it's use. After a lift spring, new stem, and a good clean and lube, it's keeping time within a minute every few days. This was once a spectacular case made by H. Muhr and sons. It is a very well built sturdy case with Multi colored gold and lots of designs on it. There is green, white, yellow and rose gold decoration in the lids. It's now quite worn showing brass and will serve as a carry watch. The 11 jewel Elgin movement, while the plates are spotted, looked immaculate inside when taken apart.

it will be a fun piece for an everyday carry.

Have a good day!

 

[Nick23]

I took my wife out to dinner last night to celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary, and decided to take along another of my special favourites.
My 12 size Waltham Bridge Model.
Both are getting on a bit, but still in superb condition!

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I took my wife out to dinner last night to celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary, and decided to take along another of my special favourites.
My 12 size Waltham Bridge Model.
Both are getting on a bit, but still in superb condition!
View attachment 545595 View attachment 545596 View attachment 545597

Beautiful. This is my favorite Waltham model, and these very striking blued steel cases are under-appreciated

 

[Nick23]

I agree Jerry. The contrast of the blued steel against the movement is quite striking. In the Dennison catalogue the 18K cased 12 size bridge model was priced at £25 - 00, whereas the silver cased option was £16 -10s. Or you could have the blued steel cased version at the rock bottom price of 3 shillings less at £16 -07s.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Thank you for showing that! Wow, what a beautiful combination!

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

Very nice example, Nick. I'd never seen one in a blued-steel case before. 12-size AWCO Model 1894 bridge models are lovely watches. Only about 1,000 were made. They are hard to find. I wanted to buy one for years before acquiring three in the last six months of 2017, two more than I wanted.* One of these is an English example with the Roman numeral version of the dial on your watch, but recased in an 18k AWCO case. Its serial number is 51 numbers higher than yours, #8,774,893.



*The first example was lovely, in an 18k A&B case, but it didn't have the correct "Hull " dial. That's why I bought the second example, the watch pictured above. It too didn't have the "Hull" dial (it had the correct English dial) and it had been recased, which is why I bought my third example, another beautiful example in a 14k case (perhaps by Dubois or Lissauer); it had the correct "Hull" dial. I've since gotten a correct "Hull" dial for my first example. So now I have three correctly dialed examples.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Heading out to the movies tonight, have been dying to get this one out and about to see how it handles being carried. It's been up and running for a while now and doing fairly well.

Chas Fargo grade, first run in my opinion.

(There are 5 Chas Fargo's in a run much lower in serial number but they are presumably p.l. and could have been made who knows when.)

I found this one in the U.K. I can not for the life of me figure out this case, but I've been looking. If anyone has any ideas please give a shout! The trademark says warrented coin silver but incant make out the middle. The Hallmark.... No idea at all.

It's a beautiful movement, and with the exception of a couple little spots on the Gilt, it's very nice and bright! Unfortunately being that bright show off the flaws really well when you take a picture, haha!



Have a good day! Anyone else carrying anything good this weekend?

 

[rrwatch]

Well, last week at the Chattanooga Regional banquet I was carrying a Waltham Premier Maximus. Is that close enough?

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Keep the old thread goin!

Dinner with the Mrs. And her parents.

Beautiful Elgin grade 108!

This absolutely wonderful dial needed some perfect hands, and Marty had this awesome set. The silver case is from AWWCo. The 108 is definitely my favorite 16s Elgin.


Have a good weekend everyone!

 

[Nick23]

The wife and I are just back from a couple of weeks touring Tuscany. Fabulous! Took this Appleton Tracy with me.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

I finally got a chance to sit down and do some work on watches, so today is a recent project.

This is a Hampden springfield grade 60 that has the coolest dial... Looking and running great! Gold jewel settings, gold colored teske regulator, it's a great movement! Nice Blaur coin case.

Quite a welcome addition to the group.

 

[Nick23]

My wife and I went to the Royal Marines Corps Ball this week-end to celebrate the 355th Anniversary, and no, we haven't attended them all! This year, special attention was given to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
I carried two watches for the occasion. A Waltham 19J Riverside from a consignment purchased from Waltham for use by the Royal Navy in the First World War. The movement is engraved with the Admiralty mark and stock number.


The second one is a little older. It's an English silver pair cased. The rear cover of the outer case is engraved in the centre with a ship of the line surrounded by the words:- A small token and mark of merit to Mr. Jn MacDonald. Carpenter of his Majesties Ship Mermaid July 1794.

HMS Mermaid was a 35 gun frigate that was first commissioned in 1788 and John MacDonald was awarded his Royal Warrant and became it's carpenter, which, on a wooden warship was regarded as one of the most important positions on board. Once appointed as a carpenter to a Royal Navy ship that man would remain with the ship for the rest of his career. Usually a Royal Navy ship's carpenter was selected from amongst the senior shipwrights that had built her. The theory being that no one would know the construction of the ship better.
The Captain of HMS Mermaid on that first commission was Captain Cuthbert Collingwood who 17 years later would become Vice Admiral Collingwood second in command to Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, and on the death of Nelson took command of the fleet and the remainder of the battle.
The watch was presented to John MacDonald by his third commanding officer Captain John Trigg.
John MacDonald remained with HMS Mermaid until 1798. He died in 1799.

 

[Rob P.]

Hah, finally remembered to take a picture just for this thread.

This is my 1911 7 Jewel Elgin in a plain Silverine case with gold winding crown. Nothing special but we're on the go.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I usually wear a thinner watch for daily use ( Watch you wear daily ) but just in case we get some windy weather I decided to drop my 1892 Vanguard in my pocket. It is pendant set with "21 Ruby Jewels" and a nice private label dial for a Canadian jeweler. I wanted to wear something different for our local Chapter meeting this weekend (Ventura Chapter 190) and will go back to my thin watch on Monday. (I think my Colonial-A is about as thick as just the crystal and bezel on the Vanguard).

Waltham collecting sure offers some variety, doesn’t it?

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

After two months of being lost in the abyss that is the United States postal service, this watch showed back up at the sellers house, who then shipped it to me for a second time.

It arrived last week and I've been carrying it just to test drive it. It's a plain jane post 1900 15 jewel Elgin, with a pressed and sunk dial, but the matching private label movement and dial was what caught my eye. It's a good example of a later movement and dial marked Elgin p.l. it seems to be more common in this era to just have the dials marked.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Being a Holliday i thought it would be nice to pull out one of my prized watches for a day.

Not only is this an early Elgin stemwinder, but it's one of the first year, with no lever, it is a stemwind, key set. On top of that, it's a private label with a cut out balance cock.... In a monster coin silver case. I couldn't dream up a more perfect watch to represent my interests! With only 4 observations of the keyset stemwinders, I'm pretty proud to be this ones caretaker.

Don't let the keywind case fool you... It is a stemwinder just like all series 2. Next time it's apart I'll have to check the keyless works for wear... That will help confirm case originality. I have my doubts, but can't definitively say one way or the other.

Anyways.... Anyone else pull out something special for today?

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm certainly grateful for many things today, including all of the fine people who have taken time to help me learn and enjoy this hobby. I know many of you are not in the U.S., but have a good day today as well.

 

[Rob P.]

Anyways.... Anyone else pull out something special for today?
]

Just another beater. This one is a little 6s Elgin in a silveroid Hunter case that still needs a crystal. But, it fits in my pocket very nicely even without a chain or fob.

She's a finicky beast, sometimes it just stops like it has a bad jewel or pivot but there's nothing I can find. It'll do it in any position too. It's very frustrating so I can't wear it alone. Maybe the problem is that it likes company - I dunno.

Eventually I'll pull it apart and clean it again. Some day.

 

[Nick23]

I saw the New Year in wearing this 1920 Waltham 1883 model from the last run of key winders. S/N 22576905.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

I'm wearing my dress watch today. I'm not much of a gold person, so this gorgeous little bugger is perfect for me.

Elgin 14s grade 39. 13 jewels. Mid-1870s. At 3,600 total production it's not uncommon. What is not common about it, is its condition! This is my opinion of course, from just observing most of these as wrecked loose movements.
Everything about it is great! Runs like the day it left the factory. Check out that case! This was a watch I wanted from day one and I was so happy to add such a nice, jeweled example a little while ago.

Happy New Year Everyone, even to you guys that have already started Jan 2nd I got stuck working early this morning a few hours, I guess winter finally decided to show up. Nice way to kick off 2020, haha.

 

[James J Nicholson]

Several weeks back I had a conversation with Rick and we discussed the old threads
about carrying a watch. I really did not spend time looking for it, as it has been dormant
for quite a spell.

I will tell you my position on a wrist watch. Our closest town is Lebanon, KY and we do
indeed have a Walmart. Over the years I would go in, select the size and kind of quartz
watch I wanted to wear on my left wrist. Sure enough 3 years would go by and the battery
would conk out. I'd buy one at our local jeweler, give that crook some money and maybe
make it two years and it was that time again. I got fed up, I was already collecting pocket
watches and I finally found my permanent American watch maker (Rob Carter), so I made
my mind up to look through the watches for the best fit.

Keep in mind I collect mostly key winds, but I do have some serviced lever sets. I came to
the conclusion the best bet was my old E Howard Mershon in a hinged salesman display
case. I only had about $200 in the movement and $75 in the glass back. My other choice
was any one of my AT&Co grades in a silver case. Then I remembered every now in then
I go to church, weddings, funerals and special events, so I needed a carry watch for just
that occasion. I thought I'd use the same value model and add a bit for say a gold case.
Now one should note, I own hunter cased watches, but I prefer not use them. Instead I
collect original side winders. Also, from time to time, I'll switch up and grab one of my
other fusee's or a Swiss watch.

So I have my three displays of serviced watches and I have a group of carry watches
(also serviced). I will show two and name off the rest. As time goes by and I grab one of the
named ones for carry I will add the photos to this thread. Here I will name them and show
three of them (Rockford is for Sunday).

E Howard SN# 15062, AT&Co grade SN# 311609, Rockford model 2 SN# 66146.

Now Rick and I discussed making this thread for anyone who wants to add their
carry watch to this list. Keith R... and Rick Hufnagel.

Now if one goes to a meet and carries one, that counts.

EDIT: Thanks Tom M., for putting up the model 1859 with the DS dial, in "My early
Possible Railroad" thread!!

Here are the carry watches for Keith R...

View attachment 515454 View attachment 515455 View attachment 515456 View attachment 515457 View attachment 515458 View attachment 515459 View attachment 515460

 

[James J Nicholson]

Keith R, I Love the pictures of your carry watches The E Howard is outstanding. I love the hands on that one .Is the correct terminology "umbrella hands" for that style . I'm curious as to how likely I might see one of those come up on the various auction sites .Are they very rare/expensive or difficult to find parts for? .I applaud you for carrying such a fine watch. I carry a more common Elgin 349 or the Father Time .Don't want to take chances with the others in the collection.

 

[Keith R...]

James, I came to understand the umbrella hands were meant for the
stem winds, but some of the early key wind jewelers would install them
on key winds.

I will leave it to you to confirm the appropriate hour & minute hands
for series I,II,III,IV & V E Howard key winds. I'd say ask Clint Geller.

I have a series I from 1859, but they have been changed, I'm sure.
Today's carry is an early BW Raymond, GF case and National Watch
Co. dial.


Thanks for the ask.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

Inexpensive, 15J adjusted. Try an Illinois KWKS.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

There's only one other Newark I'd like to have, but it lives in California.
Too many pics.

Keith R...

View attachment 564853 View attachment 564854

 

[Artfella]

Here's a look at my current collection of circulating carry watches. I typically swap through them at different times of the year to make sure they all get a good running on them.

All have been serviced within the last year or two, they are:

1941 U.S. GOVT. 4992B
1899 929
1943 U.S. GOVT. 992B
1951 992B
Model 23 (forget the year at the moment, think 1943-ish)



Couple of close ups of the 1899 929



My most recent repair and restored current daily driver (been running constantly for about 5 months now) is this beautiful 1910 999M; local former Hamilton watch smith did excellent work restoring it and it runs beautifully.



I almost feel guilty using these nice pieces but I'd hate to get them back up and running to only have them sit in a box; they need to live out in the wild!

 

[musicguy]

Very nice!

Rob

 

[Keith R...]

This week, it's a 15J Going barrel Elgin, Taylor and a 17J lever fusee 1842,
Josh Johnson, (Liverpool Runner).

Keith R...

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

I usually only carry the same couple watches now... An Elgin M.D. Ogden when not at work, and Mr. Latzke (the private label Hampden ) when I am at work. Both of them are completely tuned to my wearing habits and they're just great watches.

Anyways this isn't one of those two ....

This poor neglected bugger recieved a service last year. I hung it in my box, and never really took it out again. Figured this was a good week for him.

The Atlas Watch Company. Elgin grade 179, 18s model 5.

I love the dial signature on these!

Unsunk dial, uncut brass balance, 7 jewels, and runs great! I know the crown is awful, one day I'll find one that's the right size. You know how it is, box full of crowns and not one matches this case!

Despite the fact that it's one of the lowest grade 18s Elgin I can find, it still looks pretty good and does its job very well!

Have a good week everyone, what's left of it!

 

[luvsthetick]

I love the dial signature on these!

Agree.

 

[Clint Geller]

Lee, I know what you mean. I also have the English and Swiss to lean on.

Got rid of it, post service pic (hack watch, last pic).

Note, the Barraud went with me to town and watched me eat lunch.

Keith R...

View attachment 515616 View attachment 515617 View attachment 515618 View attachment 515619 View attachment 515620 View attachment 515621 View attachment 515622 View attachment 515623 View attachment 515629

Love the Barraud, Keith. What is the date mark on the case?

 

[Keith R...]

1875 Clint and in a Dennison case.

Keith R...

 

[Clint Geller]

James, I came to understand the umbrella hands were meant for the
stem winds, but some of the early key wind jewelers would install them
on key winds.

I will leave it to you to confirm the appropriate hour & minute hands
for series I,II,III,IV & V E Howard key winds. I'd say ask Clint Geller.

I have a series I from 1859, but they have been changed, I'm sure.
Today's carry is an early BW Raymond, GF case and National Watch
Co. dial.


Thanks for the ask.

Keith R...

View attachment 563874 View attachment 563875

Gorgeous Model 1862-N (Series III), Keith.

No one can say for certain that no Howard keywind movement ever left the factory with umbrella hands, but certainly, for the N Size Reed's patent main wheel movements, I would turn a jaundiced eye on umbrella hands. (Other hand styles very occasionally seen on the very early Howard movements up to about SN 3,500 are trident style and Breguet (moon) style hands.) Now of course the Models 1869, 1871 and 1874 (a.k.a., Series IV, V, and VI) were made in both keywind and stemwind configurations, so it is much more likely that some keywind examples of those three models may originally have been fitted with umbrella hands, as both hand styles were in use at that time. Nevertheless, even here, I greatly prefer teardrop style polished spade hands for keywind Howard movements.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Howards sure are nice.

Today I took several watches back to the vault and took out a couple of other old friends that I haven't worn in a while. First in my pocket for the week is this J-size Howard with spectacular damaskeening that Clint found for me a number of years ago. The J-size Howard, introduced in 1892, was the first regular production stem-wind 12-size watch in the U.S.

 

[Keith R...]

Normally I would not place a verge in, time on the go. But I discovered a
Scottish verge, 1773 in an American case (OD 53MM) and 22MM deep.
I timed the watch over 4 days and got it to even with my Howard III from
1864. I have a front wind Dupree and a Vale & Rotherham verge from
1834, that are equal in timing at (24 hrs). These are timed for carry.

Note, American case hallmarks, (I have another from same case maker 1802).
London dial, Silver and it was upgraded about 1800 (larger dial which required
a larger case, has a plate extension for dial).

Consular cases became popular in 1820, but the design was already perfected.

Keith R...

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

There hasn't been much "on the go" recently, but things are slowly starting to open up.

I love food! 6'3'' 240ish lbs... Went to culinary school right out of high school (expensive mistake) but all of this staying inside has been killing me. I needed something good. (That didn't come from the supermarket)

Wound up Chester Woolworth this morning and we headed to the strip district.


Here's a few pictures from the street.



So the best and freshest Tuna I've found in western PA comes from the Penn Ave Fish Co, and I certainly got my tuna fix today! Nigiri and a teriyaki sandwich. I wanted some oysters too... But no fresh oysters today. Everything was in to-go containers because shops are not allowed inside dining, but there was a few tables scattered outside.




We also stoped in various shops compiling our dinner ingredients. Fresh veggies, shrimp and steak for kabobs. Then the other randoms like fresh OJ from Wholeys... Which the owner makes right there. I only got 32 oz and it didn't make it home! Ha!

So it was a great day. Nice weather here. I needed a boost for my mental health and today was perfect. It's a neat little part of Pittsburgh that we love to visit. Unfortunately they are turning the old produce terminals into yuppie markets... I guess whatever draws people in. It's nice to see people putting money into the area, regardless.

Anyone else "On The Go" today?? Let's see who got out today and took their watches for a walk!

 

[musicguy]

I took my watch for a walk today too but didn't take any photos(actually I wear a watch everyday lol)
My wife and I took a nice walk around the park. We also like to cook(and eat) too and I have two sons over 21
living at home(I was an empty nester for a little bit) so I need to make a real dinner every night(not frozen or take out).

Thanks for sharing your trip out, great photos.


Rob

 

[Lee Passarella]

There hasn't been much "on the go" recently, but things are slowly starting to open up.

I needed something good. (That didn't come from the supermarket)

Wound up Chester Woolworth this morning and we headed to the strip district.

So the best and freshest Tuna I've found in western PA comes from the Penn Ave Fish Co, and I certainly got my tuna fix today! Nigiri and a teriyaki sandwich. I wanted some oysters too... But no fresh oysters today. Everything was in to-go containers because shops are not allowed inside dining, but there was a few tables scattered outside.

Like the pix, Rick, especially the ones of the strip district. Looks a lot like the Ninth Street (Italian Market) area in South Philly. Makes me hungry. And homesick.

 

[Clint Geller]

The only places I can carry my watch today are from my bedroom to my dining room to my living room and back to my bedroom. That said, I took my Walsh pocket chronometer with winding reserve indicator out and wound it last night, just so I could hear the distinctive shing-ka’shing-ka’shing of the spring detent escapement. I’ll show pix of it later.

 

[Clint Geller]

The only places I can carry my watch today are from my bedroom to my dining room to my living room and back to my bedroom. That said, I took my Walsh pocket chronometer with winding reserve indicator out and wound it last night, just so I could hear the distinctive shing-ka’shing-ka’shing of the spring detent escapement. I’ll show pix of it later.

These pix of my watch are from the Jones & Horan website. The watch came complete with its original mahogany box, gold chain and key. The same watch, box, chain and key were sold together at Christie's about 15 years ago. (Yes, I know, this is the American watch forum, but this is my watch "on the go.") The case has a London date mark for 1859.

 

[Clint Geller]

There hasn't been much "on the go" recently, but things are slowly starting to open up.

I love food! 6'3'' 240ish lbs... Went to culinary school right out of high school (expensive mistake) but all of this staying inside has been killing me. I needed something good. (That didn't come from the supermarket)

Wound up Chester Woolworth this morning and we headed to the strip district.
View attachment 590340 View attachment 590341

Here's a few pictures from the street.
View attachment 590342
View attachment 590343

So the best and freshest Tuna I've found in western PA comes from the Penn Ave Fish Co, and I certainly got my tuna fix today! Nigiri and a teriyaki sandwich. I wanted some oysters too... But no fresh oysters today. Everything was in to-go containers because shops are not allowed inside dining, but there was a few tables scattered outside.
View attachment 590344

View attachment 590345

We also stoped in various shops compiling our dinner ingredients. Fresh veggies, shrimp and steak for kabobs. Then the other randoms like fresh OJ from Wholeys... Which the owner makes right there. I only got 32 oz and it didn't make it home! Ha!

So it was a great day. Nice weather here. I needed a boost for my mental health and today was perfect. It's a neat little part of Pittsburgh that we love to visit. Unfortunately they are turning the old produce terminals into yuppie markets... I guess whatever draws people in. It's nice to see people putting money into the area, regardless.

Anyone else "On The Go" today?? Let's see who got out today and took their watches for a walk!

You're a braver man than I, Rick. When I go to the post office tomorrow wearing my N95 to pick up a package and send out a reggie, it will be the first time I will have been inside of a store or a business in or near Pittsburgh in about six weeks. (My P.O. box is in a quiet little post office outside of town, down the hill from my former place of employment - I retired on May 1, after 40+ years - and they don't get a lot of foot traffic.) Fortunately, many of the stores and eateries around my neighborhood of Squirrel Hill offer either home delivery or curbside pickup. My wife and I get most of our groceries, and our alcohol, delivered. Our meds and bakery goods get placed in the back of my car for me.

I do need to get out and walk, though. There are three nice parks nearby. The irises are in bloom in my garden.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

You're a braver man than I,

The majority of life has been spent avoiding people and places by staying in, and we did have masks on and cleaned everything when we got home.

There has been such a low rate of cases in Allegheny that the reopening that started friday seemed like a good opportunity to get out this weekend and support a few of the businesses that we enjoy normally.

I do have to say that most people I see are wearing masks and distancing.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

This 10-size Waltham has found its way into my pocket recently. It has a 15-jewel 3/0 movement (1900 model, grade 315) set in a nickel spacer with an oversize dial (10-size). It keeps fairly good time (I think). The gilt metal dial is barely readable but it works as long as I am not fussy about what minute it is. The solid 14K square case is made by the Elgin Giant Watch Case Co.


I bought this watch a dozen years ago as a contrast to the thinner and more elegant Opera Watch. It might seem odd that Waltham would produce a watch like this, mimicking their contemporaneous square opera watch but in a much clunkier (IMO) fashion. I think the answer is that they probably did not produce or market this complete watch. I suspect this was put together by a jobber using a readily available movement. The unmarked spacer ring and the gilt metal dial with painted numbers (probably not from the factory) support this thought. Also, I have not heard of Waltham using Elgin Giant cases for factory casing.

Here it is in comparison to the Opera Watch -

 

[Paul Regan]

These pix of my watch are from the Jones & Horan website. The watch came complete with its original mahogany box, gold chain and key. The same watch, box, chain and key were sold together at Christie's about 15 years ago. (Yes, I know, this is the American watch forum, but this is my watch "on the go.") The case has a London date mark for 1859.

View attachment 590380 View attachment 590381 View attachment 590382 View attachment 590385 View attachment 590390 View attachment 590392 View attachment 590393 View attachment 590394 View attachment 590395

Clint, you really know how to hurt a guy by showing this fabulous Walsh again ...... I was the under bidder on this one. Oh and sorry I was the result of the high price.
Paul

 

[Clint Geller]

Clint, you really know how to hurt a guy by showing this fabulous Walsh again ...... I was the under bidder on this one. Oh and sorry I was the result of the high price.
Paul

Sorry to open an old wound, Paul. A long-time collector friend of mine recently told me that he seldom regretted buying a watch, but he has sure regretted selling some, or missing one at auction. (He and I could probably ruin a few beers with our tears over that.) Then again, if you are always the high bidder, that's probably not good either, unless the money truly means nothing to one. Of my last four auction bids, only two of them won. The two watches I missed both went to good homes, though, so that's more than fine.

I'm very happy with the price I paid for the Walsh. Not too long ago, one of these watches, another keywind example, went much higher in a Heritage auction. Perhaps a slightly later keyless example with a duo-in-uno hairspring might have gone even higher. However, inasmuch as my case is date marked 1859, my particular Walsh pocket chronometer example is especially well suited to my special collecting interest in Civil War period watches. I fancy that the watch, which was retailed in New York probably shortly before the war, might have found its way into the pocket of an officer of the Union blockading squadron, or of a Yankee merchantman dodging rebel privateers on the high seas. The watch may even have seen service aboard a blockade runner or a Confederate privateer. At least one Union general also is know to have carried a Walsh pocket chronometer.

 

[Keith R...]

Here's an early unmarked 9J English lever from 1836. It's one of my favorite
carries and keeps perfect time in 24 hours. It is a 16 size watch in it's silver
consular case.

The shape of the cock indicates a style from about 1825, so it could be
a second generation case hallmarked A and London 1836. The flat balance
wheel is also in line with 1825.

Keith R...