Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

[Talbot]

I have friends that sell at Camberwell sometimes. They reckon the deal is to get there early and circulate.

Hard to do when you're selling, but some of the scores I have heard about are amazing.

Talbot

 

[Shangas]

I get to the market VERY early. 5:30am most Sundays.

And yes. If you know your product, you can get some incredible deals. To me, my best one was the railroad watch for $160. The Elgin for $140. An antique silverware box for $15, and several excellent fountain pens for varying (and amazingly cheap) prices.

 

[iancandler]

I have a few to share as well.

My main interest is all periods of waltham pocket watches and wristwatches from the period 1900 - the late 1950's, but especially those from the 1930's-40's.

None of mine have cost a lot, I don't have much money sadly.

Waltham 1899 model, gold plated hunter configuration, size 16

Waltham 1883 model, solid silver size 18

Romeo art deco period swiss made.

Kienzle circa 1952

Rone circa 1950's (not researched yet)

Rone seven (not researched yet)


I also have a Waltham Gold plated traveller 1908 model and a new unknown 1930's cushion watch that have just arrived and have yet to be photographed and researched

 

[iancandler]

My main interest is all periods of waltham pocket watches and wristwatches from the period 1900 - the late 1950's, but especially those from the 1930's-40's.

None of mine have cost a lot, I don't have much money sadly.

Waltham 1899 model, gold plated hunter configuration, size 16

Waltham 1883 model, solid silver size 18

Romeo art deco period swiss made.

Kienzle circa 1952

Rone circa 1950's (not researched yet)

Rone seven (not researched yet)


I also have a Waltham Gold plated traveller 1908 model and a new unknown 1930's cushion watch that have just arrived and have yet to be photographed and researched

 

[Shangas]

The 1880s Waltham looks pretty cool. What can you tell us about it?

 

[ScionPI2005]

That's a nice collection, jancandler! I definitely like all three of those wristwatches! Where did you find those?

 

[Lincsong]

bump

 

[iancandler]

Scion - ebay for most of them though the Kienzle was a present from my brother, he bought it with a smashed crystal and filthy dirty. He replaced the crystal and cleaned the watch completely inside and out as a project for his watch repair course then gave it to me last week.
The two Rone's where picked up really cheaply, the gold plated is working fine, the seven either has been over-wound or has a set main spring so has gone to my brother for checking.


Shangas -

The 1883 model Waltham movement was made during April 1890 and is "home/NL" grade. 199 where made in this run.
It was mated with a pre made Birmingham hallmarked case made in 1889 and sold in the UK. (A lot of Waltham movements where imported to the UK)
It has 7 jewels, a full gilt backplate with exposed balance.
The case is slightly unusual in that it retains its original hinged crystal and bezel so was obviously made to accommodate key wind and set models as well as the newer
Stem wind and set models like this one.
Although the mainspring is a little set on this one it still keeps excellent time.


The 1899 model was made in 1899 and is one of a run of 999 made.

Its a size 16 which makes it slightly smaller than the 1883 model.
Its a 610 grade movement with lovely engraving to the movement itself, and one of the ones featuring small hearts.
Its 7 jewels again and has a 3/4 plate
Though to us a $10 or $20 dollar movement sounds cheap, we have to remember that wages where such that even these watches where an expensive item to the average man on the street.
This movement is in hunter configuration so has the stem set at the 3 O'clock position.
They where mated with star company cases, in this case a gold plated open face case.
Stem set and wind, this one again runs like a dream and keeps good time.
Sadly there is one chip and some hair line cracks to the dial but this doesn't bother me, its just ageing as far as I am concerned.

The Romeo I can find nothing on.
The case and movement style indicate somewhere around the 1930's.
Working fairly well but position dependent, ie if you lay it face down it will stop.
similar size to the size 16 Waltham's

The last Waltham I have (no pic yet) is a 1908 model traveller made in 1918
Again size 16, 7 jewels, 3/4 plate.
Open face, stem set and wind, gold plated star company case.
One of 4,999 made and the grade is traveller
Again still working well and keeping good time.

I intend to get all the Waltham's serviced and a new old stock main spring fitted to the 1883 model.
I just need a gold and silver half and full hunter to complete things though knowing me I doubt I will stop there, I just love these watches.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I have two wonderful vintage watches that aren't running (and two different repairmen in NYC have revived them only briefly).

Are there old watches that simply aren't repairable, or did I find two dud service people?

Anyone have a repairman to recommend to me? (How about your father, Baron -- would he help out a fellow Lounger? I'd happily pay him if I got these watches working.)

Here is my man in Phoenix. Watches come from around the world for repair and restoration by Bruno at Vintage Watch Restoration:

http://vintagewatchrestoration.com/index.html

-dixon 'Waltham' cannon

 

[Shangas]

My antique 7J Waltham keeps absolutely cracking time for something that's 110+ years old. I'm sure your Walthams will as well.

 

[iancandler]

Here's some images of the movements etc.

Rear of 1883 showing guilloche.

Its thick and chunky as can be seen here.

The movement.

1899 movement.

Romeo rear cover plate.

Romeo movement

Waltham 1908 model

Waltham 1908 movement

 

[Javelina]

I picked this up over a year ago and I still like it as much as when I first saw it. My current favorite among my collection.

 

[Shangas]

This is my favourite watch. Ca. 1957-1960 Swiss-made Ball-Record railroad pocket-watch. It's my favourite for several reasons:

1. It's nice and big and easy to read (for me, this is very important).
2. It keeps cracking, wonderful time (again, very important).
3. It's an attention-grabber and it looks great.
4. I got it for a bargin price (as watches go, anyway).
5. It's very good quality.
6. I have a railroad watch and I NEVER thought I'd ever own one of these (because they usually cost small fortunes!)

If I could have any watch, it would only be another railroad-standard pocket watch. Probably a Hamilton or a Waltham or an Elgin from the early 1900s.

 

[davestlouis]

My newest, and current favorite, is a late 50s Gruen Precision, 17 jewel automatic movement, gold filled 35mm round case, simple cream-colored dial with a linen texture, art-deco style numerals at 12,3,6,and 9, and simple hands with lume in them that sorta works. All on a cheap pseudo-alligator black leather strap. I paid $20 at a local antique mall, and it's keeping time so far.

 

[davestlouis]

I just got a late 50s era Gruen, gold filled case, 35mm round shape, linen look dial, art deco numbers at 12,3,6 and 9, 17 jewel automatic movement,water proof(per the case back), I opened the case and can't read what caliber the movement is, I thought it was cal. 520, but my eyesight is such that I can't be sure. Best $20 I've spent lately.

The same place had several cool Bulova items of 40s and 50s vintage, but I'm on a budget and could only get one.

 

[rlk]

Elgin 1941

 

[Unlucky Berman]

@rlk A nice Elgin, but are you sure that the band is correct that way? I ma just curious since some similiar Hamiltons like the Wilshire or the Essex would have it attached over the lugs.

For example one of my Wilshires:

Here is one of my newest pieces, the wgf Ross from 1940. :

I am also sure that most here will know the man in the background and appreciate his works too

 

[Tomasso]

are you sure that the band is correct that way? I' m just curious since some similar Hamiltons like the Wilshire or the Essex would have it attached over the lugs.

Yep, the strap should go over the lug.

 

[rlk]

Yep, the strap should go over the lug.

The leather is free to go either way, but putting it on top would both press the metal cross-rod into your wrist(instead of conforming leather) and conceal its visual interest.
Here's another one:

http://www.secondtimearoundwatchco.com/WatchesForSale/watchdetail.php?WatchNum=6707&fullpg=1

Elgin ads show both under:

...and over but with the band stitched all the way around the lug:

 

[Unlucky Berman]

The leather is free to go either way, but putting it on top would both press the metal cross-rod into your wrist(instead of conforming leather) and conceal its visual interest.

Actually, only if you are using modern watch bands which in most cases are more or less padded. The old vintage pig and calfskin bands of that time (and also the remakes of vintage bands) doesn't. I have two Wilshires and one of them has still a vintage band on it (the one shown there). With that one I never had the problem you described but I have it with the second one (somewhere deeper in this thread is a pic of it) which still has a modern band on it.

About the visual interst, that's a matter of taste. I for instance am more the purist and would like to use the watch like it was made or left the factory back then. That means using it like on the second ad you have shown where exactly your model is pictured with the watch band above the lugs. That was what the designer of that case and style had intended to be the "visual interest"(-ing feature) about this particular watc. There is also another thing about those swinging lugs or what they were thought to be used for. It's not so much a visual effect rather than some more practical thing. Those flexibel lugs should tightly wrap around the wrist and some wearers used them to be on the side of the wrist (so that you could still read the time while holding the steering-whele or something like that -> that's why they were called "driver's watch").