My Pocket watch collection so far

Here are some photos of my old pocket watches. They are nothing to spectacular, the watches I really want always end up going for more than what I'm willing to pay for them.

Two of them work very well and keep good time, two others work but don't keep good time and one needs oil, the other one I'm missing key for it.

I'm no watch expert but from my understanding the ones that wind from the top are much later versions and the ones that wind by key would be older. I'll be ordering some watch oil to see if I can get the non runners ticking.

 

the last one is quite interesting with the "MADE IN CANADA". I didn't know they had a watch industry.
when they are stuck, then put it in your trouser pocket for a day or two; sometimes the old oil starts to get fluid again with warming up.
as for the exact manufacturing date there are lists on the internet with up to ten points that help to find an approximate era.

here a Swiss site:http://www.pocketwatch.ch/sammeln_alter.htm
so with a key 1700 - 1875.

 

We have many well kept secrets........

 

or as af says "some blokes in a shed"...

 

I have a few heirloom watches and am very grateful to have them. One is my Great Grandfathers 1902 Hamilton pocket watch. It was his daily on the job piece sporting scratches and wear to the original glass face. I had it oiled and cleaned and it needed a new old stock main spring. It works great but I wonder how often it needs cleaning?

You might want to get a second opinion on cleaning and applying oil. Mt understanding is the old oil and deposits have to be cleaned or the internal mechanisms can get jammed by grit in the gears and cause damage requiring more involved work. The pocket watch I have is 21 jewels (stamped on the inside back) and was awesome to get running so my children could hear the same sound their Great Great Grandfather heard every day when he wound his watch. Thanks for posting yours they look great.

 

the warming was only meant ot test if they run at all. of course you should get it properly cleaned. my grandads everyday Omega from the 1920s showed a difference of 3 to 8 seconds only on 24 hours, depending on the outside temperature.

 

Crown-wind pocketwatches date back as far as the 1840s, I believe, but they didn't become common until the 1880s and 90s - mostly in America, and a few countries in Europe. British watches remained key-wind almost up to WWI, for some reason, even though by then, key-wind watches were considered very old-fashioned.

 

Thats the main reason why I bought it, because it said made in Canada and that one works perfectly.

 

It costs a lot to get a pocket watch serviced and the ones I have are worth very little so it would cost much more than what the watch is worth to have it serviced.

I like the ones I have because they have history I will just do my best on the ones that don't run. I could get an ultrasonic cleaner to see if that helps although I wont be taking them apart because I know I'd never be able to get them back together again. A clean and oiling might just do the trick.

I am currently looking for a good reliable old pocket watch, nothing to fancy but as long as it works and is from either 1800s or early 1900s I'd be happy. I just gotta find a decent antique shop and get one cheap.

I'm also after a 1940s wrist watch in working order.

 

The challenge is that a pocketwatch won't last long without having it serviced, first. The oil and gunk inside would eventually seize up entirely and jam the mechanism.

 

The small pocket watch is toast will not run at all, it seems to be jammed I got had on that one so I'll be selling that on as a non runner.

the Gravesend pocket watch I can not get the back off, I've tried everything, it runs to fast and really need to get it open so I can adjust the the speed. I may have to sell that one on too.

I think I'll just avoid buying pocket watches on the bay as they always go for way to much money and turn out to be junk.

Are there any tricks to get the back off a pocket watch?

 

I'd be better off looking for one that has been professionally serviced and ready to go. Maybe I could do some kinda trade with a pocket watch dealer to get some money off a good working one with my old junky ones.

The only one that truly works without issues is the Made In Canada one.

 

Pocketwatch casebacks are either screw-on, or hinged. For screw-on ones, simply unscrew (a drop of oil might be in order, if they're resistant to movement).

A hinged caseback usually has a pry-point somewhere on the rim, where you can jam in a small screwdriver to pop it open.

Whichever method you use to open the case, make sure you're sitting down, at a table, with something underneath (towel, cushion) to catch the watch, in case it drops or flies out of your hand.

 

Thanks, its a hinge back I finally managed to get it open. I've adjusted the speed arm, I've just got to wait now to see if it keeps the right time and keep adjusting it back and forth until its perfect.

 

do you have a reference ?

 

I believe the first experimental "keyless" watches, as they were called in those days, were invented by Patek-Philippe in the 1830s/40s. It is recorded that Queen Victoria and Albert purchased such watches, at the Great Exhibition, in 1851.

 

From the Wikipedia page on Patek-Philippe:

 

I've known some people to spray WD40 in these watches to get them going again which is a big no no.

I just bought one on the bay that works but has been oiled with WD40 for 10 pound.

I also made an offer of 8 pounds for another pocket watch Made In USA and it winds up but does not tick.

I'm happy to get them cheap I wont pay anymore than 10 pounds for one because of the fact that all old pocket watches need cleaning and servicing which means its not worth paying to much money for one considering the work involved to get them going and if there are any parts that need replacing, they could be stuck in a draw for a long time or broken down for parts to repair other watches.

I think its crazy the amount of money a low value old pocket watch can make on the bay. Its fair enough if they have been serviced but a lot of them are junkers, somebodies scrap.

 

I've been learning a lot about pocket watches. I did have an idea of getting an ultrasonic cleaner but that would require me to strip the watch down first which is no problem but getting the watch back together again... I don't think I'd be able to so I'd be stuck with a pile of bits or a partly built watch, so that's out of the question. If I were to put the watch in whole it would probably rust right out after cleaning.

Some pocket watches are nice to have as they are even if they don't work.

 

I'm thinking about getting into the pocket watch repair hobby because I'm am quite technical and have skills with other things so maybe I could work on some pocket watches I have.

I have bought a couple of broken pocket watches to practice on, in regards to dissembling, cleaning and reassembling. One thing I find daunting is the amount of small parts there are and remembering where they all go.

I have also bought myself some watch makers tools.