Anyone on here into pocket watches?

[RichB]

I have two, one my father's probably dating from around 1937/38 the other my uncle's but I don't know how old it is. Neither work so I am thinking of getting them repaired/serviced. I just wondered if anyone has any experience of pocket watches or can recommend anyone? p.s. I'm in Berkshire.

[glazbagun]

I'll take some pics of mine tomorrow. Yeah, I like em a lot, but am of a differing opinion as to making them into wrist watches. Having said that, so many have been decased in the past by the pragmatic/unscrupulous, that there's a plentiful supply if you're into that sort of thing- getting uptight about it would make me like those who moan about people saving a car from the scrapheap to make a hot rod.

Edited by glazbagun on Monday 28th February 01:43

[RemainAllHoof]

I have just one cheap one (aren't they all cheap?). Would have bought more but tbh I don't use my one (apart from to dress up like a Tom Baker era Dr Who) so it seems pointless to collect more.

[Cuchillo]

Would love a pocket watch at some point, but have no idea where to start! Would probably fancy a "musical" one ... Yes, I know, I know ... Talking of which, did the pocket watch in the "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" ever exist? Something like that could be a, um, "giggle"

[CommanderJameson]

Here's mine, an 18K gold Kay & Co double hunter pocket watch from circa 1925 (well, that's the date of the hallmark):

[RichB]

Mine are nothing like as impressive but they re of scentimental value. This was my uncle's. as I said I am looking for a recommendadtion for a place to get them serviced.

[eccles]

I like pocket watches and have become more interested in them after I was given a couple last year by my girlfriends family.
One is a cheapie with a Roskopf escapement which runs if you give it a bit of choke and fiddle with it. I think it's around the turn of the century.



The other one is a different kettle of fish and is a quite lovely silver hunter dating to 1819 made by Grimalde and Johnson. When I got it the balance staff was broken but I sent it off to nice chap in Boston ( http://www.mkibby.com/ )and he made a new one and serviced it.
It's quite a plain watch on the outside, but is stunning when opened up.

[eccles]

eccles said:

I like pocket watches and have become more interested in them after I was given a couple last year by my girlfriends family.
One is a cheapie with a Roskopf escapement which runs if you give it a bit of choke and fiddle with it. I think it's around the turn of the century.



The other one is a different kettle of fish and is a quite lovely silver hunter dating to 1819 made by Grimalde and Johnson. When I got it the balance staff was broken but I sent it off to nice chap in Boston ( http://www.mkibby.com/ )and he made a new one and serviced it.
It's quite a plain watch on the outside, but is stunning when opened up.

I agree with what others have said about them being undervalued and for something like £150 you can get a truly stunning pocket watch.

[glazbagun]

As ever, apologies for poor lighting, etc...

A (presumably) foremans chronograph with Units Per Hour counting dial, branded Charles Churchill & Co, Manchester, probably from ~1920. Made with a cheap base metal case, but with an untouched Minerva 9 based pillar wheel chronograph inside w/ Overcoil. I pretty much fell in love with it when I found it. It was in pretty poor running order before I serviced it- the minute counter was jumping when the chrono was engaged, the chronograph hand stopped intermittantly & the timing trace was all over the place, so I was a little afraid of what I'd find, but it was no trouble at all & now runs like a train- just hadnt been serviced in a long time:



Another is a Fusee Lever, Hallmarked 1873, Signed Alex Kelt, who was listed as a Dundee Clock & Watchmaker from 1857-75. It's in good cosmetic condition, but I need to make it a new Pallet Staff and a spring for the fusee stopwork. Also, the balance roller appears to have been bodged at some time in the watches history. I'm unsure wether to "restore" that back to a condition more like it's original or, if it works, leave it as part of the watches history. Too busy right now, anyway!



Another is this one marked (I think) Pinlington, of Birkenhead. I haven't had the time to dismantle or research this one, it has an inverted balance and conspicuous large jewels which make me wonder if it's been modified at some point in history. The worn case implies that it worked for it's living & it was quite common in it's era for good watches to be taken to the watchmakers to be improved or even have new escapement's fitted! Sacrilege nowadays! I also wonder at that screw holding the balance cock down.

Edited by glazbagun on Monday 28th February 23:55

[tank slapper]

I have this, which was my great-grandad's. As far as I can tell from the serial number it's an Omega made sometime between 1895 and 1898. The movement looks very similar to the Benson above, but I don't have a picture of it uploaded atm. I'll try to do one later.