Great Grandfather's Watch For Your Viewing Pleasure

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November 13, 2023, 09:21 AM

4MUL8R

Great Grandfather's Watch For Your Viewing Pleasure

While reorganizing the safe, we found this treasure. Not sure what it is, what to do with it, but thought with all the watch aficianados here you all may want to see it. It belonged to August W, born 11 Aug 1861, died 10 Dec 1952.

November 13, 2023, 09:36 AM

SigM4

Elgin was one of many companies that supplied watches for the railroads. A good history can be found here.

Good looking watch that's obviously seen many miles. I'm curious, did your great grandfather or any of his relatives ever work for the railroad?

November 13, 2023, 09:37 AM

4MUL8R

Not sure about the railroad.

After perusing eBay, I think this is c. 1907, based on markings.

November 13, 2023, 09:37 AM

slyguy

While I know nothing of the watch itself I have heard of the brand and wish it could talk.

It's gotta have some great stories to tell.

Thank you for sharing.

Cheers~

November 13, 2023, 09:40 AM

selogic

Priceless .

November 13, 2023, 10:04 AM

Mars_Attacks

Very similar to the watch from 310 to Yuma.

November 13, 2023, 10:14 AM

Syngin1066

Beautiful piece. My grandfather retired from the railroad in the early 80’s and I have his Hamilton Railway pocketwatch. Sadly, he passed when I was young. I wish knew the history.

November 13, 2023, 11:20 AM

HK Ag

Very cool, what a treasure to have.

Love the crystal showing good honest wear, amazing.

Congratulations

November 13, 2023, 11:32 AM

ridewv

I'm glad you have it, that's a special piece since it belonged to your grandfather.

I don't know what happened to my grandfather's belongings. He died in 1978 at 84 years old and my father went through everything at the time. But there had to be a watch, in fact I remember him carrying a watch in his pocket and my father trying to convince him to wear a wrist watch.
The one thing I have is his Colt .25 Vest Pocket still in the box with 1920 penciled on the bottom.

November 13, 2023, 11:44 AM

400m

Beautiful watch. I work in Elgin Il. maybe 1/2 mile from where the Elgin factory was.

November 13, 2023, 11:59 AM

xd45man

Very beautiful.

November 13, 2023, 12:03 PM

Rey HRH

Elgin. That was the Seiko of its day. Thanks for sharing.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.

November 13, 2023, 12:03 PM

Krazeehorse

Nice watch, especially since it was your grandfather's. I doubt it's a railroad watch. They had specific requirements. One being Arabic numerals. They also had to have a certain number of jewels (minimal) to increase the accuracy.

November 13, 2023, 01:29 PM

ElToro

Nice piece

I have my great grandfathers Elgin pocketwatch. He was born around 1885 and died in 1972. I never met him. It’s gold and the case is engraved. Keeps time but I need a chain for it.

Also know that back then you’d go to the jewellery store and pick out the movement and then buy the case separately often made by 2 different companies but now always. Then the watch guy would mount it up and you would be on your way.

The market for pocket watches has dropped off a cliff unless truly rare. Of course a family piece is priceless.

November 13, 2023, 01:51 PM

Pipe Smoker

Classy elegance. Simple but beautiful. A treasure.

November 13, 2023, 01:58 PM

V-Tail

VERY nice! It's great that you have that piece of family history.

November 13, 2023, 05:40 PM

bendable

How did they ever survive with out 4k blue tooth and how did they wind up their earbuds

Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.

Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first

November 13, 2023, 07:40 PM

McSpic

Awesome history there.
If youre looking to get it serviced, this place did a fantastic job with my great-grandfathers pocket watch.

https://centralwatch.com/

November 14, 2023, 02:01 AM

ftttu

Thats a very fine looking timepiece you have there. My sister has our family’s old timepieces, and I’ll have to dig them out one of these days to reacquaint myself with them. They do bring back some good memories of once was.