Hello, just a friendly reminder that I have some nice RR grade watches currently for sale on the IHC auction site, including a scarce Hamilton 952 lever set and a Hamilton 990 lever set (both need repairs but are intact and appear to be in good condition) with no reserves. Also have 2 RR grade 16s Elgin BW Raymonds--one an early 19J and the other a more modern grade 571 in Elgin marked RR case--both of these are in good running order. I also have listed my 18s 24J Illinois Bunn Special though I have a reserve on it--my reserve is still a few hundred dollars less than I paid for it. Finally I have a very attractive high grade (Gold center wheel) 16s Waltham 17J (OF) pendant set Royal watch in an excellent double hinged yellow gold filled case with engine turned back and a beautiful coin edge at reserve of $100--the case alone is worth this much and the dial is very fine--no chips or visible hairlines. This Waltham was serviced by my local watchmaker about 4 years ago when I first bought it. I have not carried it--although it is not railroad grade it would make a beautiful carry watch for church, dress, etc.

I have not posted here in awhile so I am sure my name is unfamiliar to many of you. I have been a lifetime member for several years, though I must confess that I have not been active in collecting watches and watch material for the past 2 years. Almost 2 years ago at age 45 my long bachelorhood came to an end as I married a wonderful woman and joined her in the task of raising her 2 young grandchildren (now ages 4 and 3)--being a father has been the most wonderful experience of my life--far better even than finding a scarce RR grade watch in a pawnshop or antique store. Since that time and with with mortgage crisis I have had the added financial pressure of two house payments (my own house is up for sale)so these added financial burdens have at least temporarily halted my pursuit of American RR grade pocketwatches. I have finally reached the point where I am going to have to part with some of my watches, which I am loathe to do, but I must. Some of the watches I have collected such as the 952 and 990 I have up for auction currently I bought with the intention of having them repaired/restored but simply haven't had the funds to do so. 16s watches are my main interest hence my decision to part with my 18s 24J Bunn Special.

Although I have not been active in posting on this site, I have remained active in following along with the discussions and postings and have continued to learn and be amazed at the open sharing of information and genuine congeniality of this group and am thankful to have received the phone call from Lindell that day several years ago which first made me aware of this group (I had bought one of the Shugart watch guides off Ebay and he called me to "recruit" me to the group.) I witnessed the whole mess that occured with the NAWCC over this former chapter and did not for one minute hesitate to continue my membership in this group. I gained more in one month from membership in IHC than I had accrued in several years from NAWCC. I am a faculty Emergency physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and have been avidly collecting watches for about 8-9 years. I must confess that my original encounter with american pocketwatches occured while I was still in high school back in Texas. I had a friend in school whose father bought and repaired old pocketwatches as a hobby and one Christmas my dad bought a watch from him as a gift for me. It was a 16size Illinois mid grade 17 jewel watch. I was fascinated but so distracted by everything else in my teenage life so it just didn't take hold of me. I still have the watch though. Then about 9 years ago while browsing thru an antique store I happened across a Hamilton 950B, bought it and I was fully infected and away I went. We all owe a great deal to the work of Roy Ehrhardt and his peers--I certainly do as his watch guides once I found them were a godsend. Then my chance purchase of the watch guide on ebay and my recruitment by Lindell sealed the deal. Anyway I just wanted to provide some background bio on who I am and why I am selling some of my collection. Once I am free of two mortgages, I do plan to resume my collecting, for now being content to continue to learn about the watches I have and many I don't.

sorry for this long-winded note, verbosity is one my faults (some of my residents call my notes "Hallograms").

Greg Hall

Greg,

That's a long post, but it says a lot. You stood by IHC185 when we were under attack and I am confident the club will now do likewise for you by supporting your IHC185 Auctions.

I don't know the story behind the battles in the past maybe someone could tell me the story but I do plan on bidding on at least one and probably one or two more. Nice looking lot that you put up for auction.

I like the long-winded post. Very interesting.

I'd also love to know what the hubub was about in the earlier days. What's to fight about over watches and clubs?

Probably something you can find in the personal section. It was an ugly time, let me tell you.

Good to 'see' you again, Greg, though I"m very sorry to read of your difficult time at the moment, I'm positive things will eventually get back on a more 'even keel', and you will be out there rebuilding your collection again.

Been there, done that, and am still out here plugging away with the help of my friends here at the 185.

Regards! Mark