I have a question that has been bewildering me for a whilt --the numbers on the pocket watch dials were they printed on or painted on -the montgomery numbers are sooo small how'd they do that thanks BOB

Bob, at the beginning watch dials were hand-inscribed with all the minute and hour markings. In the course of US-made watches, this was "standardized" by drawing large circle(s) with a compass, dividing them, adding the minute markings and scaling the (Roman) numerals using a protractor/ruler arrangement. Then (at some point) adding the Makers name.

The first "Arabic" dials were also often hand drawn numbers using the same marking and scaling process but "free hand" drawing the numerals.

Close inspection of these early dials (up to the 20th century) often show slight irregularities due to ink flowage and hand motions and tiny base lines for the makers signature. As volume production items, the detailed workmanship is most impressive.

Later dials such as the numeric types often associated or referred to as "Montgomery" styles were offset printed via a soft transfer roller from inked impression(s), a method still applied today by International Dial when they restore (metal surface only) antique watch dials.

In all cases dials were fired or baked to make the markings more durable. Recently, when I tried to create some new dials, I utilized a screen printing vendor with excellent results, probably similar to some of the more recent Swiss replacement dials sold into our market in the late 20th century.

The below Waltham dial was made in the 1880's and shows evidence of both machine and hand printed features. Close inspection of the maker's signature and the seconds chapter show evidence of hand work while the outer chapter numbers and Roman numerals appear to be machine printed.

I learned something from that, too.

kh

David, In the case of dials that are hard to find in decent condition, could highly authentic copies be made? If the old, chipped and/or cracked porcelin could be removed from a bad dial's metal base structure and a new porcelin coating applied, the markings could be applied by a screen printing vendor such as you mention.

My guess is the porcelin application and firing process uses primative technology that could de duplicated in a small, well equipped home workshop. This might be a nice, small business opportunity for the right person.

Thanks David very informative BOB

Chris, restoring dials is dear to all of us. The old high temperature porcelain process in restoration would "lose the feet" better (maybe) would be to clean the dial and fashion a means for casting in a UV epoxy that could be surface conditioned and then re-printed. The whole affair may end up being as costly as having the old dial professionally restored the "old way".