Hello everyone;

My question is this. On any pocket watch and especially this one, should all the hands be of the same "character"? By that I mean, if the hour and minute hands are made of gold, shouldn't the second hand be gold also? If so, then I'm looking for a gold "fancy type" second hand for my new Elgin 18s G.M. Wheeler. Serial number: 6105081

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Bud
ps
Oh yes, one other thing. Can anyone tell me how to make the lettering on the movement black again?

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...6095371/m/6023905957

The one that Ernest has for sale in the classified appears to have the same hand arrangement that yours does.

Regards! Mark

Bud I don't know if you can take the plates off, but if you can, that is the best way to darken the letters. I use black magic marker. Just work it in and then wipe it right off with a clean cloth. The black will stay in the numbers. Some even use black enamel paint. I have even used pegwood to get the black off the plates, but you have to be careful not to get anything into the movement!

I noticed that your serial number is really close to the regulator mounting. I would be VERY careful there. Almost better to just take it off, if you can.

The seconds hand should be the same color as the hour and minute hand, but that's about all I know about them. That's a really nice looking dial. It really needs a gold seconds hand!

Regards,
Larry

Thank you Mark, that's quite helpful as I did see another one with a similar dial that had the same arrangement. Perhaps it is a correct and complete dial after all. The Shugart books don't seem to have this type of information.

Many thanks Mark.

Bud

quote:

The one that Ernest has for sale in the classified appears to have the same hand arrangement that yours does.

Hi Larry;

Well, I thought the very same thing until Mark showed me yet another with the same "hands" arrangement. The odd thing is, I don't remember ever seeing one with all three being gold hands, and the three I have seen have all been two gold and a blued second hand.

Hmmmmm, perhaps a little more research is in order here.

Thanks a lot for your help though Larry, I really appreciate it.

Bud

quote:

The seconds hand should be the same color as the hour and minute hand, but that's about all I know about them. That's a really nice looking dial. It really needs a gold seconds hand!

Hi Larry, I forgot to add........ taking the plates off these pocket watches, I've learned is real simple. However, I already have two here that I did that to and have no idea how to put them back together.

I bought a couple of movements that didn't work so I could play, and that's how far as I got.

Bud


QUOTE
Bud I don't know if you can take the plates off, but if you can, that is the best way to darken the letters.

Hello Lindell;

Well, in THAT case, I will look for a golden second hand. I did look on eBay earlier today but there doesn't appear to be anything there at the moment. Would you or anyone you know have one perhaps?

Any help in finding one would be most appreciated, and thanks again for all the information gents.

Bud
ps
Thanks also for that link on re-blackening the letters, it was very helpful.

quote:

I agree with Larry on both subjects.

Bud, the hands that you are looking for will be the Elgin #2416 Louis XIV and are solid gold and the other one will look like the one you have now only it will be gold plated and it is a #2605....

You may want to check with Brian C., he may have one....To bad I didn't know about two weeks ago that you needed one, I gave one to a friend for his 18 size Elgin BWR....

That is a nice GM Wheeler and I think they are very underappreciated....

Regards,

Jerry

My BWR with a similar Dial....

Bud, I think I have some Gold plated hands like Jerry's watch, but my experience is that most second hands require fitting to the fourth wheel pivot. Are you capable of fitting the second hand? If so e-mail me and I will send you one.......Keith..ckeithjohnson@eriecoast.com

Thank you very much Keith, I am now pleased to show of my latest acquisition once again only this time with the correct gold hand, thanks to you.

Keith was kind enough to send me a gold hand for my newest watch and thanks to him it now looks terrific. So, thank you Keith, very much, and as promised, above is a look at that fine gold hand you sent me, with my Elgin underneath.

Bud
ps
Thanks also to Jerry King for helping me put this thread back in the correct place. Thank you Jerry.

quote:

Bud, I think I have some Gold plated hands like Jerry's watch, but my experience is that most second hands require fitting to the fourth wheel pivot. Are you capable of fitting the second hand? If so e-mail me and I will send you one.......Keith..ckeithjohnson@eriecoast.com

That looks different as night and day!

Regards! Mark

Yes, it sure does Mark, and I think it's much nicer this way too.

Bud

quote:

That looks different as night and day!

Agreed 100%!