I got this neat case but I don't know what it is made of. I think it is green brass but I guess it could be green gold but I doubt it.

It is triple hinged.

The dust cover says Swiss.

Here is the makers stamp. I have not cleaned the case up but seems to be a well built case.

Nice lookin one Harry. Right off the top of my head I'd say brass. Brad

Thanks Brad. I have not seen you post lately. Everything alright I hope.

'The Empire' (with crown) was trademark of:

Schwob Freres & Co. SA; movements and watch cases: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland; registered Jan 24th 1890.

Unmarked for contend + the thickness and solidness should be brass.

Regards
Gerald

Thank you Gerald. Yes it is a very thick solid case. Thank you very much for the manufacturer of the case.

Hey Harry! I've been having a few health issues that I'm dealing with. And,sometimes I just don't know what to say to some of this, as I'm obviously not as well learned as others. Brad

Brad I hope your health gets better soon. You know more about this stuff than I do. I figure the only dumb question is the one that is not asked and besides I'm too old to worry about looking dumb.

Thanks Harry. I should be too. Just got a lot of things on my plate lately. Brad

Harry I like the case and I believe your case is an aluminum alloy case. At the time your case was probably made, 1880-1900 aluminum was an expensive metal and somewhat of a novelty because of it's weight. Watch case companies tried using it but even alloyed with silver it was difficult to work. Your case appears to be Swiss from the Swiss marking and to my eye from the crown. I believe I had almost the same case in a hunter version and with the same crown and Swiss made. The green color, which I find attractive is from the alloy metal. Mine was also greenish. When that case was made it commanded a substantial premium over silver or gold filled. Mine was an 18 size case and had as I recall an Illinois movement that fit correctly. You have an unusual and scarce bit of watch history.

Thank you Deacon. You may well be right. The case looks very heavily made but I just picked it up and picked up a comparable 18s silveroid case. The green case feels like it weighs about 1/2 what the silveroid case weighs.The case is in excellent condition. I probably paid too much for it but I am a sucker for well preserved locomotives on the cases. I have $95 in it. Do you think I overpaid too much?
Thanks

Harry I think that the case is worth $150 to the right buyer. Not many average collectors are aware of the aluminum cases that were produced during the latter part of the 19th century. Remember that aluminum as a metal was a novelty and very high price because of the high temperatures involved in refining it. While some case makers did experiment with it they were high priced cases and the metal was difficult to work with. I know it was alloyed with silver and you will see cases marked silver aluminum. When the Washington monument was capped in the 1880's it had a 70 lb. or so aluminum cap and at that time it was the largest piece of fabricated aluminum in the world I believe. It was also very expensive. Napoleon III had a special aluminum silverware set made up that cost more than solid gold at the time it was made, around our civil war. You have a rare case that is similar to my high grade Hampdens, just not much appreciated or collected. A more knowledgeable collector once told me that an aluminum case from the period yours is probably cost what solid gold did and is perhaps 25 times as rare. I don't know the truth of that but I will trade you 10 crushed beer cans for it!

It is a very attractive case.

Harry, please post back some photos of it if you decide to put a movement in it

I have one just like it in a Hunting case. Just like Deacon talked about. Same Locomotive & everything. I always thought it was just Brass.
Deacon would like it because it has a Hampden in it. ( but it's a re case )

Thank you Deacon, Joseph and Jack.

Deacon I would have traded with you yesterday but today I quit drinking. LOL... Thank you Deacon now what to put in it??? I have a Hamilton 932, 938, or a 946 or 948 OR I have a 21 jewel Hampden or a 21 jeweled tu tone Hampden or a 23 jeweled to tone Hampden or a Tu tone 21 jewel Bunn Special... What do ya'll think?

Joseph I will definitely put a movement in it but as you see it will be a tough decision and my take a while to make up my mind.

Harry, any one of those would look fantastic in it. However, since I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Hamilton freak, I'd go with the 938. It's about as un common as this case is. Brad

Harry given the period when the case was made I would go with the 938, 21j Hampden or 21j Bunn. If possible try to match the case screw marks. You could also use a Waltham or a Rockford since they had some unusual movements. At any rate a nice keeper.

Thank you Brad and Deacon. You both know I value both of your opinions. Yes I agree with those movements. I also have a 2 tone Waltham model 1892 17j I need to check the year on it. I also have an old Appleton & Tracy I need to check to see what year will fit.

I checked the mounting marks and none match. It must have held a Swiss movement. The good thing is the case is so hard the the marks will not be very easy to see once the case has been cleaned up.

Make sure you put up a few tasty pictures after you put a movement in it! Brad

I will Brad don't worry.