I heard a story about a woodworker who found a beautiful piece of wood. He set it aside to await the perfect project. After years of waiting the project came along, the wood, with only a slight trim would be a perfect fit. When it came down to it he couldn't make the cut and put it back on the shelf.
The dream once realized would kill the desire that spawned it. (Sorta like Buster and the thrill of the hunt)

So show us your best case that is waiting for a movement. This C.W.C.CO. 25 year 16s SB&B, looks like it was in a drawer for years,only has one faint case screw mark a 11:00 o'clock .
I hope to find a movement that I want to put in it but doubt that I ever will.

And the front.

Lorne - she is a beauty... What size - 16?

No doubt that is an outstanding example complete with a "Fancy Bow". It begs for a early Sangamo Lorne

I have this 16sz YGF Keystone SB&B case that has been in my collection for years and I just can't allow myself to mate it to anything, which is quite sad

It may well remain one of the sharpest & finest condition "Pattern Back" RR cases that I have had the pleasure of owning.

I always wondered if it was kept back by the manufacturer or someone in production as perhaps the last one made in that series as it's 1 shy of 9 Million 750 Thousand in it's serial number...

regards,
bb

Pattern Back RR;

Jon, yes it is 16 size.

That is a very nice case Buster. For some reason I have collected pre 1920 pieces but have come to appreciate the type of design that is on your case back. Can I assume that case to be from the late 1930's?

Oh I don't know Lorne, I have seen this type case in plain back on late 20's & into the early 40's watches.

I don't know the "fashion statement" that this pattern back would help date it to.

It is a fact, that the earlier the case is in 16sz, such as yours, the scarcer they are today.

I have a couple of nice 16sz early ones that I have put back and I may show them later if this thread takes off and I dig them out.

regards,
bb

That's a beauty, Lorne. I've been looking for a nice hunter case for an 1899 21-jewel Columbus King. It's surprising how few good cases are coming up on eBay! Let me know if you find one!
Dennis
mccanndj@aol.com

Buster, I have always thought of the design on your case as "Art Deco". Wiki says art deco first appeared in France in the 20's and flourished worldwide during the 30's and 40's.

Dennis, yes, lately ebay has had a real shortage of decent cases. I hope more will show up but Buster has been warning us all along to pay the price if you want a good case.

Yeah well people usually pay me about as much attention as "Chicken Little" which is sometimes a good thing

Thanks Lorne.

Here's one I managed to dig out that I had stashed away. It's an early 16sz Keystone YGF DHB&B with offset hinges and I believe would be appropriate for most 1890-1912 watch movements[+/- 5-6 Years].

Not as nice as yours, as yours would be near to impossible to beat But a nice early example.

Got one more and I think I know where it stays, will look tomorrow......

regards,
bb

Lorne and Buster I too have several cases that I just have never found the perfect movement for. I think as collectors we just do not have the heart to break the dream. When you wait years for the right movement it is sometimes because there is no right movement for that special case.

Well Said Richard I agree I used to save a bunch but it seemed I just saved and never used. With kids to feed I decided a long time ago to let them go and let someone else decide. I did manage to put back some nice ball cases I am unsure if I will ever find a movement for.

I have generally found it very frustrating to buy empty cases in hopes of finding suitable movements, especially since the resulting combination is unoriginal. I have a handful of empties right now, the best of which is the 14k 16-size Dubois hunter shown below. I have been looking for a great and rare movement for it for months, with no success. I frustrate easily, so I recently bought what looks to be a nice Illinois Getty movement for this great case, but I am not sure I will put it in it. If any of you have a wonderful 16-size hunter movement looking for a home, let me know.

I have had considerably better luck in finding cases for movements I wanted to recase. The most notable example is this very rare 16-size American Watch Co. Grade Bridge Model with fish scale damascening. When I bought it, it was in a somewhat battered C.W.W.Co. gold-filled case. I bought a Hamilton 975 hunter that was in a very nice 14k A.W.W.Co. case, and swapped cases with the American Watch Co.

Bridge Model movement

But finding movements for cases has been harder for me. As I said, I get frustrated, which is why I sold this wonderful 18k Haas Neveux open face case after a few years of trying to find it a tenant.

Lots of Gold Colored beauties here...

How about a little Sterling to lighten up this stiff competition?

All-a-board...

Here's my last 16sz I had put back waiting for that "perfect" movement. It's a B&B "Peer" SB&B in YGF that would/should work well on any early 20th century movements.

quote:

Ethan Lipsig: posted March 09, 2013 17:50
I have generally found it very frustrating to buy empty cases in hopes of finding suitable movements, especially since the resulting combination is unoriginal.

When no watches/movements appeal to me I will buy an empty case just to keep in the game. I have about 20 empty cases right now and find them almost as interesting as a complete watch.

quote:

How about a little Sterling to lighten up this stiff competition?

That's a beauty Jon, I haven't seen a lot of AWCCo. Sterling cases.

Here is a case I recently picked up. a Jas Boss Keystone Railroader style. NOS with the original tags. I don't know if I'll even ever use it as you just can't find things like this anymore!

Engine turned back is absolutely stunning on this case too. s/n on the tag matches the case to boot.

I have this little 12s Keystone Boss white gf case. The only movements I'd like to put in it are odd sized (like Elgin Hulburds), so I just admire the leopard look it has.

Jared, if I owned that case it would stay exactly as is and never see a movement. Stunning is the right word!

Kevin, I am not much of a 12s guy but from what I read Hulburds are a very high quality mvt.. It seems there aren't a lot of them around so the handsome leopard can probably bask in admiration on it's own for some time yet.

Keep those cases coming Boys.

I agree that's a beautiful Railroader and that "leopard-skin" case is a 3 star in anyone's books !!

regards,
bb

A nice white gold case with spots. I have seen only 1 other case like this one and it was gold.

Photo's courtesy of Chris Abell.