Kind of an odd hobby. June 1, 2006 my father passed away. Among his belongings were two watches. The Elgin 15j ca1905 which belonged to my Grandfather, Murray Roy Hodge. And the Waltham Riverside 21j given to my Dad upon High School Graduation. I started looking into these things and developed an obsession.

Grandpa's Elgin;

The dial

Movement

Dad's Waltham

The movement

The inscription

I have a few others now!

Great looking watches.

I started my collection with family heirlooms also. I have both of my Grandfather Olson's Elgin and my Grandfather Loga's Elgin and my great-great grandmother Johnson's swiss keywind watch. I also have my wifes Grandfather Foss's pocket watch and her great grandfather Foss's Hamilton. We also have her Great Grandmother Foss's watch.

When my dad died I kept his first wrist watch, a Davida that my mother bought for him by baking lefsa and selling it. I remember her giving it to him one Christmas when I was just a small child. I also have his last wrist watch, a Timex.


Sorry, I don't have a good camera so can't post photos right now.

When I started collecting Studebaker Cars I bought a Studebaker watch, a South Bend Grade 229, got bit and the rest is history.

Ernie

Thanks Ernie and Debbie. I still hope to aquire my maternal Grandfather's watch. He was a Railroader and had a 992b. It is still in his Son's (mid eighties) possesion and I asked that it be sent my way when it goes somewhere. We will see. All my other watches are for sale if a good offer comes along, but NOT those from family.

Ernie,

The founding father of the company I work for, The Wooster Brush Co., was Adam Foss who also had a brother named Samuel. Was wondering if there was any family heritage there.

Steve

Hi Steve: My wife's grandfather was Raymond Foss, a Chiropractor. His father was Alonzo foss who owned a Regional Hardwarestore Chain. He had a brother named Woodward Foss. Alonzos Father was Samuel Foss. Samuel lived from 1830 to 1891 in New Hampshire. We don't know who his parents were of if he had any siblings.

Ernie

My interest was a "warm spot" for Pocket Watches that started about 15 years ago after my wrist watch battery died in Hong Kong, and I "went Mechanical" again. After joining IHC185 and because of Lindell rescuing the supply of historical watch books that NAWCC lost interest in (I could see them thinking "heck they are only about pocket watch makers"), the Hampden story revealed that I am a descendant of the Abbes that funded the startup of Hampden Watch Co. and also (by marriage) are in the "first family" of Hamilton Watch Co. Who could resist the Hobby with all that AND IHC185 "co-watchaholics" to commiserate with?

What started me with this obsession of collecting watches was this 922 hamilton I found in a pawn shop I think I got it in 1987 it was the first one and I still own it today it not a good case but the price was right back then.Then it took me a few more years before I got more into collecting watches.

I know that I am resurrecting an old post but one never knows what one will find while digging for something else....besides, it's a great topic and one that our newer members may find interesting and want to contribute to....

Dave, I had heard but I did not know how you came about having Horological Royal Blood running through your veins....It is very interesting how you happened upon it, as you explained in your post above....I always knew you were Royal....

I became interested in Pocket Watches as a youngster and would play with my Maternal Grand Dad's big Elgin until he would catch me and make me put it back where I found it....later (much) when he passed away, it was given to me and I have had it for over 50 years....Last Christmas I gave it to my Son....and he will pass it on to his children (3) I suppose....but that is what started me on my quest....I will add a photo of the watch as I received it....The watch has since been to Chris Abell and looks much better now but I do not have any photos of it....

Let's now hear from others tell us how they started their collecting....

Regards,

Jerry

Hi All,

Great stories, my interest started when I was a kid and i played with my maternal granfathers watch. He died when i was sixteen. When asked the onlt thing of his that I said I wanted was that watch. It is an Eligin 12 size GM Wheeler form 1922 I think. My mother kept the watch until until I was about 35 when she realized I was never going to get married. she finall gave it to me then. I was hooked but it took some time for me really get the bug I have now.

I owe alot of that to IHC185.

Thanks,
Steve

I have always liked old things. My friends couldn't understand why I always drove a 20 or 30 year old car,when everyone else had a new car. I have never,even now wanted a new car. My present ride is a 1965 Rambler American 2dr ht. About 10 years ago my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas,and out of the blue I said "an old pocket watch". Well it took some looking(I didn't know about Ebay or anywhere else to look)so we started hitting pawn shops,and finally found a mint condition 16 size Waltham hunting cased watch. It is a beautiful watch,and it didn't take me long to realize it was too nice to carry everyday. I now needed an everyday pocket watch(or two). The obsession was on. I soon found that I had a knack for repairing watches,and with the help of books,and some pointers from a friendly local jeweler,well here I am,hooked just like the rest of you. I now have about 150 watches. No family heirlooms,even though my entire family worked for the L&N Railroad,I was too young to be interested.

Hi all.
My story is similar in many ways. When I was a kid and we visited my maternal grandparents, I always ran up to their wall clock to look at grandfathers pocket watch. He had his "Sunday" watch hanging in there. Then after a few years, he told my mother that the watchmaker in the village had his daily carry watch for some minor repair, and that I could have it if I wanted to. It took my allowances for a whole week to pay for the repair, but I had my own pocket watch. It is still in my possession after close to fifty years. I´m planning on leaving it to my grandson when he gets a little older. It might sound like an unusual way of inheritance, going from grandfather to grandson, but that´s how it is.
The collecting however, didn´t start until a few years ago, when I inherited my paternal grandfathers watch from my father. That particular watch has already been passed down to the next generation, my son.
Regards, Krister

I've been interested in pocket watches since I was about 5 yrs. old.(I'm 57 now).My paternal grandfather was a carrier of pocket watches, he had 5 or 6 of them hanging in the kitchen, and I always looked at them and would hold them when I could.At about 7 yrs. old, my aunt gave me a 12S Hampden General Stark, which I still have today, which was my uncle's watch, he had passed away before I was born.To this day, I'm a Hampden nut.I always saved every PW I ever had, except for a Hampden Champion I lost out of my pocket when I was about 10.When I was old enough to work, I bought my first true RR watch, a 16S Crescent St.I think I have about 70 PW's today ,most are railroads.It's a great hobby, I learn something new about every time I get on here at IHC 185! I feel sorry for the kids growing up today, so many have never seen a pocket watch,and don't have the slightest interest in such things!Thank you, Mike for starting this thread...Ted.

My first pocket watch was an Ingraham dollar watch my Dad got me for my birthday back in the mid 60's, purchased at our local Kresge's five and dime. It had a little image of either an E or F unit diesel on the dial. Not enough detail to really be able to tell which.

It's long gone. I saw one on ebay still in the box a few years ago, and it sold for over $60! I was amazed!

Prior to that, my FIRST watch was a Timex wristie. MAN I was proud of that watch, and wore it for years. Mine finally died, but I still have my late brothers Timex, which was identical to mine and received on the same Christmas. Unfortunately it no longer runs, but still, everytime I pull it out, it makes me smile thinking back on old times.

Not long after receiving the Ingersol, my Dad then handed me my Great Grandpa's 18s Elgin railroad watch, and I've never looked back.

Regards! Mark

What a wonderful thread, I think it would make a great sticky.

What started me collecting pocket watches? I'm not sure. Im not even sure if I could explain exactly what I do collect, or why. Some people collect railroad watches, some collect specific companies, others collect sizes. I collect just about anything that catches my eye.
I started out collecting Elgins. Because my grandmother gave me a 12s elgin that belonged to my great uncle Jim. She gave it to me before I got married. Its still sitting in my jewelry box. I only wear it on special occasions.
I have never been able to wear a wrist watch. I am a rather big guy and they just dont fit. For years I had a clip on battery watch, that died finally. I went on ebay to find a replacement. I figured I would look for pocket watch that I wasnt afraid to carry.
I found an Elgin, but when it arrived it had a winding stem issue. It was to nice for the price to return though. So I looked online for some help. While looking I came accross IHC185, I felt comfortable here almost at once.
I thought that taking apart a watch would be fun. That really was the turning point from buyer to collector. I found out that I could do it reasonable well and I fell in love with the mecanical side of this hobby. Its relaxing once I am done with seminary study. I have bought a few more since then (57 at last count). Now if only I can avoid getting hit by flying frying pans.

Hi All,I, like Jim,Collect what I like and have about 60,mostly 18s,a few 16s,all American made.Mostly large and silver colored.I started collecting antique clocks.Taught myself to repair them as I couldn't afford to pay to have it done.A watchmaker friend said I should try pocket watches.I did and got "hooked".I have 5 sons and passed along one to each of them at Christmas.Also my grandson who wants to learn to repair them.Hope so.Thanks for being such a wonderful group of people.Regards to you all.Norm

Hi Friends, I inherited a 17j open face 18s Hamilton when I was 8 and decided to see what made it work. My mother was not pleased with the result. I used to carry it to school to show the kids and from there I was hooked. My Godfather was a U P engineer and he loved his very eclectic cigar box pocket watch collection and shared that appreciation and fascination with me. I guess I have haunted pawn shops and junk stores and jewelry stores ever since. I just acquired my grandfathers well worn Hampden which I want to restore. Anything involving springs gears and ticking is always interesting for me even if I cannot fix it.

My obsession for collecting pocket watches started as a young lad (I think 8). My grandfather passed away and my dad and uncles were cleaning out grandpa’s house and I was left to play. Well as they found treasures in the house they piled them up by the front door. As I got tired of play outside I wondered inside and found the Pocket watches. I started to play with them (winding and watching them tick) and got my #!* hand to me for being inquisitive. Years later I received a wristwatch from my other grandpa (a Longines 14k solid gold case). My father took the Longines to a friend (a retired watch repair person) to have it checked and cleaned. As he removed the back he saw his own initials on the case from a repair he performed as an apprentice repair person. This story now sparked a renewed interest I had as a young lad in watches. I already have several other areas of collecting interest going no and had to make a choice on which to pursue (coins, guns, sports cards, stamps, knives, comic books, trains, and more). Well I slowly resolved my collecting to pocket watches mainly South Bends. I quickly became obsessed with them. Day after day searching and searching for more and different South Bends. As the search went on, I also developed a passion for knowledge of these pocket watches. A friendship occurred along the way as I continually bumped heads with my competitor for these South Bend jewels (Lindell Riddle). My collection grew at a different pace then Lin’s, but I managed to find some interesting stuff. Now I have branched out to all brands of pocket watches and have continued to learn the art of watch repair (only minor repairs). This hobby has surely been entertaining, rewarding, and I find myself greatly appreciative of all the great people that I have come in contact with.

When I was a youngster there was a popular local childrens' TV show whose host played a railroad engineer who signed off everyday by checking his "trusty old railroad watch" (his words), and that intrigued me as I liked trains and we live in a big railroad town. When I started working in watch material houses that old interest really took off-helped by various watchmakers around town who also were watch inspectors. 35+ years later the interest is still there, albeit expanded into other areas.

this is my first pocket watch. I got it in the mid 1970's and it still runs great

the mechanical watches have always interested me way more than battery ones. I am pretty much in awe of the Hamilton's and Rolex's