I picked up this early Hampden 15j LS on ebay, the seller said the hands would not set properly (it is a lever set and they were trying to set it via the crown) the case was dirty. I cleaned the case (movement looks close to new) and these are some pictures of the big ole boxed hinged case.

Very nice looking watch Claude.

Nice Hampden! How about some pictures of the movement?

I think this was a "Church Sunday" watch, one that some guy bought and wore only one Sunday because it has it's own emboidered satchel and was passed though some generations until one lately didn't feel it had "family value" anymore. I will post pictures of the movement tonight, I took the side pic to show off the thickness of the crystal, at least 4mm if not thicker. This watch was under $130 and a bit over with shipping and my first box hinge cased watch. As you can see the case, dial are in very nice condition. It runs but I am sure that it needs a good COA since I don't have a clue when the last one was done but the movement is as nice looking as the case/dial. It is a gilded movement with the long hooked regulator, not adjusted like many early 15j movements. Lindell it is a Dueber case, the marking is an anchor with a rope or snake coiling around it. I need to make a photo box for my watches because you can't see the fine detail of the case that shows little if any wear, even to the bottom of the hinge. I checked the serial number (624,688) appears to be a grade 62 7000 total with this one made in 1889.

I love those thick old cases! That is a thing of beauty!!

HIGH regards! Mark

Vry nice Claude,
The case is worth more than what you paid so you are surely ahead of the game. And to boot, a beautiful watch in great condition.

Ray there have been a few watches that I have gotten lucky on because the seller did not present the watch well or said something that scared bidders off (not being able to set the hands) I will post some "before" pictures with the movement because it shows how well the watch cleaned up. I wish I could say that I am smart watch collector but in my case it is mostly dumb luck or good luck or just plain luck. I wish I knew who made the "satchel" for it since it is a nice raise embroidery black silky material and has a black top liner that has red and black pull strings, someone knew how to sew well. In one of my price guides it appears the Hampden online decoder is wrong or the price guide is wrong, Maybe Lindell can clarify the date a bit.

I believe I see a Teske regulator in your treasure. That's my favorite! Could have easily been railroad approved in it's day with that in there.

Regards! Mark

Mark I honestly don't know if it is 15 or 17 jewels, I guess at that time Hampden did both and did not always mark the movement and I used the Hampden Excel decoder to see what grade the serial number crosses over to and it spits out grade 62. It has a Brequet overcoil hairspring and the what Hampden called a "compensation balance" so I think it has at least 3 adjustments, heat/cold/iso. The best I can do from what I have is that it is a model 2 full plate Hampden with at least 15 jewels assuming that that it has lower jewels to match the top jewels that I can see + the normal 7 jewels.

What IS the s/n?

624,688 is the serial number. [One source] shows it as being Nickel and grade 62, it isn't nickel but maybe the grade 62 was available in more than one type of movement metal, Gilt or Nickel. And a bit better shot of the case back, excuse the thumb print on the cartouche area.

Thanks Lindell, even though I will pick up a Hampden at the "drop of a hat" I do not have any reference material on Hampdens other that what is in the early price guides. I think in the late 1880's they were just starting to roll out 17 jewel movements so in 1889 this was a pretty decent movement.

I'd say yours was right at the cusp of that change over, Claude. My great uncles John C. Dueber Special 18s is a 17j, and it dates to 1890, seen in this discussions.

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...971062532#9971062532

As it turned out in a separate thread, John was a telegrapher for the B&OSW in Sciotoville and South Webster, Ohio. This was his railroad watch, and the ONLY watch he owned his entire life, so yours looks like it would dovetail right in the same period.

Regards! Mark

I have my father's pocket watch but he worked in the coal mines during his early years so what he has a 12 size 15j Elgin, for me it is one of the most valuable watches I have. That is a beautiful watch also, I guess that is what sometimes impresses me so is the amount of craftmanship and quality of work that these watches have. My next project watch is a Rockford 16s 17j hunter, on the inner cover is a nice engraving "George from Mama December 25 1904. So it must have been George's Christmas present in 1904. If you could only hook something up to these watches to hear the stories they could tell.