Perry Howard asked us 185er's if a "parts" Waltham with a dial could be restored. Well . . . . . . I asked Perry to send me the bones because the dial was too nice to go without restoration.
Perry sent me the dial and some Waltham 1883 bones that were probably dropped by "Lucy" just before she laid down for her 2.5 million year wait to be discovered by the Leakeys! and I sent him an e-mail saying those would not make it but I could look for a working movement. Well Perry sort of told me to keep the stuff. BUT! Perry had also included MOST of the bones of an Elgin and GUESS WHAT? The dial is an Elgin. Soooooo . . I found an Elgin 17 Jewel parts movement with the missing parts needed, and . . . TA - DA!!!!
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007
Perry, I (Ahem ) Gave the Waltham Bones a proper Burial, and after some Pivot Polishing and timing check, I will send you Mr. Gibson for your eminent caretakership. The Case was no big deal, and it should carry well if you care to use this Gibson for staying on time.
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007
Very nice job David & very kind of you to do what you did for Perry.
If he is interested it looks like T.J. was Thomas J. Gibson, born about 1845 in Alabama. He was in Texas by 1870 & from 1880-1920 was listed as a Dry Goods Merchant.
He was also President of the 1st Natl. Bank in Winnsboro
Posts: 5107 | Location: New Mexico in the USA | Registered: January 27, 2007
It's so gratifying to know you did this, Dave, and another old quality Elgin G.M. Wheeler is ticking away, thanks to your caring and skill. Your interest and energy given to this project reveals a lot about you as a person.
David, I would like to say thank you very much. My love for these beauitful little timepeaces just keep growing with people like you.With help from you and the other members this is a great club and I'm very glad to be apart. Perry
Posts: 66 | Location: Silsbee, Texas in the USA | Registered: December 01, 2009
I have a few full plate Elgins and they are nice watches. Any signed dial to me is also a treat, I have two jeweler signed dials and to me they add to a collection. Dave it looks like that GMW's heart is beating strong and the regulator couldn't possibly be any more centered than it is.
Posts: 1797 | Location: Michigan in the USA | Registered: September 19, 2009
. . . I asked Perry to send me the bones because the dial was too nice to go without restoration.
and I sent him an e-mail saying those would not make it but I could look for a working movement. Well Perry sort of told me to keep the stuff. BUT! 
Perry had also included MOST of the bones of an Elgin and GUESS WHAT? The dial is an Elgin. Soooooo . . I found an Elgin 17 Jewel parts movement with the missing parts needed, and . . . TA - DA!!!!
) Gave the Waltham Bones a proper Burial, and after some Pivot Polishing and timing check, I will send you Mr. Gibson for your eminent caretakership. The Case was no big deal, and it should carry well if you care to use this Gibson for staying on time.
