I thought I'd share this with the group: I finally found the perfect hunter case to house the Hamilton 993 that my dad found in the mud on the cart path alongside the Erie Canal some 30 years ago. It was in an OF base-metal case with a broken crystal when he found it.

On a whim while passing through Amish country I stopped at a local watchmaker and spent an hour talking to the owner. Trusting me enough to show off his machine shop, cabinetry shop, and workshop, he demonstrated his skills in making movements and cases for tall clocks, banjo clocks, and mantle clocks. After the conversation turned to pocket watches, he offered me this case - a Wadsworth 25yr - at a fairly cheap price (quite a different economic scale in Amish country). Following the replacement of the broken mainspring, bent balance staff, and missing minute hand, he oiled and timed it, and had it ready in a matter of days. I couldn't have been happier with the result:

Case back:

Original dial with the mud cleaned off and the new minute hand:

Movement with all work complete:

That is an amazing story, would you happen to have any berfore photos? Any idea how long it had been on the ground when you found it? I would say it is a keeper!

Tom

Hi Eric,

The case looks brand new....so crisp! It's a beauty and really suits the dial and hands of that nice movement. Good story too! Good going!

William

Nice watch and great story. I'll be looking all over in muddy areas from now on!

Fabulous watch story a keeper indeed!