I'm new to this forum and pocket watch collecting. I'm not sure how this bug bit me, but it did. I picked up my first pocket watch yesterday (after lurking about this and other forums as well as eBay for a few weeks).

Actually, I was looking for a watch repair shop locally to find out what the cost would be for a cleaning should I find a bargain worth a little investment. I found one about a mile from my house. I went in to just to see if the guy knew anything about pocket watches and lo and behold, he collects them himself. What's worse, he has a whole collection on consignment in his shop from a friend of his (who I suspect may have a chronic case of eBay buyer's remorse).

So, after about an hour of great conversation, most of which was well over my head, I walked away with my first pocket watch. I'll share what I know and if you know more about it, please chime in. It's a Waltham Model 1908 Vanguard, 23j, 16s, open face, stem wind, lever set, 5 pos. adj., 3/4 plate, and my research indicates it is from about 1915. That's about all I know about it. The dial has a small chip right where one would gouge when trying to raise the lever, and one faint hairline between 7 and 8. Otherwise, it's great. The hands look black unless the light hits just right, and then they are clearly blue with no discoloration. The thick glass crystal has a number of scratches, one is fairly deep--so someone clearly carried this watch. The movement looks brand spanking new--shiny and clean. There are a couple of jewelers marks on the inside of the rear case cover. If anyone can tell me what they mean, I'd appreciate it. It would be very cool if the watch was carried by a bona fide RR man. (I'm just a poser).

Pictures to follow:

Here's the dial w/ crystal

Here's the dial sans crystal

Here's the movement

Movement closer in

Jewelers marks...???

Hi Ed
Nice first watch, it looks like you picked up one in good shape that will not need anything. I wish I had learned that lesson in the beginning.

Thanks Jim. It's been running solid for about 30 hours or so and it has lost only a few seconds. I'm very happy with it.

Nice looking watch Ed. Congrat's. Now you need a 23 jewel Illinois for a second watch, a 23 jewel Hampden for a 3rd watch, etc, etc... I hope you got plenty of money.

Congrats on finding this site and welcome to IHC. You have a nice looking Waltham that I'm sure was wore by a RR Man. Who else at the time could afford a watch of this caliber. It sings RailRoad ALL THE WAY.

The hardest part of the process for me was deciding between this watch and an Elgin BW Raymond 19j with diamond end stones. If I had the money I'd have gotten them both. the movement on the Elgin was not nearly as clean and was missing a screw, but the dial was perfect and it had a new acrylic crystal. It's going to be difficult not to go back for it!

Very nice first watch! Glad to see some new members here. I've been bitten by the pocket watch bug also, about 6 months ago. As far as I'm concerned now, this is the best and most knowledgeable site on the net. The folks here have a wealth of information that's invaluable to new guys like me. And, they are so willing to help.

Welcome!

Welcome aboard Ed!
Very nice for a first watch.
The marks inside the case can be anything the jeweler wanted to use, dates, invoice numbers,or anything that meant something to him. Something so when it came back to him, he knew what was done to it last. If someone else put them there they could be anything.
I'm sure anyone you ask will have a different answer.

Welcome again.

Steve

Ed, welcome to IHC185. You can be asssured we all share your enjoyment of watches and sharing research of their history. You mentioned the watch shop near you is selling a lot of watches, IHC185 is a good outlet for that too as we have no seller fees here so he can list them for a price in our for sale section.

Ed the Waltham 23j is a good watch, and sometimes for some unknown reason you can pick them up at good prices because many collectors overlook them. This is true for Hampdens also, the 19j Elgin 18s was a workhorse movement, some had the diamond end stone some didn't, I would hold out for condition if you plan to buy one (best condition within your price range). The 18s 3/4 plate Elgin Veritas models tend to get pricey at times but sometimes you can pick the 19j BWR version up in the 100-200 range, especially in a silveroid case.

Ed Welcome to a great group of watch enthusiasts. Your watch looks very nice with a movement that looks almost new. You made an excellent choice because it was a popular railroad mans watch and parts are readily available, although the porcelain dial can be a bit pricey. I hope you use the watch and enjoy it. I agree with Claude that the best way to collect is to look for the watch you want in the best condition you can find. I have been doing this for over 50 years and while some watches are so rare you may have to take what you can afford, condition is paramount. I wish I had figured that out early! Best wishes.

Your frist pick for a railroad watch
was a good choice the 23 jewel Vanguard is a great watch.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the words of wisdom.

Nice watch Ed and welcome to IHC.

Regarding the "chip" where the lever is, I have read that on occasion a jeweller would grind or file the porcelain away to make it easier to catch the lever with a fingernail. Can anyone confirm this?

Greetings Ed, it's nice to see more new collector's...welcome to the best internet site ever! on horology. And the best thing about your new watch...It was made in the good ole U.S.A.

Regards,
Sam

Welcome Ed!

Good choice on the Vanguard as they're GREAT watches. I'm sure it will the first of many IF its not already since you've had a few months to purchase..

Very nice watch. My one and only RR grade watch is a Waltham Crescent Street 21j from 1925 with a dial very similar to yours. It is in a swing out case. The Vanguard is a step above the Crescent Street and a very good choice.

The swing out movement

Welcome aboard, Ed!You can't find a better bunch of guys than there is here.Nice Vanguard!Easily one of the finest American RR watches.My 21J Crescent St. which has the exact same dial as yours, has a small chip right at the lever, that's pretty often seen on lever sets.They didn't leave enough room there to get your nail in there to pull out lever.The thing about this pocket watch collecting is, once you get the first one, you're hooked!One is never enough....Ted.

Good luck on your entry into this collecting. One will never be enough. I have over 30 railroad watches.

Hi ED,WELCOME ABOARD.Nice looking watch and pictures. If you don't have it already i'd like to suggest the Fat Book. That is just the nickname a lot of us call it. It is available here at IHC. It has a lot of good and interesting information in it,especially for those of us just starting out. I'd like to recommend an antidote for that bug bite but not too sure there is one. Look forward to hearing from you and enjoy... Tim

I'm working on 45 rr grades.. And some others thrown in.. Once you been bitten, your done.. Congrats on a very nice watch! And Welcome!

Welcome Ed. Your watch was an industry workhorse and a great choice for a first watch. As someone else said always buy the best condition you can. I too wish I had realized that years ago.

Welcome Ed, nice watch, my first railroad was also a Crescent Street.

Gary

I read somewhere that the dials like yours and mine were called "Blind Man's Dials" because of the oversized numerals and minute markers. The combination of the dial and very thick hands made the watch very easy to read with just a quick glance. From everything I've seen so far, such dials were more common on the later model Vanguards from 1930 and after.