Hi All,

A few years ago I bought a New / Old stock pocket watch case with the intention of putting a decent movement in it.
I have a quantity of PW movements, but didn't realise none of them were suitable until I got the case and opened it.

The case has a screw back and bezel, the bezel having shallow 'coin edge' engraving next to the flat bevel edged glass.
The crown will 'snap out' slightly when pulled, and has a Male stem attached. The case body under the bezel also has a cut-out which I'm assuming is for a setting lever.
The inside diameter of the case body is 45mm / 1.77" (Smallest dia, not the larger one which creates the step the pillar plate rests on).

The engraving inside the case back consists of the text " Philadelphia Watch Case Co " inside a double circular ring which encloses a "Crown".
Above the crest is stamped "Imitation Silver - USA", and below it a long box enclosing the word "Silverode"
Case number 251912.

I'm not very familiar with American PW's at all, so have no idea what makes of movement the case was meant for.
I've attached photo's below.
Any advice welcome! (or should I just sell it?)

Best regards
John Woolsey.

Top View

Case Back

Bezel Removed

John, You probably will get replies from those more expert than I but it appears to me that you have the easiest case to fit a movement in that is made. I think it is a standard 18 size case and will take any standard 18sz American and some foreign movements except one that requires a female stem. It will take pendant set or lever set movements, open face or hunting as a sidewinder. In my experience the 18 size movements were mostly made to the same dimensions unlike the variations that can be found in almost all smaller sizes. Among your movements, do you have an American 18size movement that won't fit this case? Good luck................Keith

It appears to be a standard 18s to me also, the lever position is another 'tell'... most 18s movements have the lever at the 2 o'clock position...

if this is truly NOS, with no case screw marks... why even put a movement in it? Save it as an example....

It will only be this way one time.....
.

Many thanks everyone for all the replies.
I've spent the last couple of hours wrestling to get the back off the case, and finally succeeded.

Keith, sorry but no movements at all that size. I've several Waltham movements from around 1880-1905, but all too small, mostly key wind and in bits, nothing bigger at all.

Terry, Now I've got the back off, I can state for certain that there are no retaining screw marks on the case, so I do believe it is NOS.

I can certainly appreciate the merits of your thoughts re- keeping it unused, but to me, keeping a case without a movement in it would be akin to hoarding a NOS vintage car without an engine or interior ..... it would Really pee me off eventually wondering what I could shove in to use and show it off

Lindell, I've attached a close-up of the crest now, so hopefully someone will recognise it.
I wondered if it was nickel, just never seen it described that way before. Wonder if it was as you say, something to do with imports and maybe the 'trade description' laws of the time.

Thanks again folks.
Best regards
John

The small black specks on the bottom of the case ring, are actually numbers stamped into the face. Not sure how the case ring is made on these, but the 'line' impression on the body appears to have been done in the casting or stamping of the ring. If it's stamped, it may have been caused by crud on the press die.
JW.

Image of the case back crest

Many thanks Lindell, just need to keep my eyes open for a suitable movement now.
I never bothered cleaning the case before photographing it, so it does look a tad scruffy. It's actually much better than the photo's would suggest.

What sort of camera and settings do you use to get crisp images like that? Mine always turn out a little 'grainy' which doesn't help images at all.

Best regards
John

That is an interesting marking on your case John... and I too believe it had to do with the exporting of the case....

and it appears there are no CS marks....

Still...
A NOS case makes for an interesting stand alone addition to a collection...

Like I said, it is only like this once in its lifetime....

.

Thanks for starting my day with a good laugh Lindell appreciated that!

I think one of the problems with my pic's is lack of light. I've been using room lighting too generally. I've also tried with a double tube watchmakers lamp, but it makes the screen on the camera flicker and screws up the exposure even on Auto and macro, can't use flash as it obscures everything. Will have to make a light box and see how that goes.

If I do get a movement for the case, it probably will be a stem wind / set type, I just couldn't bring myself to deface the bezel filing a slot for a lever.
Thanks for the manufacturers names too Wes, I know what to look out for now.
Looks like the case is likely to remain in storage for a while longer yet Terry ...... so you may get your way yet!

Best regards
John