I, almost by mistake, won a Waltham, sight unseen.

First, the dial looks really different to me, is this unusual?

Next, this is all the information I have, and have no idea if it's even correct. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE ACTUAL MOVEMENT YET.

Take a look at the pictures and tell me what you think. It was cheap, so no loss if nothing.

Waltham SN 3277566
15J, 18s, Grade 15, Model 1883, Lever set, and a search says it's a PS Bartlett.

It's supposed to be a Hunter Case watch?????

This one is open face. ??????

Card with Information

Another

Last

Dial again

Shiela, the Dial is very nice and certifies this is an "early" model 1883. The more intreresting thing will be to see if the case marks are (mostly at least) "original" to the movement. Your watch thread got me and Lindell into a "reminiscent" discussion about the many early - mid 20th century "agriculturists" (used to be called farmers) who found it easier to haul their wetch out with their right hand with the bow-attached string or thong held by their thumb making the "sidewinder" the watch of choice" for being "easy to read".

You guys hit the nail on the head!

David, I too remember seeing men with those funny leather things on their watches, and thought that pocket watches were so cool, and I did notice a sidewinder, even way back then. You know, when there were still "farmers" out there!!

Lindell, Original, balony, I DON'T care, I JUST LOVE WATCHES! They can have a cow hanging from the pendant, and I would love it. Although I think that maybe the original of that would be, that the watch would have to hang from the cows neck, not the other way around, but would that make it original? hehehe

Thank you for the picture, and I can't wait to see the movement and what it looks like. I really enjoy what I call my mystery watches, they are fun to wait for, and even better when they get here. Original, beat up, or Gems, I love them all.

Thanks for the posts guys.

You guys got me interested in this topic when you brought up the "farmer watches" thing. I have two of those type that were truly belonged to farmers. The Elgin was my great grandfathers and the Waltham was my grandfathers. I used to get to sit on his lap and listen to it ticking away. He said he bought it in 1908, for maybe $17.00. Lots of money then. I'll see if I can get a few photos on here. The hands on the Waltham are larger because he was still carrying it at 90 years and his eyes were bad.

This is the works.

The Elgin of my great grandfather.

and the Elgin movement. I know very little about watches, but I really like them. Pocket and wrist alike. I admire all of you that can dismantle, repair and put them back together. Clocks are my thing. The parts are lots larger most of the time.
Any info on these would be appreciated. THANKS....
Lin, I'm not sure what size these photos are but I must have slipped them in under the wire..... they look large

I got the watch yesterday, and although it tries to tick, it doesn't. The movement is very shiny and looks pretty clean, but no PS Bartlett on it.
I think the design on it is pretty different too.

The Waltham database says this is a No 15 ? and the information is from an AD, so can anyone add to the information about this one? Like the number of jewels this one may have?

Not a very good picture, I've been out of practice for a while now.

Thanks for the new pictures you guys.

The four jewels I can see have metal coming through them, not solid. Except the one by the regulator.

Last, the database also mentions a Church patent regulator? Does this one have that?

Sheila,

Wow, I love the "Frosted" movements.. Looks like you got a good one there.

Ray

Ray,
Thank you, I never heard of that before!

I knew it was a little different this morning when I opened it, but had never seen any like it before, and had no idea what to think.

Thank you for the information.

This watch has many special features, it is an 15 Jewel "A" grade movement, meaning there is some adjustment which makes it arguably the same as P.S.Bartlett Grade and was referred as so in the NAWCC database. The Waltham production record I have listed this as a "Grade 15" watch of 1886 vintage. I agree with Ray, as the "frosted" finish was unique among these watches. It should clean up and be in very good working order.

Neat watch Sheila! I agree that it is fun to anticipate what a watch will be when the pictures and description are lousy, but the price is cheap. I got a "not working" Elgin Military timer once with no pictures of the movement. I paid about 2x the cost of shipping. When I got it home and cleaned the corrosion off the case and opened it up, the movement was in mint condition and it started right up. It has a "jitterbug" balance that beats much faster than an normal watch. Very neat. I don't have pics because most of my watches are in a safety deposit box back in Michigan.

You almost have nothing to lose on watches like these because the worst case is you have a "parts" watch, and we all know how scarce parts are for some of these. Best case is you get a rare and beautiful watch like your frosted movement Waltham.

Keep finding those deals and sharing them with us. Your passion and enthusiam for watches of any type is contagious for the rest of us!

John III

Nice going Sheila,Please keep on sharing these great finds with us.