Watchmakers ID numbers.

May 04, 2011, 12:19

Stephen John Ward

Hi to all from the UK, spring just around the corner!!.
Does anybody know what the very small engraved numbers/letters mean that are often found on the inside back cover of a pocket watch?.
I think they are from a previous watchmaker who has maybe serviced a watch and maybe this is some sort of unique registration number to identify him/her?........thanks, Steve.

May 04, 2011, 17:29

Lindell V. Riddle

Hi Steve,

Yessir, the weather is beautiful here, my favorite time of the year!

About those "service marks" there is a decipherable code to many of them. For example I have at times made out "coa" for clean, oil and adjust as well as "ms" for mainspring. Often years are reversed and other oddities. There was a time when all this was registered, story goes that if a dead body was found with a watch and no other identification the watch would lead the officials to the deceased person's identity.

When doing an IHC185 Find-Or Search for "Service Marks" there is some interesting reading.

Here is another topic "Watchmakers ID numbers" currently under discussion.

Let's see what others have to say!

Lindell