Internet Horology Club 185
Railroad Grade Buster Brown
April 02, 2010, 20:11
Tom BrownRailroad Grade Buster Brown
Picked up this Buster Brown watch real cheap as a buy it now on ebay.
April 02, 2010, 20:16
Tom BrownI was worried that it might be a new creation but it was so cheap I thought it was worth the chance.
After taking it apart to clean it, it looks original.
The dial was very dirty but it cleaned up ok, I was afraid to go to far with it being a paper dial.
April 02, 2010, 20:18
Tom BrownHere are the guts, I am guessing it is an Ingersoll.
April 02, 2010, 20:19
Chris HughesVery cute!
EDIT: you just posted pix of the movement. Thanks!
April 02, 2010, 20:21
Tom BrownGoing by the serial number & the price guide it would put this around 1910-1911.
This ad is from 1911 & it appears to be for the same watch. Now I need the chain & fob it came with.
I know this isn't that exciting a watch but what they hey.
Tom
April 02, 2010, 20:27
Tom BrownThe ad says some shoe stores were selling a hundred of these a week.
Maybe I can find a consecutive serial number for a set!
April 02, 2010, 20:28
Eric UnseltExcellent condition, Tom. I'm old enough to remember Buster Brown shoes.
I'm curious how accurate those dollar watches are; maybe you could track it for the next couple of days?
April 02, 2010, 20:30
Tom BrownMe too! I was thinking of changing my avatar to this watch & my name to Buster Brown but since Buster Beck has that corner of the market I guess I will just stay me & Cowboy Bob in the corner.
Tom
April 02, 2010, 22:00
Scott A. WhitteyBuster Brown was my favorite shoe, when you could get me to put a pair of shoes on

April 03, 2010, 09:24
Roland GlennNice Dollar watch Buster.
What do you use to clean up the paper dials?
As the transformation is very noticable.
Thank you, Roland.
R. Glenn
April 03, 2010, 10:26
Tom BrownRoland
I had never tried to clean a paper dial before, what I did was use windex on a qtip. I tried it 1st on the very outer edge so if it hurt it perhaps it wouldn't be noticeable. I then just slowly went over the entire dial taking breaks to let it dry.
Tom
April 03, 2010, 18:00
Mike LaForestTom,
I don't collect these character watches, but I sure remember the Buster Brown shoes. As a child, I liked to step into what I think was called the floroscope machine. It was an x-ray device and you could see how your feet fit inside the shoe.
You might have a pricey little Dollar Watch there. It is in "The Complete Guide...." as I'm sure you already found. ABP is $110!.
I took opportunity to check it out in Ehrhardt's, "American Pocket Watches, 1999", and back then they gave it two different prices depending on if it was an 'early', or a 'late' model. See attached 2 pages below. Trouble is.... how does one tell in they have an early or a late model!
Mike
April 03, 2010, 18:07
Mike LaForestBelow is Ehrhardt's drawing for your movement.
Mike
April 03, 2010, 18:07
Tom BrownNot too sure how you would tell, I am guessing mine is early since it is from the beginning of the company. The price guide has a photo of another one from 1928, so maybe that is the late one?
I don't collect these either, just for the price I paid I thought it was worth it, plus the name Brown.
Tom
April 04, 2010, 09:07
Roland GlennHi Tom, I believe its a early "teens" model as it has the fake jewel on the regulator and the cutout for the escape. I've had some other Ingersolls that had the same "jewel" and they were early, some were backwind. And then in the 1930's it was removed.
Roland
R. Glenn
April 04, 2010, 16:27
Buster BeckWell I grew up in the Buster Brown era and was always kidded about the association with my real name

But please feel free to use the logo as your avatar as I don't think anyone would mind[especially me]

Regards,
bb
April 04, 2010, 16:43
Tom BrownOh that's OK Buster, I like Cowboy Bob, anyway. I too was called any name you can associate with Brown, including Buster, John etc.
Here is Cowboy Bob & his Ball pocket watch back when the D&RG ran through town here.
Tom