Hello again everyone;

Well, I've been doing some more shopping. I've been reading the price guide, trying to find what's good, what's better, and what's even better than that and I think I found a good one.

This is the first watch I've bought where I looked up the information on a nice watch in the "Guide" and then went looking for one. Here it is, and your comments, (good or otherwise) would be most welcome. Especially if you think I made a mistake. I have to learn somehow, right?

It's a size 18 Grade 845 Waltham 21 Jewel lever set
Railroad (I hope) watch with a salesman's case. It has what I think is a mint dial, and a great case with hardly a blemish on it anywhere.

The only thing I don't know is the year of manufacture or where to find it. The Waltham database doesn't seem to have it.




Thanks for looking, and please tell me I done good. If not I gotta go earn some more money to buy food and clothes for the children.
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Bud, according to the serial number, this is circa 1908. Serial numbers and approximate dates are usually listed in the guide in the first one or two pages of a given brand. For American Waltham the dates are on page 110 of my 2009 Guide. Looks like a nice clean watch...my only comment would be that watches that wind at 3:00 belong in a Hunting Case, and Open Face watches wind at 12:00. I think I would also refer to the case as a "Display Case" rather than "Salesman's Case." Usually, salesman's cases have the company name embossed in the front and rear bezel (some are just embossed on the front). Still a very nice looking watch.

That watch was made in 1908,by the serial number. Serial numbers and dates are in the Price Guide To Watches,on the first page of each brand. Your Waltham was not a "Railroad" watch,because it is a hunting movement that has been re cased in an open faced case. Some folks call these "sidewinders",but they are just re cased hunting movements. It is a very nice watch,model 1892,21 jewels,and very desirable,and collectible. It really needs to be in a hunting case.

I just noticed,are we being shucked? The date is on the tag on the watch.

Bud, you have found a very nice watch and the date is right in front of you on the tag hanging from the bow of the watch, as Cecil points out, but never the less it is a nice watch....Sometimes eBay sellers will have a tag on the bow of the watch and will put various info on the tag. When you see C---- or CA---- on the tag then you know that the seller is telling you what the date the movement was made....

The descriptions given you so far are spot on and this will be another one you will need to find a hunter case for....and as Cecil points out in it's orientation of being a Hunter movement, it is not RailRoad approved even though it is an adjusted movement....had it been an open face movement, it could have, conceivably, been RR approved....

Nice Find....

Happy Hunting for a Hunter case....

Regards,

Jerry

To add to what the others have said..

In a run of 9000
Patent Regulator

Hey Ed, your correct about the regulator, but my database says that this one was in a run of 200 starting with 17018801 and ending with 17019000....wonder where the other 8800 went...?

Regards,

Jerry

PS - I found additional info on this one....There were actually two sets of runs one open face and one hunter.
The first one was HC starting with the number 12577501 and ending with 17089500 made in 17 runs with a total count of 3800 units.

The second set was OF and started with number 12652001 and ended with number 19127000 made in 51 runs with a total count of 51775 units.

I just rechecked and it says..
17018801 - 9000
18s, mdl. 92
No 845, 21j, LS
Htg
it also indicates it is a Patent regulator and a jeweled main bbl.
Grade of material -P

This is interesting! Would they have made a run of 9000 Htg. Mvts!

I see the problem Ed....

In your data you indicate the run started at 17018801 thru 9000. If you will add 1701 in front of the 9000 you will find that it comes out to 200 units....My data agrees with the remaining data you posted....

Regards,

Jerry

To make this "legal" for RR use, all you need to find is an 1892 Waltham dial with a "3:00 O'clock" seconds chapter putting the 12 O'clock markings at the Pendant. Waltham DID makr these. I just sold an 1883 that would have been RR for that reason.

Many railroads would allow hunters but as it got closer to 1900, that number shrank to near nil. If the watch was in service before the new watch rules were revised for each RR company then typically the hunter would be grand-fathered as long as it met the 30s/wk criteria and was serviced properly. Any new hunter (new in service for that RR) would have to have the conversion dial that Dave posted. The 845 and Vanguard were very good movements, one well worth having in a collection.

Hi Cecil;

No, not at all, I'm just a blind dork!! I never even noticed that tag, honest.

Bud

I just noticed,are we being shucked? The date is on the tag on the watch.