I just bought this gem on e-bay, but I had not seen a T. Eaton RR Grade watch with a Waltham 1892 movement. So the question is, is this in fact an 1892 movement made to put into some T.Eaton RR watches? , or is it something else. because I do not know ?
Thanks for any info on this watch,
Bill

Hi Bill, Nice Eaton! Those were not made by Waltham , but were Swiss-made by Gallet.They look like a '92 model Waltham, but there are differences in the shape of the barrel plate and especially the regulator.The 16s Eatons were also made by Gallet, and they look similar to the 1899 and 1908 model Walthams.I'm pretty sure those were RR approved up in Canada, they are a sharp looking watch. Best regards, Ted.

Does that make it a high end "swiss fake".. or were these recognized as RR watches?

Paul,
I believe they were approved in Canada for RR use.
Ted,
Thanks for the info, I was aware that Gallet made most of the Eatons watches, but I sure thought this one looked like an 1892. I guess that would explain why the serial number did not show in the Waltham data.
Thanks guys,
Bill

Ted,
When I read your post I remembered seeing an T. Eaton watch on Larry Buchans RR posts. I checked into them and see he had 2 listed, strangely there are major differences in the plate designs in his versus mine. I do not know how many of these watches were produced, but think there must not be a lot of them as you seldom see them anywhere, I would also think that these were produced in the 1900 / 10 era, but think it is strange that they would have changed the plates.
It all adds to the mystique of these watches, and the possibility that have a real scarce one. Although I must admit the regulator is definitely Gallet.
Bill

Bill, about half way down the page is the 23 jewel version.

Gallet Interocean #131827

As far as RR Approved, I have looked through all available Eaton's catalogues from 1904 to 1920 and they have an asterisk beside watches that will pass RR Inspection.

They show Gruen but not Gallet and I have not seen Gallet on the CPR list of approved watches.

While your watch would be RR Grade I have not as yet seen it noted as RR Approved.

Excellent watches. There is little doubt they could be certified for RR use. Hopefully Larry Buchan can remind us in this matter. This one passed through my collection and was certainly running RR Grade. Being an 18s, although the plates were slightly different, it could have the same train. Swiss watches often used standardized wheel sizes in different overall plate sets.

Hi Lorne,
I see your watch is marked Interocean, and I've seen others with that marking, just a trade name I guess ? I also have not found Gallet in any documents, but see that a swiss Elco, and swiss Bedford, were named as OK, after it was found that they had been in service on CP, so stands to reason that possibly others such as this was being accepted.
Dave,
These appear to be grade if not approved, not having mine in hand, can't really tell, but am expecting it to be quite nice.
Any idea how many there were of these watches ?
Thanks,
Bill

The Canadian Market figures roughly to be 5%-10% of the US at that time. So to compare these higher end T. Eaton named watches to the U.S. market would probably be to a 10% proportion USA Ball Watch Co. RR watches. That is not a complete answer but suggests these would be in the 10-15,000 total sold (at this grade and in all models). That would also mean good condition collectibles are under 1,500.

Those Gallet watches are collectibles - by quality and rarity!

They were no 'swiss-fakes' (no false jewel count; no wrong adjustment writing and no imitational names). I would call them 'pseudo american'. They sure met the requirements at the given time. I am not sure if when some european brands got a RR approved label Gallet was still making PW's (they specialized to wristwatches and chronographs).

Regards
Gerald

I find it interesting that in that letter dated Nov, 20, 1972 that a Mr. Kushnir of the CPR added several swiss and other watches to the approved 1928 list, as it was found that they were being used throughout the rail system, and had been for some time. These watches were the swiss Burlingtons, the swiss Elco, the Swiss Bedford, and the American Studebaker.
With the reading of tis letter I am convinced that my Burlington is in fact RR grade and approved, contrary to information I had previously received. I am not naïve enough to think that likely there were other undocumented timepieces that were also used in Canadian RR and were just serviced to specs throughout, never being brought into question.
Maybe not, but maybe so.
Hopefully down the road I will see something to confirm my suspicions.
I am really getting old and cantankerous as I see I had already posted above almost the same thing, Duhhhhhhh.
Bill

I think, but may be wrong, that the only ones marked Interocean are 23 jewels, the 17 and 21J are just marked T. Eaton.A 15J non- RR grade was just on the big auction last week, it too was the Waltham '92-style movement and was just as beautiful, these must have been the pride of the T. Eaton fleet!

Hi Ted,
Yes I think you are right. The further I looked into it, I noticed all the 23j were marked Interocean.
I did not notice the 15j with the same style of movement, but did notice another 21j a couple of weeks ago, that I thought was beautiful,but it went extremely high, of course Of all the movements I do like the 92's. I cab hardly wait to get this one in hand to see if it is as good as I think it will be.
Thanks for all the comments.
Bill

Bill that is a nice looking watch. I have a number of Canadian railroad watches and I seem to recall having an Eaton that had an 18 size Omega movement. Does anyone know if Eaton also used Omega?

Deacon,
I believe I have seen Regina movements in Eatons watches. Regina being Omega, only a sold in Canada version.
Bill

I just now noticed that the 23J Interocean has the Gallet name along with Eaton's, the ones under 23J don't seem to, maybe some do, but all the ones I've seen pictures of do not.The more I see of these, the more I want one!

Here is a picture of the dial and case.
Bill

case