Normal post in the wrist watch section, but recently purchased this very nice and rare 1924 Bulova 'Prince of Wales' pocket watch, complete with brass stand. Makes for an excellent desk time piece.
Hello Bill Here from Ct. I wear the same Hamilton Watch to work I bought in 1967 when I made Signalman position at New Haven Hump Yard. It is a 992 with Railway Special printed under Hamilton's name. The gold case still shines up nicely. It no longer keeps perfect time but neither do I. I set 5 ahead in the morning and at bedtime I compare it to my three yes [3] La Crosse wall clocks all "listening" to Colorado's standard time radio signal It may have lost one or two minutes.
Over the years I bought many watches from the retirees leaving the New Haven and later the Penn Central. Accutron had come out with a Railroad model complete with a dial or two just for the railroads. Now we got Accutrons for awards and could buy them from the railroad store without having to carry a time book.
I was surprised how many associated their watch with having to pull long hours running trains. Somehow the watch symbolized getting to work boarding their train and pulling a 12 shift. Many sold them for $40 to $50 a half weeks straight time pay for me then after taxes.
For those still awake I now carry a 950 or a Waltham u/dn simple gold case workhorse. God I still love "my" watches. And I won't part with the watches I was able to buy from the retirees either. At night I take each one out remembering the conductor, brakeman, Fireman that carried it or the heavy handed engineer that wore his proudly running what was left of the big name trains.
I work on the old New York Central track called the B&A. Way past legal retirement age the company still asks me to stay so I do. My watches I work with get oiled and a bath when needed and all run well enough for today's timely needs. Take Care...
Posts: 77 | Location: Hartford, Connecticut in the USA | Registered: August 11, 2010
Hello Ted. It is a Vanguard model. With a Lossier Inner Terminal hair Spring. Watch Keeps great time and I wear it often to work. I had a white gold Crescent St but it was stolen many years ago from my locker at work. Kids broke in. I don't know what the difference is between the models. My C S was in a nice WG BOC case though...
Posts: 77 | Location: Hartford, Connecticut in the USA | Registered: August 11, 2010
Welcome to IHC 185, from one Bill to another Bill. Similar backgrounds also. I started on the Northern Pacific Ry. in 1960, made Signalman in 1965. Retired from the BNSF in 2001, a couple years early. I was one of the Accutron guys, and now I know I should have been buying nice RR pocket watches. Enjoy the best watch site on the net.
Bill
Bill Carlson
Posts: 431 | Location: Billings, Montana USA | Registered: February 05, 2007
Today I'm wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual "Officially Certified Chronometer" which I purchased new in Zurich on or about August 6, 1959, so I've owned it for 51 years and worn it daily for most of that time, until about 5 years ago when I stsrted getting interested in pocket watches. Still a great watch though, even if I have paid a multiple of its purchase price for servicing over the years. My recollection is that I paid 180 Swiss francs (about $120) for it. Wouldn't trade it for the fanciest new Rolex!
chas
Posts: 63 | Location: Northern Ohio in the USA | Registered: June 20, 2006
Today I am wearing my Bulova Accutron 214 Railroad Approved. Great watch, very accurate, but need to keep an eye on the battery life. I carry a PW on occasion, when I do it is usally my BW Raymond, or my 4992B.
Posts: 130 | Location: Southern Mississippi in the USA | Registered: February 25, 2007
Like others who have replied to this post, I give another pocket watch a ride in my pocket every moth or so. Now it is an Illinois 16s Model 5, grade 187 (marked) “Getty Model” with 3 finger bridges. It is interesting that this movement is marked 187, but an open face model (position of click wheel on bridge side).
Ross Frank
Posts: 14 | Location: San Diego, California in the USA | Registered: August 03, 2010
I never had a Bullova Railroad model wristwatch. I saw them plenty in the late 60's and early 70's. This Bullova was a gift to me for being a nice Guy to what turned out to be the owner of a very large Jewelry store in Hartford ct. He gave it to me one day after once again helping his wife bring in bags from shopping. It had a slight flaw on the case face so he would not sell it. I still wear it to this day.
But never to work. LOL..
Posts: 77 | Location: Hartford, Connecticut in the USA | Registered: August 11, 2010