Internet Horology Club 185
Non-Magnetic Vanguard Hunter

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/8143931877

April 19, 2013, 21:19
Bila Wirriganwalters
Non-Magnetic Vanguard Hunter
Hi All,

Can anyone shed some light on this Waltham Vanguard I have. Serial number#7021440, Model 1892, Hunting, Lever Set Pendant wind, marked with the following; 21 Ruby Jewels, Adjusted and is marked Non-Magnetic, database says only a run of 50. I can not remember seeing one of these marked like this, only non-magnetic in the fat book is the 17 jewel Vanguard, is the run quanity correct for this variation and would the hunter version be more scarce then the open-face model?

Regards to All,
Bila
April 20, 2013, 04:25
Robert McClelland
Bila, for what it's worth, checking the on-line Waltham database
Waltham Database
and searching for "non mag" in the comments there were only 50 Hunting non-magnetic 1892 Vanguards listed, all in one run. There are 77 OF non-mag Vanguard '92s listed.
April 20, 2013, 06:37
Bila Wirriganwalters
Thanks Robert, kind of makes these non-magnetic Vanguards' very scarce, and the hunters even more scarce then the open-face. Would you have any idea of value.

Best Regards,
Bila
April 20, 2013, 10:14
Tony Dukes
Bila,
Please show us a pic of the movement. Thanks
Tony
April 20, 2013, 11:32
Bill Kapp
Hard to tell about value. Lots of scarce items have little demand.

Has anybody used ebay as a cheap appraisal tool? For a few bucks, you could put it up for auction with a ridiculous reserve and see how high they might bid it.

happy hunting
April 20, 2013, 16:17
Jon Hart
Bila, As Tony pointed to - a picture would help everyone...

Big Grin
April 20, 2013, 17:15
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.
Bill,

Yes, eBay is an excellent appraisal tool, and it's even cheaper if you just scan completed items. I'm constantly putting things on my watch list just so I can track where they end up.


Jon,

I concur, a picture is essential to judge condition. IMHO a scarce item won't ever be worth much or appreciate much if it's below collectible grade, no matter how rare it is.


Best Regards,

Ed
April 20, 2013, 19:28
Bila Wirriganwalters
Hi All,

Will post a photo as soon as it is back together, I original purchased it as a parts watch, the seller had not mentioned that it was a non-magnetic. I have it srtipped down for a clean and I need to replace 4 of the jewels because somebody had pilfered them before I bought it. If anyone is interested I can throw some pictures up of the back plates while it is disassembled?
April 20, 2013, 21:09
Bill Kapp
Ed,

I agree that completed would be cheaper Smile

Just figured that some of the scarce stuff might not come up often enough to use that tool.

happy hunting
April 21, 2013, 17:09
Richard M. Jones
Bila your watch is a nice find. I personally like the Non Magnetic Watch Co. of America watches and have several but I have 2 18s Walthams marked Crescent Street and ? that are non magnetics. I believe Waltham followed Mr. Paillards white metal hairspring design. As to E bay as a cheap appraisal tool I have done it 3 times including a current listing for a 21 jewel model 1883. I always say in the listing that I would like to hear from anyone about the watch I have listed. It is a decent way to get an idea of value and interest. If someone thinks I am nuts for the reserve that is fine. How many times have we seen Great Grandpas rare 14k gold railroad watch that turns out to be a 7 jewel N. Y. Standard in a 10 year case?


Deacon
April 27, 2013, 03:54
Bila Wirriganwalters
Thanks to all for your input, as soon as it is up, running and cased I will post photos. On Australian Ebay Deacon, if you do not have a store you can not have a reserve, I have contacted EBay about this as their conditions actually say you can, but when you try you are not allowed, but as usually they just stone-wall you with excuses.

Best Regards,
Bila