Hi everyone;

My father (he's 87) and my mother 83 where here this afternoon, and my father brought me his father's pocket watch chain. (We're still looking for the watch) and I thought I'd ask if anyone knew it's value. The chain (which is tapered to both ends, is 12 1/2 inches in length with a gold fob at one end and a silver and gold fob hanging from the center. I've provided a few photo to see if it will help in the evaluation.

Thanks for any help although the peice will not for sale, ever.





The back is engraved "Won By Morton Swifts, April, 1904"

Thank you

Bud

Beautiful old chain, Bud....As far as intrinsic value goes that will come from your heart and as you said it will never be for sale, so it has a tremendous value to you, as it should....

The dollar worth will be determined by testing the metal to see if it is silver, gold or whatever but I don't think I would even worry about that....

If you must have that bit of info for some reason, then you can take it to an appraiser, in hand, and have it appraised....

It is a nice chain though and I would be proud of it as I'm sure you are....

Regards,

Jerry

Bud

I sure like the looks of that chain.

On the fob that has the 1904 on it, if you look to the lower right of the 1904 you will see what looks like English hallmarks. One should show the county, a letter date code & maybe a makers mark.

I tried to blow them up here from your image but I can't make them out.

You might also examine the links in the chain, sometimes they are also stamped. I have a couple that every link in the chain is hallmarked.

Tom

Looking again, there are also two hallmarks to the left of 1904.

Tom

Many thanks to you Jerry, and you're absolutely right. It really doesn't matter to me what the "value" is because it will never be for sale. I'm just so proud to have this, especially after 64 years my father gaives it to me today. It was his fathers.

Tom, the marks that I can make out on the right side are, far left is an anchor, and far right is a "d" in the center is a lion.

On the left side of the Fob, in that funny looking mark is the letters "A" & "S"

Hope that helps.

Bud

Bud

The anchor represents Birmingham England were it was made. The lion signifies .925 sterling silver & the lower case "d" shows it was made in 1903.

The AS on the left side would be the makers mark, I will see if I can come up with anything there.

Tom

Bud, there is an A. Smith shown as a Maker in Birmingham, early 20th C.....
That is all I have on A S....

At least you know the fob is sterling.



Regards,

Jerry

Was Morton Swifts Related.

Thanks again guys, Tom, Jerry, for all this information. My dad will be very pleased when I tell him.

Eugene, Morton Swifts was a football team my grandfather played on in 1904.

Thanks agaon everyone, you've been a huige help.

Bud

Just an after thought Bud....

Is the front of each of the FOB's inlaid with gold...? or is that brass...?

Regards,

Jerry

Hello Jerry, yes, the other part laid down onto the silver fob is gold.

The large Sterling piece has a gold shield on it with my grandfathers' initials, HM for Herbert Melless. The other one is just a gold piece all by itself and it's a fancy gold shield with another (slightly smaller) gold shield on it with a crown above.

Many thanks for all your help gentlemen, and my father was quite impressed with your collective knowledge. I most certainly do.

Cheers

Bud

Bud, you might use that chain with that beautiful Kensoha Cased Columbus you will have soon.

Good thing we can discuss value here, although that piece was explicitly without price, priceless.

Amen, Frank....

Regards,

Jerry

Hello David;

How astute you are David. I was thinking that very same thing myself. No, thats a big fat lie.

However, it is a great idea. I may do just that. Thanks for the idea.

Bud

Isn't that the truth Frank? Thank you for your thoughts.

You know, even at 64 I'm just so excited that I can wear and use something that belonged to my grandfather more than one hundred years ago. The thought of that alone is (to me) so absolutely astonishing, that I find it hard to grasp sometimes. I mean, really, how often does this sort of thing happen across the years? By that I mean the, "how many times in a million", sort of thing.

I am so fortunate to be able to do such a thing, and now I can pass it on down to one of my sons. Who knows, maybe he'll say the very same thing up here someday. Wishful thinking at it's best for certain, but so much fun.

Bud


Good thing we can discuss value here, although that piece was explicitly without price, priceless.