I recently acquired an 1867 Elgin keywind watch with mismatched hands(fleur d'leis hour, spade minute) I also own a 1868 Elgin which has a spade hour hand and a fleur d'leis minute hand. By simply switching the minute hands, I would have two watches with matching sets of hands.

It's occured to me that there might be a reason, other than sheer coincidence, for this particular mismatch. I wouldn't want to do anything to destroy the kharma of these watches and bring on the wrath of Father Time.

Chris, I have seen things that would leave one thinking "what the heck" but in some regards as these watches got older before they started becoming collectable some people did what they needed to do to keep them running. So end the end, as long at it had hands, it was ok, the fact that the hands did not match did not matter. I have seen some cars held together by bailing wire and duct tape, same concept!

Christopher, there is a little more to it than just switching the hands....

You said the 1867 is a keywind, okay, is the 1868 a keywind also....if not they will require different hands because of the keywind requirement....they are not the same hands....

A photo of the two movements would help or the serial numbers will work also....

Claude is correct in his thoughts of why the difference in the hands sometimes folks will use what ever they can get their hands on(no pun intended) as long as the hands will stay on reasonably well....

Hey Claude, I always thought that my old Chevy or Ford pickup wasn't really a truck unless I had to hold the tailpipe in place with a full strand of wire off a bale of hay....

Regards,

Jerry

Thank you for your responses. Unfortunately, my watch photography isn't up to speed (that's one of my next projects).

The 1868 is S/N 70003, a KW/KS BWR, Grade 69, Class 1. The 1867 is S/N 10148, a KW/KS GMW, Grade 57, Class 4.

I haven't received #10148 yet but, judging from the photos, the cannon pinions are the same and, once the switch is made, both watches should have hands which are perfectly matched in style, age, and condition.

I just thought there might be some reason, like a superstition, or maybe mismatched hands helped people read the watch more easily.

The 1868 BWR has been completely restored, it's housed in a magnificent (and heavy) silver alloy case, and it keeps time to within a minute and a half a week. It's only flaw, apart from some minor scratching on the case and crystal, is the mismatched hands.

I think I've got that problem solved plus I got another nige, and even older, keywound Elgin in the bargain. This is what makes this hobby fun for me.

Sounds & looks like you will have two matched pair when you are through since both are keywind....Are the Dials signed, "National Watch Co."...?

As far as the mismatched hands being because of some superstition, that would be hard to determine but who really knows....I guess it could be....

I have a couple that are very close to the two you have....

Regards,

Jerry

Both dials are in good condition and both are signed "National Watch Co."

I have a third old key wound Elgin, S/N 19169, a 1867 BWR which looks very nice but doesn't run (another of my many future projects).

IMHO mismatched hands, like hairlines, are more due to careless watchmakers than anything else.

Hands have to be removed and reinstalled routinely while servicing watches. During these operations, it's easy to lose or damage a hand unless you are very careful, and then it has to be replaced.

If a correct replacement hand isn't available, an incorrect one has to be used.

That's my theory anyway.