I have an opportunity to buy a collection/accumulation of watches from a friend. Most of them are pretty rough! Some are restorable and some are parts watches and then some more are non-running dollar watches. She wants more than they are worth to me unless there is some real value in a few. The real value few is where I seek opinions particularly to their value.
1. A non-running (broken staff at least) E Howard L size 15j V series with a 14k E.H.&Co. Hunter case. I will not take this apart as it is not mine, but I only assume it has a standard escapement. The case is in nice condition with no major scratches or dents. It seems very substantial for a gold case. MY QUESTIONS: Is a staff available for this watch for a reasonable price? The front closes nicely, but the lift spring is not functioning. The case shows some wear but all covers snap tight. There is a bezel with glass enclosing the mvt as well as the dust cover and case back.
The dial has some minimal damage that you have to look for and a few hairlines. It does not appear to be a Moorehouse, and the hand look correct, but not sure of the seconds hand.

2. A waltham 18s, Cresent Street 21j model 1892 with a two tone movement. The dial on this one reads "Santa Fe Railroad system" then under that is states "Standard Dial", then Waltham below that. This dial is in very good condition. The case is period correct and the watch appears to "want" to run if cleaned.

3. A Peoria 18s, 15j, Hunter movement, in a period correct Open Face case. The dial is marked "For Railway Service" and is marked as a 24 hour dial. The movement is marked "For Railway Svc. Anti-mag.". The dial has some damage, but is quite servicable for a rare old watch.

4. A 19j 16s Bunn with a nice Montgomery dial, but in a Howard Case.

I will post some photos later today, but currently seek your knowledge about value and repair. I talked to Lindell in April, but don't know if he remembers the conversation. I had not seen the watches at that time.

Thanks to all.

Mike

You are looking at $2500.00 minimum if the 14K Howard case IS so.

Mike if you get the Howard i should have a staff that would work.

The Howard

2

3

4 this is taken through the glass back

5

6 interesting photo image

The Peoria

#2

#3

Waltham

Waltham mvmt

Illinois

19j

Thanks for any opinions. I need to go play tennis and will look back after I win!

Good going Mike. Four cool and uncommon watches.

Thanks Lin and Ed. Here are additional photos of the Howard. Again, the mvmt, is shown through the glass back.

dial detail

stem and bow

More Peoria photos

still another

There is also a Trusty watch which appears to be of the low-end in quality and is in a .800 silver case. It does not run.

All very nice watches, I sure do like that Peoria..Nice find Mike

I'm with Ray - I like the Peoria, too.

The dial on Waltham looks to be porcelain so I'm assuming that is an original. Even if not I would be proud to own any and all of these. I'd say BUY, BUY, BUY If I was you.

I took another look at the photos I love the 3,5,6, on the Howard.

Thanks Eugene and others. I have had fairly substantial conversations with Lindell and David concerning these and the others not shown. THE WALTHAM 1892 DOES HAVE A FLAW IN THE DIAL. I had not noticed it as it has been repaired apparently many years ago. It is at the 28-29 minute area. Too bad, perfect dial otherwise, also is missing a jewel screw. This watch is running strongly now after removal of a stray hair from the balance!

The Howard dial is not the correct dial, this dial, a double sunk version shows all the characteristics of the later Lsz split-plate version that Howard made a couple of decades or so later. It is a valuable dial as are all double sunk Howard dials.

Thanks Harold. Does this detract from the overall dollar value of this Howard in your opinion? I am going to either buy or pass on this deal in the next 48 hrs.

Mike, dollar value be hanged, An E. Howard with a VERY RARE 14K gold surviving L size E Howard case with an Ohara Photo-conversion inside top cover (looks like my mother), correct Howard 1/2 Moon hands and even with the extra fine double sunk "replacement" Howard dial, is all original. If the dial was a replacement it is still "original" to this watch given that the dial had to be fitted by a Watch Maker to that piece. In short, I wish the watch could talk, but the dial replacement is natural in the history of most early watches anyway. The Peoria watch is that valuable alone to some collectors, and the Early Montgomery Santa Fe Dialed Waltham leaves me breathless.

David, there is no question the dial is a couple of decades newer then the watch. The Ser.V and the Ser.XI split-plate both co-incidently have feet placement at the 11.5, 24.5 and 49 minute mark. Is it a big deal?, no because an original dial will not be that difficult to acquire,thus making the watch proper. The thing is, serious Howard collectors insist on all parts being correct or the watch won't sell. It also distorts the historical providence of watches if parts are swapped just because they happen to fit. I believe that it is our duty as collectors to keep watches as close to what they were when they left the factory.
I have seen many discussions here on proper dials for 992's, Illinois and others where the minutest detail on a dial is debated, as to being the proper original style dial.I am not an expert on those but I do know my Howards and prefer them they way they were made originally. That Howard, they way it is now can not possibly be called original. I have contacted Mike on what to look for in acquiring a proper dial to make the watch right.