I was wondering if this case is be gold or gold filled. Since I see no assay marking I'm leaning toward the gold filled side

There's not even a karat reference, so I'd be inclined to agree with you Ray. If it has a cuvette, you could perform the legendary "flex test" on it.

"An easy way to tell is to take the cuvette or the back of the case and VERY GENTLY squeeze or flex it. On a solid gold case, the case back or cuvette will give just slightly. On a gold filled or gold plated case, there is no give."

The reason for this is that gold has an elastic modulus about 20% lower than that of brass, so a solid gold cuvette will be noticeably springier than a filled or plated cuvette.

I can't tell what is in the shield beneath DUEBER....If it is an anchor and engraved it is Gold Filled or if it is raised, it is solid gold....

Regards,

Jerry

Ray I collect Hampden watches and Dueber cases (hold the laughter please) and if that anchor is raised I am sure it is solid and probably 14k. John Dueber made his reputation as a case maker and did make excellent cases of all sorts of materials, in fact his marked "railway" cases are excellent examples of the case makers art. I have seen any number of cases mistakenly represented as solid gold and several case companies seem to have at least made the misrepresentation easy. However I have never seen a Dueber raised (not incised) anchor case that was not solid gold. Regards.

Definitely not an anchor.

Perhaps a lion.........?

Marty

Deacon, I too collect Dueber cases and I don't care if there is any laughter....

I especially like his coin silver cases and I agree with you that his cases are superb and superior to some other mfg'rs....

Regards,

Jerry

Here are a few more markings that will identify a Dueber case....

Hopefully, Lindell will resize this scan....I don't know how to do that yet....

Thanks, in advance, Lindell....

Regards,

Jerry

Thanks everyone, The stamp is definitely an anchor like the illustrations show, but does not appear to be raised. The front cover has a 14k marking stamped well above the Dueber mark and was most certainly crudely stamped at a later date. The cuvette does in fact flex easier than the other gold filled cases I have so I think I will need to have it tested to be sure.
It houses a nice N size Howard movement and when I purchased it 20 or so years ago it was purported to be a 14k solid gold case.
Boy, I sure wish I had the internet and the IHC 185 back then, could have save me many times over as the information was just not as easy to get as it is now.

That's a better angle, and I now agree 100% as to its being an anchor, sort of a lazy one as one is use to seeing anchors straight up. Great news.

Marty

Well I guess I can come out of the closet now if other Dueber Hampden collectors are admitting it. I may have had too much to drink (and I don't drink) but it looks like an anchor in the shield to me. It looks like the 14k gold filled symbol on page 37 of the 2011 Price Guide.

Or maybe I have been looking at those hidden pictures too much.

Yes Harry, sad to say but I'm almost positive that it is in fact the gold filled mark. With the 14k marking above it obviously put there to deceive.
Strange though that it shows signs of heavy wear on the ridged edges but no signs of wear thru. In fact, there is no evident sign of "brassing" anyplace but the bow, which looks to be a replacement.

Ray still a chance that it is 10K especially if you can flex the covers or if there are dents to the case. Look for any signs of wear through, but an easy acid test with the proper 10K acid will tell for sure.

Thank you Gene, I will have it tested to be sure.

Ray I had a case that was marked 14k and you could bend the cuvette just looking at it to hard. I would have sworn it was solid gold but it did have wear through but it was not brass. It appeared to be copper which is softer than brass and explained why the cuvette bent so easily.

I am certain the 14k on the case was added latter to deceive. It is fairly crude and I have seen some cases and several movements where some dishonest person tried to upgrade the value. Lin has a good point as many good quality gold filled cases will show as solid on some tests but in fact are gold filled. I do not know if acid is the only sure testing method but do know of electronically tested solid gold cases that were not solid gold. Does anyone know of a non invasive tester that is always reliable?

Deacon, I had a scrapper tell me, awhile back, that the only way to tell for sure was his way of testing, I asked him how he tested and he said to put it in the pot and see what floated....

I didn't think that was too funny either....

The acid method is pretty reliable but as Lin says, one should be very careful of where the test is conducted on the case....I think it should only be done on the inside of the case frame, out of sight, but that requires removal of the movement....if, however, there is no movement installed will make it so much easier....

Regards,

Jerry