Does anyone know when base-metal pocket watch cases were first used. I have seen several watch movements from the late 1800's in base metal cases. For some reason they don't look right to me.

I looked up the definition of Base Metal and it consisted of a metal that is not considered to be a precous metal such as gold, sterling, silver, nickel, and etc. Most base metal cases were plated in chrome.

I did some research on older posts and have concluded that base metal watch cases first showed up in the late teens after WWI and early 20's. However the 30's showed a big insurgence of base metal cases as the gold cases were sold off for melt value and the old movements were put in new Base Metal cases.

Does anyone have any other information?

Ernie

Ernie,

just as marginal note chrome plating only started around the mid last century.

Early plating consisted in nickel-silver or nickel processes or other precious metal deposits.

By examining the process applied it is possible most of the times to date the period of making the item.

It requires a little knowledge of the processes but it isnt difficult and there is a lot to read on the web.

Also several special watchmaking alloys were developed early last century for the manufacture of watch
cases to imitate precious metals such SILVEROID etc and cases often have that tradenames stamped
somewhere.

rgds

Enzo

Enzo thank you for your post.

According to Wikipedia, Chrome plating started in the 1920's. Prior ro that plating was done in nickel, gold or zinc. The following link to Wikiedia explains the types of plating:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plating

The type of base-metal I was asking about in this initial post was that with chrome plating. I believe that chrome plated watch cases didn't hit the market until the last 1920's and 1930's. Therefore, if you have an older watch in a chrome plated case it was perhaps recased after the late 1920's.

What do the rest of you say?

Thank you Lindell.