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Serkisof RR "Click" to Login or Register 
posted
I've found a Serkisof 18j that belonged to my grandfather (long deceased) who used to work on the railroad in the midwest. I can't find any good info on the company or watch and unfortunately can't ask him. Any idea where I can find some useful history of this watch? Thanks in advance. It says "Made in USSR". Is that even european? Smile


Steve
 
Posts: 15 | Location: Raleigh, North Carolina in the USA | Registered: January 17, 2010
posted
Hi Steve

It is a little bit difficult to write something on a watch without pictures but I think I know a little bit about it.

At the end of the 19th century a russian watchmaker named Serkisof emmigrated to Konstantinople (Istanbul; Turkey). He traded watches made by 'Billodes'(later Zenith).
At the first half of the 20th century the turkish railway had railroad watches made by Cortebert with a train and the half moon on the back.
In the 60's or 70's they had a remake of this early railroad watches by the USSR manufacturer Molnija. This watches were made like the 'corteberts' labeled Serkisof and Demiryolu (turkish railroad). These watches were also made or remade for the western collectors of 'train' watches and exported. They are like the numerous Molnija 'theme' watches ('Lenin', the USSR flag; Sojus;....).
Watches like this were still made until the end of the USSR and sold the last ones with a 'made in Russia' dial.

Regards
Gerald
 
Posts: 742 | Location: Wertheim in Germany | Registered: February 21, 2009
posted
Here is a picture of the face. It shows "made in USSR". I'm still trying to get some info on my end (family history) but nothing new yet.


Steve


 
Posts: 15 | Location: Raleigh, North Carolina in the USA | Registered: January 17, 2010
posted
and one of the back and dust cover. Does this help date this watch at all? Thanks.


Steve


 
Posts: 15 | Location: Raleigh, North Carolina in the USA | Registered: January 17, 2010
IHC Life Member
posted
Hi Steve
I take the liberty to bump this thread. Is it possible to see pictures of the movement? The dial and back shows very strong similarities with Molnijas from the seventies. What I haven´t seen before though is the dust cover. There usually aren´t any. Nice looking watch you have.
Regards
Krister
 
Posts: 375 | Location: Backaryd, Sweden | Registered: April 19, 2009
IHC Member 1335
Picture of Tom Brunton
posted
hi Steve USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
 
Posts: 1746 | Location: Aylmer, Ontario in Canada | Registered: December 15, 2009
Picture of Roland Glenn
posted
Hi Steve, I agree with Krister on this one. It's a 3602 movement with 18J made at factory number 2 by Molnija. This company made tons of pocket watches that commerate lots of events or persons.

The dial is plastic and since it has USSR on the dial and not CCCP it was made for export to North America and the UK.

Check out my thread on this section on Molnija's.

Nice pocket watch that you will find run very nicley and keep very close to RR time.

Roland.


R. Glenn
 
Posts: 437 | Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom | Registered: January 18, 2010
posted
Steve,

A Molnija with Serkisof on the dial and a case back with the Turkish crescent, locomotive and either Serkisof or Demirolyu is unusual.

In the several years I have been collecting Molnijas I have only ever seen a couple - and they were outside my budget.

Hope you retain it for its sentimental value.

Regards
 
Posts: 16 | Location: Huddersfield, United Kingdom | Registered: September 04, 2010
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