January 29, 2008, 17:41
Mortimer SchwartzAnother request for identification
Here is a watch owned by the late father of a friend. The father was a chef/owner of a restaurant in the gold and timber area of northern California, and I am guessing that this watch was traded for a meal or more. The watch is very big, around 59cm.
January 29, 2008, 17:45
Mortimer SchwartzTrying to post photo of movement, but have to first find out how to resize it. Sorry! The dial has two big chips, as you will notice.
February 02, 2008, 13:31
Dave FreemanHi Mort,
I've been trying to find out some information about your PW.
I think your watch and the ones I'll show later all contain slightly
different styles of Swiss Made movements from
around the 1900-1915 era.
I would expect they may even have been carried in WWI.
You mentioned your watch is around 59cm, did you mean
59mm in diameter, what a monster.
Shown below for comparison purposes is a picture of a 54mm
WWI era watch I have alongside a 16s Waltham Railroad PW.
Figure I
February 02, 2008, 13:35
Dave FreemanFigure II
Here's a view of the movement in my 54mm PW
with a WWI vintage Swiss Made movement.
February 02, 2008, 13:36
Dave FreemanFigure III
Here's a WWI vintage IWC which contains a Swiss Made movement.
February 02, 2008, 13:38
Dave FreemanFigure IV
Here's a Swiss Made Helvetia which I believe
is from around the same time frame.
February 02, 2008, 21:19
Mortimer SchwartzThanks, Dave, for this education. I am printing your posts so that I can give them to my friend. Yes, the watch is a monster!
Mort
February 03, 2008, 05:01
John WoolseyMort,
The movement in your friends' watch is a fairly generic Swiss Lever ebauche, probably 7j.
The damage on the dial near the numeral is where the dial foot has been overtightened and it's pulled the copper base causing the enamel to break loose.
If you note the marks to the left of the winding wheel too, they're fingerprints caused by the acid in sweat, so take care when handling movements, as that damage is usually permanent.
Good example of Swiss pocket watches 'Made for the masses'.
Dave,
Nice examples, you're probably about right with your dates, but I'd put the IWC a bit later than WW1 though and nearer WW2, as the movement is very similar to those used in military pockets of that era.
Best regards
John