I recently found this sad looking 936 in an antique mall.

The dial looks even worse without the bezel.

OK. Here's my question. I can't find anything about a Chesapeake & Ohio Special. Is this unusual? Should the dial also be Chesapeake & Ohio?

To get the watch running correctly, I'll need a regulator arm and a mainspring, but at least the balance is good.

This watch is a private label and the chances are not that many were made. Private label 936's are fairly common but most are marked with jewelers names & not a railroad. This one was sold to J. W. Forsinger Co. in Chicago on 12-31-1900. There is no mention in the ledger list of it being a private label which is normal.
Since the C&O ran into Chicago, Forsinger maybe had a few made up to sell to railway men in the area. As far as the dial is concerned, Hamilton private labels could be ordered with just the movement marked or both the movement and dial. No way to tell which this was. The dial that is on it is the correct vintage for 1900 and replacements are common. A neat 936 and well worth fixing up.

Hamilton 936 C&O Special #128724

Nice watch Douglas, well worth fixing and keeping, parts should be easy to find.

As Robert said it was sold to Forsinger, along with 5 others #128724 - 128729.

Just a guess but I would think it had a Forsinger dial when new.

Just a little worth fixing up - Doug...

The 936 C/O Special is booked as a 3 star watch with a value of 2k 3.5k or 5.5k

quote:

Just a little worth fixing up - Doug...

The 936 C/O Special is booked as a 3 star watch with a value of 2k 3.5k or 5.5k

Holy crap! I missed that, I was just looking on page 227.

Douglas, look at page 229 of the 2015 price guide.

I have read of a 934 C&O Railway Special with a different jewellers name on the dial but the 934 is only adjusted to temperature.

936 is adjusted to Temp. Isochronism and 5 positions.

A little more research on these. They were sold by W.L. Fredeking of Hinton WV, a C&O railroad watch inspector, and the correct dial would have his name on it. The Chesapeake & Ohio Specials were made on both 936 and 940 movements. There were also 936 Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Specials and 934 & 936 Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Specials.

I have seen these C&O watches with the marked W.L. Fredeking of Hinton WV dials.

Your watch will also need a proper set of hands. I think I can see the 4th wheel post for the second hand. Hopefully, it is there.

You have a great collectable there Douglas!!

Rob
www.pocketwatchrepairs.net

I found a pic in my files.

Rob
www.pocketwatchrepairs.net

Robert, Lorne, Rob & Jon

Thanks for the detailed info! I don't know why I didn't think to check the price guide.

I found this watch near Springfield OH, which is about 5 1/2 hours from Hinton, WV.

It was in a zip lock bag with a dollar watch, a stop watch, and 2 other pieces of junk. I bought the bag thinking at the very least I'd have a useable 18s case.

You get lucky once in a while!

I knew I had a couple of those C & O W.L. Fredeking Hinton W. Va. dials but I checked and both were for Illinois watches..Sorry about the bad pics but I just used my cell phone..Doug, I forgot to mention it is a very nice and collectable watch...

Thanks anyway Gary.

I'd really like to find one, but I don't know what the chances are.