Omega (Regina) private-label "L.J. Leggett, Oxbow, Sask." Single sunk 24 hour dial.

Dial with bezel off

Omega (Regina) movement

Movement close-up Omega (Regina Watch Co.) 16 size, 17 jewel, Serial No. 5610860 circa 1916-1927 pendant set, Adjusted 2 Positions. Although not railway approved, it's an interesting Saskatchewan private-label.

Canadian made "Banner" yellow gold filled case trademark

Case back

Western railway lines map showing the Canadian Pacific branch lines in red, Canadian National in blue, the Great Northern and Soo(Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad branch lines in black. It covers an area of southwestern Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan, and North Dakota below the border, Oxbow was located in southeastern Saskatchewan between Regina, and Brandon, Manitoba.

Close-up of railway map showing the CPR community of Oxbow near the middle of the map, two stations west of Carnduff where the CPR branch line that has been running parallel to the US Saskatchewan border goes north of the Souris river and east of the community of Alameda

A view of the CPR Oxbow railway station today, it is a Museum.


The Canadian Pacific Railway advertised land for homesteading, a group of men from Ontario reached Brandon, Manitoba in the spring of 1882 but no land was available so they pushed west and settled to what is now Alameda-Oxbow area. The CPR reached Moosomin in June 1882, so mail and supplies had to be hauled 100 miles by oxen or horses, later when the CPR reached Deloraine in December 1885 the distance was reduced to 60 miles. (I have a private-label from Deloraine posted on page 14) A promise had been made to build a railway to the rich coalfields at Estevan, Saskatchewan, but it never materialized. In 1890, however the railway reached Souris. News came that the CPR would build the branch called the Manitoba South West Colonization Railway would be built to the coalfields, by July 1891 Carnduff had been reached, and the railway reached Oxbow in the fall of 1891. The first train "No. 69 and No. 43 mixed" arrived it Oxbow on Friday, February 19, 1892. Oxbow had been surveyed on the N1/2 23-3-2-W2 with long, narrow lots. Facing the railway, with space for his station and a right-of-way. A coal dock and "Y" were built in Oxbow, also a double section house. Until the proper station was built, Mr. George Hyde, the station agent carried on business in a boxcar. A trestle was completed and the line reached Alameda in August 1892.

Private-label Double Sunk Bold Arabic 24-Hour Montgomery dial marked WH Gossell Neepawa, Man."

Dial without bezel

Dial private-label signature close-up

Movement Elgin 16 size, 17 jewel, Grade 291 GM Wheeler, Model 7, Serial No. 15367887, Manufactured 1910 Pendant set, 3 fingered bridge movement. signed GM Wheeler

Movement close-up

Cased in American Watch Case Co. screw back and bezel yellow gold filled Fortune case. I recently acquired this 10" x 20" plate glass advertising sign from The American Watch Case Co. featuring their "Cashier" and "Fortune" gold filled cases with their Winged Railway Wheel Trademark emblem

Neepawa name is derived from the Cree First Nations word for "Land of Plenty" European settlers came here in the 1860s when Manitoba was still part of the North West Territories, Manitoba became the province in 1870 there was not much development of the village until the 1880s after the Manitoba and Northwestern Railway (which was least to the CPR) line was built to Gladstone, Manitoba, local businessman John Davidson and Jonathan Hamilton offered the railway a land-grant and financial bonus of $16,000 to construct their line within the town limits, the railway agreed to build their station within Neepawa, the village grew and the town of Neepawa was Incorporated on September 23, 1883.

Canadian Pacific Railway Western lines map showing lines between Brandon, and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba the red line is the CPR main line, Neepawa is on the red branch line above Portage la Prairie going to the left it is the seventh station on the branch line, Gladstone is the forth.

I noticed looking at the map that the Canadian National Railways (Canadian Northern) have a branch line running through Neepawa, that runs west, running through Kamack, Sask. To North Battleford near the Alberta border where the line, then runs off to Edmonton, Alberta the section of track between Neepawa McCreary junction was built in 1903 and between Grandview, Manitoba and Kamsack, Saskatchewan in 1904 Beaver to Gladstone Man. 1901 The station still exists on Fifth Avenue. On Hamilton Street

Nice as always Larry.

I have been behind looking up info on your jewelers lately.

William H. Gossell was born about Nov. 7, 1865 in Ontario. He is listed in the 1901 Canadian census as being a jeweler in Neepawa with his wife Margaret S.

He is found also in the 1891 & 1916 census at the same city & occupation.

Also on the same page from 1901 is a family with the last name of Buchanan, I know it is a different spelling than yours, just thought it interesting.

quote:

Private-label Double Sunk Bold Arabic 24-Hour Montgomery dial marked WH Gossell Neepawa, Man.

WoW!!! That is one beautiful dial - Larry...

And due to your knockout Canadian dial, I had to pickup one today on a 18sz Hamilton. Thanks for the inspiration

Now, to dig out a set of 24 hour hands

G.G. Bigger Vancouver B.C

Canadian Railway Map showing branch lines running north out of Neepawa, and Gladstone, and running east to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

Canadian Northern Railway Station at Neepawa on Fifth Avenue and Hamilton Street, now being used as the Beautiful Plains Museum in 1996