Any pocket-watch aficionados?

**GrainReaper** · 11th October 15, 05:23 AM

This pocket watch was my owned by my great grandfather, my mother found it while going through her closet and figured I might want it.

It's an Elgin watch that based on the number on the mechanism is a 1906 15j grade 314. It's not working and I'm wondering if it's worth trying to get fixed or just use as a decorative trinket in my barroom.

Outside of being old, it has no real meaning to me so you won't hurt my feelings if it's nothing more than scrap.

**Holcombe Thomas** · 11th October 15, 06:11 AM

I am no expert, but I have three old pocket watches. My experience has been that every few years they need to be professionally cleaned and adjusted. My costs have been between $100 and $300 or so per watch, but, frankly, I have no idea if these are especially cheap or expensive. Once the watches are running, they work better and longer if you wind them daily and keep them running.

I'd suggest taking your watch to a repair shop and at least getting a quick estimate on repairs and whether the cost is justified by the value of the watch.

Holcombe

**Father Bill** · 11th October 15, 06:23 AM

I'm a sentimentalist. To me, the value of the watch would be enhanced by and reflected in its provenance.

**Woodsman** · 12th October 15, 07:31 PM

I have my grandfather's pocket watch that was passed down to me by my father. It is my hope to pass it on to my son. But now you have me thinking about it. Maybe I should take it out and wind it, or maybe have it cleaned/serviced.

**Dileasgubas** · 12th October 15, 08:59 PM

Elgin watches are very popular and highly collectable - do a search on EBay to see some examples. I bought a couple recently, kept one for myself and raffled the other off for charity at my local masonic lodge. I had both cleaned and restored to order by a local watchmaker. Parts for Elgin watches are still available for most models and prices are reasonable.

That said, mechanical watches, especially old ones, need to be cleaned and adjusted. The metal spindles are braced by stone "jewels" to reduce friction but must be kept oiled. Most old watches have the works gummed up and need a thorough cleaning. They also need to be set every few days since watches of the era were not nearly as accurate as today's modern timepieces. Assuming you can find a watchmaker in your neck of the woods, a cleaning and restoring job should run about $100 for labour, not including parts. Elgin watches were built to last, so unless there is anything major wrong with the watch, you should be fine.

The trick these days is finding someone who can fix watches.

**dutchy kilted** · 14th October 15, 10:09 AM

I just had my grandfather's 1923 Elgin pocket watch repaired so at some point I can pass it along to my son. It cots about $300 for repair, cleaning and replacement of some of the jewels. It is really not worth that much, but it has the sentimental value.

My grandfather drove trolleys in Philadelphia and this was the watch he kept in the pocket of his vest to make sure he was on time for his stops. The back side of the watch is worn almost smooth from rubbing against the fabric.

I purchased a very nice packet watch from Rocky at USA Kiltts for use when I am wearing a vest/waistcoat (with or without a kilt) and get lots of compliments on it.

**Roderick Powell** · 14th October 15, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by dutchy kilted

I just had my grandfather's 1923 Elgin pocket watch repaired so at some point I can pass it along to my son. It cots about $300 for repair, cleaning and replacement of some of the jewels. It is really not worth that much, but it has the sentimental value.

My grandfather drove trolleys in Philadelphia and this was the watch he kept in the pocket of his vest to make sure he was on time for his stops. The back side of the watch is worn almost smooth from rubbing against the fabric.

I purchased a very nice packet watch from Rocky at USA Kiltts for use when I am wearing a vest/waistcoat (with or without a kilt) and get lots of compliments on it.

My great grandfathers pocket watch was passed to my grandfather and my father and to me.
The chain was bequithed to another member of my great grandfathers family.

It was taken to a watch maker for assessment .He was unable to comment due to the watch's antiquity. He suggested going to a reputable watchmaker for assessment and valuation. You would be well advised to go to a reputable watch maker.
Might be a gold half hunter.
There seems to be a value in a watch with its matching chain.
In many cases the watch was worn as statement of wealth of the owner. It is reasonable to assume that any person lacking integrity may
not give you an accurate valuation.
I cannot say if it is a functional watch or a dress watch. Probably worth a few Quid in working order. probably not practical as en every day watch.
Looks as if it has extra covers back and front . May have stop watch facilities. probably does not have chime facilities to tell the time in the dark to nearest quarter of an Hour.
When I was sailing in 1960's we used cheap pocket watches and stop watches in rubber cases for race start times.

The sentimental value is in the fact that the owner had improved his status and could afford a gentlemans watch. His son may have only used the watch as a free time piece.
Very rough valuation; Might be able to swap it for a working car.
Suggest you get two or three professional assessments of condition and value.
Depends if it will work if it is correctly cleaned. Nice family hairloom to have in a draw or working on display.
My latest working wrist watch is a casio analogue watch which is big enough for me to read without putting on my glasses.
Cost in Uk....Six gallons of petrol........Valuation of your working watch could be ten times that. Would agree with others on the thread.
...............roderick

**Orvis** · 15th October 15, 09:36 AM

I have both of my grandfathers' pocket watches. One is an open-face Elgin with a silveroid case that my Granddad got out of the 1903 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog when he was a young farmer in Wisconsin. I take my antique pocket watches to a place in Gettysburg PA called The House of Time - the owner is a horologist of 40 years experience who sells and services antique watches. He does a great job IMHO. I think his charges for service are reasonable, but that's a personal call. As others have said, these old watches need to be wound daily and reset when they gain or lose time. I enjoy wearing my pocket watches in the waistcoat pocket of my kilted day or evening dress. I also like carrying pocket watches in three-piece suits and also in the small "watch pocket" of my blue jeans. Right now I have a pocket watch in my front trouser pocket, secured by a watch-chain attacked to a belt loop.

If you don't want to get your antique Elgin watch repaired but want to carry a pocket watch, you can look on the web site of J. Herbin-Paris, a modern maker of many styles of pocket watches and accessories (chains, etc). Prices are reasonable. I have a couple of Herbin watches and like them.

**TRWXXA** · 15th October 15, 09:27 PM

I love watches. Especially watches that have a true 24-hour movement. I have several pocket watches some collected, and some from family. My favorite is a Hamilton 4992B pocket watch from WWII...

It was used by Army Air Corps navigators on bombing missions. It would be set to a master clock before departure and carried on the airplane in a special box that protected it from shock and temperature changes that would affect its accuracy.