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Post by leffemonster on Mar 6, 2018 14:34:25 GMT -8
I was sitting at home tonight pondering what to wear tomorrow when, for some unknown reason, I started thinking about a pocket watch that my parents bought me probably 25+ years ago. At first, I couldn’t even recall where it was but then remembered I had on wooden jewellery box in the bedroom. Sure enough, there it was. It’s probably nothing special, but I thought I’d give it a wind and see what I could find out about it. Here it is -  I’m pretty sure the case is only silver plated as there’s no sign of any hallmarks anywhere. I used to wear it to work daily for about 3 or 4 years when I went through a ‘waistcoat’ phase in the early 1990s, when it was on one end of a double Albert T-bar watch chain complete with silver florin. Thinking back, I must have looked quite an eccentric mid 20-something... The dial is marked ‘Crossior Geneve’ and ‘Swiss Made’ -  A search on the internet didn’t turn up much information at all, and at first I couldn’t figure out how to open it to see what was inside. It turned out to be remarkably simple - it’s a snap-back case, and simply needed a light flick with a case opener to get it open. So, what’s the power unit?  Like most Swiss movements the markings are on the mainplate, rather inconveniently partially hidden by the balance wheel.    So, we have a maker’s mark and a calibre which indicates that this is a Unitas 6498 17-jewel movement. From what I can ascertain, this is now manufactured by ETA and is a 16.5 ligne, 18000 bph movement with a 46 hour power reserve. On the timegrapher it seems to run pretty well but could perhaps do with a little regulating.  At first I set the TG to the default 52 deg lift angle, but the ETA technical guide states the correct angle is 44 deg. Changing this didn’t affect the rate but did drop the amplitude by around 40 degrees. I’m glad I remembered I’d got this little number. A light clean of the case may be in order, along with an ultrasonic bath for the Albert chain. Then all I need is a couple of eccentric-looking waistcoats! Thanks for reading! |
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pip
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Berkshire, UK
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Post by pip on Mar 6, 2018 15:29:09 GMT -8
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 6, 2018 17:12:59 GMT -8
Pocket watches can get addictive too you know! They are quite nice to work on, the bits are normally so big!    Nice watch! I live about ten miles from what remains of the Waltham watch factory. It's been converted into lofts. I've been meaning to check out the museum. I inherited this Elgin from my grandfather, who inherited it from his father.   I seldom carry it, but I do wind it once a month. |
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longbike
Is a Permanent Fixture
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Post by longbike on Mar 6, 2018 18:04:35 GMT -8
Aloha , I have these I restored few years back and they all work good and I use them occasionally also. I have over a Dozen different Pocket Watch and some yet to do. Louis 1925  1922  1921  SWISS Pocket watch.   Waiting for new crystal  |
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pip
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Berkshire, UK
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Post by pip on Mar 7, 2018 1:36:49 GMT -8
I inherited this Elgin from my grandfather, who inherited it from his father. That's very nice. From 1907 according to the records so it's eleventy-one years old... |
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 7, 2018 7:39:31 GMT -8
I inherited this Elgin from my grandfather, who inherited it from his father. That's very nice. From 1907 according to the records so it's eleventy-one years old... If that's the case, It may have originally belonged to my grandfather's grandfather, since my grandfather's father was only 16 years old in 1907. It's engraved, but I can't make it out. Any idea?  "PBV", "ABV", neither? Sorry, Leffe; I didn't mean to hijack your thread. |
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Post by leffemonster on Mar 7, 2018 8:32:11 GMT -8
That's very nice. From 1907 according to the records so it's eleventy-one years old... If that's the case, It may have originally belonged to my grandfather's grandfather, since my grandfather's father was only 16 years old in 1907. It's engraved, but I can't make it out. Any idea? "PBV", "ABV", neither? Sorry, Leffe; I didn't mean to hijack your thread. No worries Myles! Looks to me like it it could be ‘JRV’ - mean anything to you? |
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pip
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Posts: 6,174
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Post by pip on Mar 7, 2018 8:40:15 GMT -8
That's very nice. From 1907 according to the records so it's eleventy-one years old... If that's the case, It may have originally belonged to my grandfather's grandfather, since my grandfather's father was only 16 years old in 1907. It's engraved, but I can't make it out. Any idea? "PBV", "ABV", neither? Sorry, Leffe; I didn't mean to hijack your thread. If I squint my eyes and look sideways, it looks like it says Seiko... |
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 7, 2018 8:43:56 GMT -8
Looks to me like it it could be ‘JRV’ - mean anything to you? As a matter of fact, those were the initials of my grandmother's father. |
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Post by Groundhog66 on Mar 7, 2018 8:48:02 GMT -8
Nick, that is a great looking piece, glad you found it!
I love old pocket watches, so much class.
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Post by leffemonster on Mar 7, 2018 8:53:02 GMT -8
Looks to me like it it could be ‘JRV’ - mean anything to you? As a matter of fact, those were the initials of my grandmother's father. Might that explain the family connection? |
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 7, 2018 8:57:34 GMT -8
As a matter of fact, those were the initials of my grandmother's father. Might that explain the family connection? I thought it was from my grandfather's side, but if it's "JRV" that's engraved, it had to have belonged to my grandmother's father. The strange thing is, he would have been 19 years old in 1907 and of fairly modest means. |
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Post by leffemonster on Mar 7, 2018 9:18:24 GMT -8
Might that explain the family connection? I thought it was from my grandfather's side, but if it's "JRV" that's engraved, it had to have belonged to my grandmother's father. The strange thing is, he would have been 19 years old in 1907 and of fairly modest means. Here’s what I see -  Seems clear enough? |
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 7, 2018 9:19:55 GMT -8
Thanks for that, Leffe. I'd say it's definitely "JRV". |
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Post by leffemonster on Mar 7, 2018 9:21:31 GMT -8
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pip
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Post by pip on Mar 7, 2018 9:46:26 GMT -8
Funnily enough I'd just been doing the coloured inks thing too, all agreed on JRV then. We have different dbases Nick, they all are around the same though as I was one year out from you; linky to the one that I use for american pocket watches (which points out that there are typo's so yours may be more accurate?) Pocket Watch Database |
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Myles
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Post by Myles on Mar 7, 2018 10:13:14 GMT -8
Funnily enough I'd just been doing the coloured inks thing too, all agreed on JRV then. We have different dbases Nick, they all are around the same though as I was one year out from you; linky to the one that I use for american pocket watches (which points out that there are typo's so yours may be more accurate?) Pocket Watch DatabaseThanks for your effort, gents. As it turns out, it must have belonged to my grandmother's father. He died in 1925 when my grandmother was 4 years old. I'm not sure why I was of the impression that the watch came from my grandfather's side. My father was of the same impression. Thanks again, and apologies to Leffe for hijacking his thread. |
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Post by leffemonster on Mar 7, 2018 10:31:33 GMT -8
Funnily enough I'd just been doing the coloured inks thing too, all agreed on JRV then. We have different dbases Nick, they all are around the same though as I was one year out from you; linky to the one that I use for american pocket watches (which points out that there are typo's so yours may be more accurate?) Pocket Watch DatabaseThanks for your effort, gents. As it turns out, it must have belonged to my grandmother's father. He died in 1925 when my grandmother was 4 years old. I'm not sure why I was of the impression that the watch came from my grandfather's side. My father was of the same impression. Thanks again, and apologies to Leffe for hijacking his thread. Hey, no apologies needed Myles. Glad to have helped! |
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