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  1. D

    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    The "1920s Swiss Military Watch" is indeed from the late 1910s to the early 1920s. The style is called a round cushion. It is not a military watch, but has a military connection. In the early 1910s, a man showing up wearing a wristwatch might as well show up wearing a dress. Wristwatches...
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    Victorinox Pocket Watch strap (band?)

    Do a google search for "Pocket watch strap" and you will see a variety of styles.
  3. D

    Where to acquire a pocket watch

    You did not say if you wanted a mechanical watch or a quartz watch. Nor did you say if you were looking for a new watch versus a vintage watch. Quartz watches keep great time and are easy to maintain. They run for years with a battery replacement about every year. Once they fail, you throw...
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    Let's see your mechanical watches

    All vintage mechanical watches require servicing unless the seller has serviced them. Services cost in excess of $100. Done right, more than twice that. For $35 you could only get a parts (a watch we watchmakers use for parts). In that price range, I would recommend a quartz watch in a retro...
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    Vintage Watch Repair

    You can find watchmakers at the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) http://directory.awci.com/ Put in your zip code and select watch repair. If I did not have recommendations, I would ask them if they were certified by AWCI or WOSTEP trained. I would also recommend that you...
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    New Pocket Watch

    You can find watch holders and watch domes at the NAWCC Museum Shop at http://5758.webpossystem.com/bin/category.asp?category=88 Don
  8. D

    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    I agree with the early to mid-1950s estimate for the Elgin watch date. You might want enjoy this pamphlet that was printed about the same time http://elginwatches.org/help/what_is_a_watch.html#durapower Here is another watch from the same era. Notice the straight ELGIN and the Shockmaster...
  9. D

    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    I think you should ask him how long it takes to overhaul a watch. Most quality watchmakers are very proud of the work they do and very upset about the poor work done by so many others. They want the customer to know what is involved. This site is about celebrating and preserving the great...
  10. D

    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    I have never been able to properly overhaul a watch in under three hours. That does include about a half hour in the cleaner. It also assumes there is nothing wrong with the watch. There are usually lots of things wrong with watches that have not been properly serviced in the last few years...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    I have not checked this thread in a while and missed the discussion on oiling watches. How long you should go without a cleaning depends on the watch, watch case and the oil. When we were using whale oil, it evaporated and became thick in a little over a year. Modern synthetic oils last...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    Jskeen, I have some corrections to point out about your Hamilton watches. The 992 went to the Finishing Department of Hamilton on September 10, 1921. It probably took a month or two to make it out of the Finishing Department and to be sold to the wholesaler. So you watch was sold in...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    "I believe this South Bend pocket watch belonged to one of my great-grandfathers. I never wear it, and it spends most of its time in a display case on my desk, though I often forget to wind it. It runs good, but I don't really know a thing about it, perhaps someone here might know something...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    You can date Omega watches by using the serial number and the chart at http://www.chronomaddox.com/omega_serial_numbers.html This site will also tell you how to contact Omega for vintage watch information. Don Dahlberg NAWCC volunteer
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    doberdadinmd, If you have the serial numbers from the back of the movements (not the cases) of the Hamilton and Waltham, we could date these watches. Don Dahlberg NAWCC volunteer
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    $75 to clean a watch? Run do not walk out of the door. It takes about 4 hours to properly overhaul a watch assuming there is nothing else wrong. You must take the watch apart to all moving parts. That is about 50 of the 150 parts. Clean the watch in a mechanical or ultrasonic cleaner...
  19. D

    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    The Hampden pocket watch dates about 1905. Case screw marks show that the case is not original to this watch. However, the case is appropriate for this era of watch. Most watches at this time were not cased at the factory, but Hampden was an exception since it owned the Deuber Watch Case...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    Alan, You have some nice Hamilton watches there. The first is a Hamilton Tonneau. As you said it is rather warn. Many collectors like it, because it is the largest watch for the time and large watches are popular today. It was introduced in 1927. The third Hamilton with the enamel...
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    The Osco 42 movement was introduced about 1945, so I agree with your late 40s dating. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Osco_42 Don
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    Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

    Evan, You Elgin could be late 20s, but I lean more toward the mid 30s. You picture is not very clear, so it is hard to see the detail. I think I see sort of steps on the side of the case. That is very much mid 30s or a bit later. If you can provide the serial number from the back of the...
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    Pocketwatches

    It depends on what you mean by "worth". The cost of a proper overhaul will probably exceed the value of the watch. However, if you want to run the watch, it needs to be overhauled every 4-5 years. If you do not plan to run the watch, then just keep it dry. Don Dahlberg National Association...

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