Guns & Outdoors Forum

Early Bday gift. I’ve always wanted a true vintage pocket watch. Found this in eBay for a good deal since it was supposedly not running and took a chance. Turns out that it ran for short periods of time! That was a break.

There is a local guy who has an amazing reputation restoring fine timepieces and he took on the job. Total tear down, cleanup lubrication and replacement of a tired original main spring and she’s running like the day she left the factory in 1899! There is some honest wear on the case that’s staying as is. Part of the history of the piece.

Seeing the inner works it’s amazing they were able to machine parts THAT delicate way back when.

The chain is new and the small knife is not that old but it is a New OLD Stock Imperial Fob knife made in the USA probably from the 50-60s.

I think the machinists here will appreciate the metal working precision done 125 years ago.

Great find! I love a good mechanical watch.

I'm on a private watch discussion/trading board for members of my industry, and I have to leave it on silent because of all the tantalizing pieces that find their way on there from people with much deeper pockets than mine!

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 4:01 am Great find! I love a good mechanical watch.

I'm on a private watch discussion/trading board for members of my industry, and I have to leave it on silent because of all the tantalizing pieces that find their way on there from people with much deeper pockets than mine!

It’s an enticing hobby if you have an appreciation for such things. My son LOVES time pieces too so I guess it’s genetics driven. I love the traditional heritage aspect of it. For his wedding gift I gave him my grandfather’s 18k gold Omega Seamaster that I had restored to factory condition so he’s the 4th generation to own/wear this watch. It’s one of his most priced possessions not just for the value but also the direct family provenance.

Needless to say this one has no provenance to my family, but I like to think I someone loved this watch over 100 years ago and that’s special in its own.

Very nice! How do you determine a date of manufacture on a watch? I have an old Elgin that was my grandfather’s

Basically you pop the case back and get the serial number off the movement. You can't go by any serial numbers on cases because there were MANY case manufacturers and it was usual to buy a movement and then decide which case you wanted for it.

The most accurate data-base is here:
https://www.elgintime.com/Home/elgin-serial-numbers

And here is a site where you can enter the actual number and get not just a date but a full description of the watch according to company records. Also has a neat summary of the company history.

https://www.elginnumbers.com

Thanks, now I just have to remember where I put the watch for safekeeping

sakodude wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 6:56 pm Thanks, now I just have to remember where I put the watch for safekeeping

Yeah that tends to be the challenge after a certain birthday

Found it.
Can you tell me anything about it?

While the movements fascinate me to no end, ESPECIALLY how they made them 150 years ago, a mechanical watch just doesn’t trip my trigger. I’ve worn a watch from about 4th grade up until about 2 years ago when my watch band broke. Couldn’t see spending $13 on a band for a $9 watch.

Between the fact a watch gets destroyed at work, and some food manufacturing facilities I service don’t allow them, I never replaced it. Throwing the nice things factor, sentimental and investment value aside, my $9 Timex is just as good as a Rolex at what a watch was meant to do…keep time.

The manufacture of such mechanical watches however does trip my trigger. Even with modern CNC equipment it’s MIND BLOWING how they can make such things. I followed an Australian dude whose father was a watch maker/repairman who decided to make watches from scratch. Made some pretty nice stuff. Not sure how far he’s taking it, I know he’s moved into very precision machine work, which is FAR more profitable than watches. Pretty cool seeing his progress.

https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/stock

sakodude wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:12 pm IMG_2386.jpegFound it.
Can you tell me anything about it?

That's awesome! Does it run?

This one is freaking spectacular.


https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/nh2




I remember a podcast where he was talking about the challenges of machining timascus. Which is just Damascus made from titanium. He’d get HOURS into a bridge….then took would break or some other dumb thing would happen….then it’s scrap. Same with the hands. I forget what percentage of hands were actually made successfully, but it was horribly low. Such a tiny chunk of metal and one microscopic slip….and the parts done for.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:18 pm While the movements fascinate me to no end, ESPECIALLY how they made them 150 years ago, a mechanical watch just doesn’t trip my trigger. I’ve worn a watch from about 4th grade up until about 2 years ago when my watch band broke. Couldn’t see spending $13 on a band for a $9 watch.

Between the fact a watch gets destroyed at work, and some food manufacturing facilities I service don’t allow them, I never replaced it. Throwing the nice things factor, sentimental and investment value aside, my $9 Timex is just as good as a Rolex at what a watch was meant to do…keep time.

The manufacture of such mechanical watches however does trip my trigger. Even with modern CNC equipment it’s MIND BLOWING how they can make such things. I followed an Australian dude whose father was a watch maker/repairman who decided to make watches from scratch. Made some pretty nice stuff. Not sure how far he’s taking it, I know he’s moved into very precision machine work, which is FAR more profitable than watches. Pretty cool seeing his progress.

https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/stock

I grew up with a dad and a grandpa that loved their watches and guess I inherited that love as my son did. Maybe it's genetics. My son in law has a few nice watches courtesy of my daughter and yet he wears a 6 year old Apple Watch that has had the glass broken for about 2 years now. He makes some laugh. To each their own.

I have 2-3 "things" on me at any time that tell time, basically imperative in my work to be always aware and always precisely on time to calls, conferences etc. My day has to be maximized so I can get what I need done, and that means minutes are precious. I actually enjoy that, tried to walk away from it and I couldn't.

My main watch has been on my wrist longer than my son has been alive and I just recently semi-retired it from ED wear because the damn thing is now worth about 15x what I originally paid for it, which was not insignificant when I bought it, so I'll have it restored at some point by the factory and pass it along to my son. I still wear it but more of a special occasion thing. My every day wear watch now is a Garmin smartwatch that suits my current lifestyle much more and for the first time I even sleep with it on. I think everyone here knows I'm passionate about technology and I'm fascinated by all the things this damn "watch" can do, including having a built in ballistic calculator that I'm just learning to use.

But I think deep inside I'm just fascinated by the ridiculous level of precision and work that has to go into such a TINY machine and I understand why it would attract you too! When this watch came in I almost considered taking it apart myself to try to learn how it works. That would have been a sacrifice since I don't have the tools to do it right and the chances of me getting it back together even if I DID buy the tools are probably slim to none. I watched the videos and I know my limitations.

But ultimately it was the thought of getting something this precisely manufactured, that came to life 125 years ago back to health was just overwhelming and I'm glad I did. The cost was not ridiculous and the darn thing is now sitting on my desk making me smile every time I pick it up and it's showing the right time.

Nice.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:07 pm This one is freaking spectacular.


https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/nh2




I remember a podcast where he was talking about the challenges of machining timascus. Which is just Damascus made from titanium. He’d get HOURS into a bridge….then took would break or some other dumb thing would happen….then it’s scrap. Same with the hands. I forget what percentage of hands were actually made successfully, but it was horribly low. Such a tiny chunk of metal and one microscopic slip….and the parts done for.

WOW, that IS spectacular!!! Yeah hands blow me away. They are the width of a hair and I can't fathom how they make them today, never mind the late 1800s!!! And how the HELL did they make a perfectly smooth TINY spindle and fit the damn hands to it! IS there an actual drill bit THAT small?!?!?

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:16 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:07 pm This one is freaking spectacular.


https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/nh2




I remember a podcast where he was talking about the challenges of machining timascus. Which is just Damascus made from titanium. He’d get HOURS into a bridge….then took would break or some other dumb thing would happen….then it’s scrap. Same with the hands. I forget what percentage of hands were actually made successfully, but it was horribly low. Such a tiny chunk of metal and one microscopic slip….and the parts done for.

WOW, that IS spectacular!!! Yeah hands blow me away. They are the width of a hair and I can't fathom how they make them today, never mind the late 1800s!!! And how the HELL did they make a perfectly smooth TINY spindle and fit the damn hands to it! IS there an actual drill bit THAT small?!?!?

Read through this link. Crap. Pic didn’t come through complete. Anyway, it shows a spot in the hand that uses a .15 millimeter end mill.

https://www.nicholashacko.com.au/mark2

.15 MM is .006 of an inch. Or, the thickness of one and a half sheets of paper. It’s spinning at probably 40k plus RPM, and BARELY moving along.

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:54 pm

sakodude wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:12 pm IMG_2386.jpegFound it.
Can you tell me anything about it?

That's awesome! Does it run?

It did when I put it away 15ish years ago at least. Kind of afraid to wind it now. If you wouldn’t mind, PM me about your watch guy.

PM sent and if anyone else would like these guys contact info just let me know.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:29 pm .15 MM is .006 of an inch. Or, the thickness of one and a half sheets of paper. It’s spinning at probably 40k plus RPM, and BARELY moving along.

That just freaking magic as far as I'm concerned. But how did they do this in 1899?!?!?!?

Just read through the page. Amazing!

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:02 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:29 pm .15 MM is .006 of an inch. Or, the thickness of one and a half sheets of paper. It’s spinning at probably 40k plus RPM, and BARELY moving along.

That just freaking magic as far as I'm concerned. But how did they do this in 1899?!?!?!?

Just read through the page. Amazing!

Witchcraft. They used witchcraft.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:26 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Fri Sep 19, 2025 3:02 pm

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:29 pm .15 MM is .006 of an inch. Or, the thickness of one and a half sheets of paper. It’s spinning at probably 40k plus RPM, and BARELY moving along.

That just freaking magic as far as I'm concerned. But how did they do this in 1899?!?!?!?

Just read through the page. Amazing!

Witchcraft. They used witchcraft.

They must have! I would love to find a documentary or something that explains in detail this kind of manufacturing in the late 1800 and early 1900s. Even guns back then fascinate me. Trying to understand mass production of Colt revolvers in the days of horsehide belt driven lathes is baffling.

I like the ones with the inset jeweled bearings.

Japhy wrote: ↑Sat Sep 20, 2025 2:55 am I like the ones with the inset jeweled bearings.

There are a few guys on YouTube that repair watches and their videos are addicting. Those little jewels are a hoot!

How the hell do they cut those tiny little gears?!?!?!?

Speaking of that has anyone heard from Mike “Linefinder” lately?!?!?