Besides Orchids ..

I somehow started to collect pocket watches. I really do not remember when exactly that was, but I do remember the first one I bought. Since that point, I have collected roughly 20 or so different pocket watches. Some of them have a nice value to them while others are pretty much worthless. Regardless of their worth, each one is rather interesting to me.. making them all valuable in one way or another.

So I'm At It Again ..

It's a bright and sunny Saturday morning and I have nothing to do for the first hour or so. I pour a cup of coffee and sit down to the old PC. Is there a better way to spend an hour than looking at pocket watches and potentially adding to the collection? Probably.. hehe

I don't really go searching for a new watch, but rather they find me. I guess you could say that they sometimes speak to me.. not in a crazy I hear voices way.. but rather I see it and I fall in love with it. Okay, I admit that sounds a little ridiculous too.

So let's forget all that.. and get to the point of this post. I like to 'Browse', from time to time, various online stores or selling spots. I was doing just that when I ran into this neat watch.

A 1899 Elgin Movement Seated In A Multicolor Gold Plated Wadsworth Hunter Style Case

At first I imagined that it may be solid gold because the seller was unable to open the case fully. After it arrived, I was able to examine it closely, and quickly realized that it was not solid gold. It didn't matter, after a few days of pondering whether or not to send it back, I couldn't resist myself and thus I bought it. It "Spoke To Me".

The gold plated case is what they call a 'Hunter' style case. The watch face and movements are fully protected by coverings on both sides. This particular case has some decorative features, which I really liked and thought were kind of pretty; flowers, leaves, a bird (maybe a swallow) and a few swirly etchings. It's not perfect.. it has a few dings (mostly un-noticeable) and a few scratches, but overall in GREAT shape for being 122 years old!!!

This watch is a size 0s, which is not tiny, but on the smaller side. It is a ladies watch, that was meant to be worn on a chain around the neck.. like a necklace.. So it's not all that heavy either. I took a few shots of it in my hand so that you could gain a little perspective on the size.

I opened up the back of the watch first. After the outer decorative case is open, the inside is not that decorative. It's really, really shinny. I like shinny, so I am cool with it. There are again a few scratches, especially where the previous owner tried to open the cases inside cover. Bad man! Bad Bad man!! haha. I'll cut him some slack.. he had no clue and is like 90. I see the serial number to the case there as well.

I now can pop open the inner cover, that protects the mechanics of the movement. With the right tool and a little patients and care, it popped right open for me. What a beauty! 122 years ago, I image it looked exactly the same. Hard to imagine. I wound up the gears fully and let it sit and tick away! Runs smooth as silk.. and kept perfect time too! Plus Plus!!! That add's to this pieces value tremendously.

Only two tiny screws holding the movement inside the case. Unscrew them and the entire watch movement slides out.. after a little finagling that is. But I am not going to do that. It's fine right where it is.

After a closer look at the interior of the watch case, I see it says "Warranted 25 Years", meaning that this piece was plated with gold and was expected to last roughly 25 years under normal use. The underlying base metal is copper, so eventually the gold would give way and then one would notice the copper showing through. Obviously this piece was lightly used and we got more like 122 +++ years out of it! Not bad for the price they paid back then I bet.

Oh Boy!! Lets pause for an artistic photo! I thought this shot looked cool...

Here is the movement. 122 years ago, someone in a factory, sat and put this thing together. I have no clue how long it took them to put it together, but they did an excellent job! There is a serial number stamped into the movement metal (7609170), not to be confused with the serial number to the case (stamped into the case just above the movement serial number). There are screws, gears, arms, springs, jewels at the pivot points and lots of other cool stuff in there.

Here's a close up of the gears and what not...

Inside the front cover.. there is not a lot to look at as far as decorative stuff goes either. All that's there is the Wadsworth artist/manufacturers stamp and again the serial number to the case. People would buy the watch movement, then pick out a case of their liking. The jeweler would then have the watch installed into the case. If you wanted to you could have your initials or whatever inscribed into the metal. (see up above, the outer back part of the case, and you will see the original owners initials)

The face of the watch is porcelain, touched with dabs of gold and pearl like paint. This is one of the other things that I really fell in love with. I think although it is more feminine, it could really appeal to anyone. I know I like it!

I think the hands of the watch are pretty cool too. Lots of detail for such small hands. I prefer the roman numerals over standard numbers. This one even has a seconds dial at the very bottom where the 'Six' would otherwise be found.

The Watch Details ..

**Here is some information on this particular watch. I am a member of the "Pocket Watch Database" site and retrieve all my info from there. I can also store all my data and research there too. It's a pretty cool site if you like to look up historical data on particular movements. (I know.. BORING!!!) hehe.

FROM THE AMERICAN HOROLOGY ARCHIVE:
Elgin National Watch Co.
Grade: 109
Manufacturer: Elgin
Manufacturer Location: Elgin, Illinois
Movement Serial Number: 7609170
Grade: 109
Model: 1
Class: 60
Estimated Production Year: 1899
Run Quantity: 3,000
Grade/Model Run: 67 of 68
Total Production: 315,000
Size: 0s
Jewels: 7j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Gilt
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Barrel: Going
Train: Quick
Regulator: Plain
Standard Dial Type: Single-Sunk
Adjusted: No
Railroad Grade: No
U.S. Patents: 77078
Data Research: 1904 Elgin Serial List, 1915 Elgin Serial List, 1927/1950 Elgin Serial List

Total Runs:
68
Total Produced:
315,000
Production Era:
1891 - 1900
Earliest Serial:
#4,212,001
Latest Serial:
#8,219,000

Source

Well.. I Sort Of Talked Myself Out Of Anything Else To Say ..

There's not much more to tell you except that I am looking forward to enjoying this piece for a good while. It fits nicely into my small, but growing, collection. Will I ever part with her??.. some day maybe, but not today!

“It's being here now that's important. There's no past and there's no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can't relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don't know if there is one.”
― George Harrison

Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!

All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.

About Me ~ The Artist

My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.

Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.

For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.

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