Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Feel free to post anything unrelated to wet shaving or men's grooming (I.e. cars, watches, pens, leather goods. You know, the finer things of life).
CMur12
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by CMur12 »

I've loved time pieces since I was a young boy, so thank you all for the photos. I also enjoyed the video with the link that Chris provided.

I don't have any exotics, myself, but my treasure is a 1912 model 992 Hamilton railroad watch that is in beautiful condition.

I also have the Caravelle 17-jewel, manual-wind watch, made by Bulova, that I got for Christmas 51 years ago when I was eleven. I wore it traveling around Latin American in 1973, when I lived in South America between 1975 and 1977, and in Portugal between 1978 and 1981. I fell into the Amazon River between a couple of boats and slammed it against the hull of one of them as I went down. A couple of years later, back in the US, when I blanched at the cost of a cleaning and a new crown, the jeweler remarked that the works were worth it. I have been wearing this watch for the last couple of years in recognition of its half-century in my possession. In the case of this watch, it's the personal history that makes it dear.

A problem I have when contemplating most of the new men's watches is that I am very fine boned and my wrist is only about 6.5" around. As such, most modern men's watches are huge. My Caravelle, made before men's watches started growing so large, is only about 33mm across.

- Murray
Bobwhite
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Bobwhite »

I like old pocket watches. A friend of mine who repairs watches sold me a 1950's mechanical railroad pocket watch. it keeps good time, and modern blue jeans still have a pocket to accommodate the watch. I like to wind it too.
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Squire
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Squire »

Me too Bob, do you know which make and model you have?
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Squire
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malocchio
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by malocchio »

I like pocket watches as well,mine is an old Hamilton.
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maskaggs
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by maskaggs »

I like the faces of pocket watches - generally, better than wristwatches - but know they would be utterly useless for me. I can get away with a certain degree of traditional men's accoutrements, but the pocketwatch is a bridge too far.
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Mike
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Squire
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Squire »

They do have personality though.
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Squire
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jww
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by jww »

Would love to own a pocket watch --- one of those old British railroad conductor watches with a fob and chain.
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Squire
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Squire »

I wouldn't have been surprised to see Morse pull one out.
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Bobwhite
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Bobwhite »

Squire wrote:Me too Bob, do you know which make and model you have?

It's called Hamilton Railway Special. It looks allot like the one posted, except it has a bar above the stem. To change the time I unscrew the crystal, then pull out a small lever. Then I can dial in the time with the stem.
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Squire
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Squire »

They are very similar and the movements have much in common. The Traffic Special was a 17 jewel civilian model and the Railway Special is the 21 jewel fully adjusted official railroad model, the 992b, one of the most famous watches in the history of horology.

Properly timed both models are capable of the highest timekeeping standards.
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brothers
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by brothers »

I'd love to see photos of one of those!
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Rufus
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Rufus »

I'd love to add a railroad-style pocket watch for every day use, but I fear SWMBO would slaughter me given the money I have tied up in my current small collection, not to mention my +100 vintage and modern fountain pens, my 22 shaving brushes and my 12 sand cast reproduction candlesticks. The 5 watches I currently own, and use are: Patek Philippe Calatrava, Omega Constellation, Omega Seamaster Co-axial, Heuer Carrera (1982) and 18c gold Vacheron Constantin pocket watch; all are automatics except for the VC which is manual wind.
Bryan
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jww
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by jww »

Squire wrote:I wouldn't have been surprised to see Morse pull one out.
Mmm .... 'cept I can't recall ever seeing him wear a vested suit. Chief Superintendent Strange on the other hand .......
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Squire
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Squire »

Vest is optional. I expect Morse's taylor would know how to add a discrete pocket for the watch.
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JRTASTER
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by JRTASTER »

Squire wrote:Vest is optional. I expect Morse's taylor would know how to add a discrete pocket for the watch.
I suppose Morse may have had a tailor but one from Saville Row seems unlikely.
And since in more than one episode he walked into a pub expecting to be served after time had been called suggests to
me he wasn't one to frequently reference a personal timepiece.
But Morse seemed to me a man of many contradictions, at times ultra-sensitive, at other times seemingly oblivious to
the sensibilities with others.
Morse was uniquely Morse... wish he and Thaw were both still with us.
Enjoying wet shaving, again.
jr/John
Rufus
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Rufus »

Squire wrote:Vest is optional. I expect Morse's taylor would know how to add a discrete pocket for the watch.
He strikes me as being a Moss Bros type.
Bryan
Bobwhite
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Bobwhite »

This is inside the back cover. (if the attachment worked)
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This is inside the back cover, beautiful machining.
This is inside the back cover, beautiful machining.
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Bobwhite
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Bobwhite »

Well, the attachment worked, but it sure is BIG! It fits nicely in the pocket watch pocket of my blue jeans. It's hard to believe they still make those pockets in blue jeans. The other side looks almost identical to Malocchio's watch.
CMur12
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by CMur12 »

That's beautiful, Bob!

- Murray
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Kyle76
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Re: Watches, watches, watches (caution: modem burner)

Post by Kyle76 »

Here are pictures of my grandfather's watch. I never met him as he died when my mother was 10 years old.

Image

Image
Jim
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