Comments on: Uncommon Railroad Watches: Challenging Collections to Complete

By: Barry Cohen

Barry Cohen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:11:22 +0000

Joe,
I also have a pocket watch with C.G Rochat name. Have you found any information about it?
I can’t seem to find any.
Thanks,
Barry

By: Rae Suba

Rae Suba — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:48:00 +0000

Found a gold pocketwatch in my deceased moms belongings. Her family was mostly from Kentucky I think it was a family heirloom but can’t be sure. Heavy gold pocketwatch with Illinos Watch Co. Written on white face, black roman numerals, seperate second hand, red outer border numbers, engraved one side with what appears to be a house/church w flowers adornments with swallow type bird at the bottom (looks like an old school tattoo), other side same type of design but no bird and instead a sheild of some sort. Number inside case is 6680763. I don’t know how to get it open for movement view. Works great, hands move. One hand appears to be bluish grey in color, other hand is almost a dark purple color. Second hand part of watch has what appears to a bluish/purple circle in the middle anchoring the hand. Any and all help would be soooo appreciated. I’m trying to trace back in my lineage. Ps- unfortunately above the winder the loop is missing as is the chain.

By: Geigermann

Geigermann — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:04:12 +0000

Thank you for this informative article.

We recently acquired a H.S. Tanner Pocket Watch Serial number: 3147387 in a gold-filled case (C.W.C. Co. Trademarked on inner case) serial number: 2478417.

This watch also has an inscription dated: July 14, 1921. Would this likely be the year of production, or a “re-gifting” date?

We hope you can help us learn more about this pocket watch, or at least point us in the right direction.

Thank you, Der Geigermann

By: tiffany

tiffany — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 22:42:21 +0000

hi i have a burlington special pocket watch its a 19 jewel can u tell me anything about it? im not sure what to do with it and in the back there are 7 differant RR numbers

By: tiffany

tiffany — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 22:40:50 +0000

hi i have a burlington special pocket watch its a 19 jewel can u tell me anything about it?

By: Pete Paiscik

Pete Paiscik — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:37:14 +0000

hi Bruce ,
many watches with a name on the dial and movement such as your are known as ” contract ” watches .
they were ordered specially by jewelers to sell in their stores with their names on them.
they are always made by someone else such as hamilton elgin etc .
they do have some added collectablity .
pete

By: Pete Paiscik

Pete Paiscik — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:34:09 +0000

chris, i may be able to help can you send some pictures ?
pete
gagepro@aol.com

By: Pete Paiscik

Pete Paiscik — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:31:55 +0000

clay that is a good watch , can you send some pictures , i will try to help you out
gagepro@aol.com

By: Alorentz

Alorentz — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 22:25:28 +0000

Hello, I have a beautiful Potter & Gray with a solid gold case (Rose Gold) and gold chain of the same material (square links with an unusual clasp). It is odd because although it clearly is marked “Special for Railway Service”, the hour numbers are Roman, the minutes are Arabic when the rule of the day was the numbers all had to be Arabic.

On the inside back by the spring, it says Potter & Gray, Providence R.I., 17 jewel, adjusted and has some beautiful engraving from the factory.

On the case cover is stamped CRESCENT 25 years and the SN is 3512395 just below this. There are also what appear to be inspectors light engravings all over the inside, numbers with slight initials after them.
The outer case cover says C.W.C. Co. TradeMark and has a star and crescent moon

I inherited this watch and know it was in fact in RR service but details are somewhat scarce.

Can you point me in the right direction to find more information? Perhaps a book or similar resource?

Thank you

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:03:53 +0000

Hello I have a burlington watch that has “the order of the railroad telegraphers” on the back. Can you tell me more about it

By: Clay

Clay — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:34:06 +0000

Hi David,
I’ve got pretty much the same question. I’ve got an Illinois 17 Jewel Autocrat #6131931 I got from my dad who got it from his. It runs & keeps pretty good time. Great condition. Std. silver case with hallmark cast filigrees, what appears to be the original crystal, and no chain. Gramps always preferred a leather one. Other than the fact that it is a family watch given to me in the fifties, I don’t really know much about it. I’m assuming that it was pretty much the standard for railroader’s watches (my Grandfather was a brakeman for years running from La Junta Colorado to Topeka Kansas.).

How fragile is this thing? Are parts readily available? How do I find a reputable person to clean, service, and tune it? Is it worth anything more than sentimental value? If it is I’ll probably consign it to a safety deposit box or a locked case rather than having it rattle around in the bottom of a drawer. Just wondering.

By: bruce

bruce — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:29:19 +0000

Hi David,
I have a pocket watch that has:
F.J.Hooper, Special, Cripple Creek, Colo.
It works, and looks in great condition, no crystal,
17 jewel,#131026, in a Dueber gold filled case.
Would you please send me some information about
this watch as I know nothing about it.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:43:38 +0000

I have a pocket watch – made by CG Rochat of Jersey City, NJ. Serial number 60188. I’m finding very little information on the company. Anyone have any suggestions? Does the serial number indicate manufacture date at all?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:04:28 +0000

Hello, David and thank you. 20 bucks is 20 bucks and I appreciate you sparing me the outlay. From your article I got to thinkin’ maybe this was a Brotherhood of Trainsmen watch and what with the 23 jewels, ooh fancy. I’m not utterly gutted to discover that the family piece that hung in its own little glass dome over a polished wood bottom is a big ole Railroad Fake–just a little deflated. My brothers and I thought it might be a standout piece, finer than the couple of nice Walthams and Elgins that we know are from the 1920s and earlier when Dad’s family had some dough. It was kind of you to reply so swiftly, while my fantasy of fabulosity was only a wee sprout and thus easier to release than if in full bloom. I’ll put the watch back in the lock-box and maybe some day when cash is more plentiful get it cleaned up to enjoy as a foppish fashion statement. Again, many thanks for sharing your expertise–directly with me and through your superb article. Long may you handle fakes and finery!

By: David mycko

David mycko — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:25:51 +0000

Hello Folks,
Thank you all for your interest and compliments on my article! it does a body good to get so much appreciation for a little bit of “elbow grease”. The Worthpoint system doesn’t allow me to answer your questions individually, however Worthpoint does have an appraisal program. As a Worthpoint member you can get just about anything appraised for $19. Deborah, I can save you 20 bucks! You have what’s known as a Railroad Fake. Sorry! Genuine RR watches are almost never, if ever, marked up in this manner, but the fakes are! I got to be a Worthpoint appraiser when invited by senior Worthologist Tom Carrier at the Brimfield Antique Show. Keep those questions and interest coming! cheers to all! David M.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:27:00 +0000

What a fine, well-researched article you’ve written. Appreciate you clustering and giving detailed explanation of different types of uncommon railroad pocket watches. Your write-up makes me think that perhaps I do have a nifty one in hand. I’ve been told it’s possibly rare, from the teens or earlier. The unsigned face has roman numerals ringed on the outside by a 60-minute clock, marked by fives in Arabic numbers. Under the XII is a picture of a steam engine pulling a car of coal, apparently, with the number 16 on the open car. Where the VI would be is a secon clock and the logo in caps TRAINSMENS SPECIAL. The case is heavily engraved, gold-fill reportedly; 23 jewel mechanism. Can you give an opinion? How to get you specifically to appraise as a “Worthologist?” Thank you for sharing your specialized knowledge: your writing realy makes me want to see some of these rare old railroad lovelies.

By: Erich

Erich — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:48:36 +0000

Hi,
I have a Hamilton 21 jewel Pocket Watch that has Railroad & 14k on the inside. The back has SFS. Does anyone have some info and a value. Thanks!

By: David mycko

David mycko — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:29:55 +0000

Hello Dannie, Your watch is indeed an Illinois made specially for Sears Roebuck to retail their own line of watches, ca. 1880-1930. The King Edward was the top-of-the-line and was RR grade. General rule of thumb for RR grade is minimum of 17 jewels, lever set, and adjusted to 5 positions. Montgomery Ward had the Washington Watch Co. line also produced by Illinois Watch Co.

By: Dannie Strickland

Dannie Strickland — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:00:03 +0000

I have a pocket watch made by the Plymouth Watch company. The 21 jewel movement is marked King Edward, serial # 605788. Does anyone know if this is an Illinois watch movement, and is it railroad grade. A former Southern Railroad employee gave it to me in non-working condition and said it was railroad approved. I am a CSX Railroad retiree and have a couple of Hamilton 992b pocket watches, but can not find any info on this watch.

By: Dannie Strickland

Dannie Strickland — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:55:30 +0000

I have a pocket watch made by the Plymouth Watch company. The 21 jewel movementmovement is marked King Edward, serial # 605788. Does anyone know if this is an Illinois watch movement, and is it railroad grade. A former Southern Railroad employee gave it to me in non-working condition and said it was railroad approved. I am a CSX Railroad retiree and have a couple of Hamilton 992b pocket watches, but can not find any info on this watch.