American exceptionalism in an 1897 pocket watch!
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- Опубліковано 18 лис 2022
- Today we have a stunning old Waltham pocket watch on the bench, an 1897 "Seaside" model. This beauty most likely was a ladies watch given its moderate size, and after making it run I plan to give it to a very special young lady...
Join me for a full service of this fabulous timepiece as we talk about the history of Waltham and its visionary founder Aaron Dennison. And yes, we'll take a couple of detours into how dentures played a part in watchmaking and the frequency of underwear changes!
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I recently switched to a pocket watch, both in a waistcoat and with Jeans. Fantastic decision, so fun and so many compliments...I need one of these beauties in my life though!
Totally agree!
@@VintageWatchServices if this is for sale to the UK (I know, I know, brexit customs) please let me know...
i wear a pocket watch as well. Stands out like a sore thumb among rolexes and apple watches.
I have an 1887 Waltham that needs a lot of work.....
Hello Stian: One thing I thought I should mention about this style of watch. This is a "hunting-style" case as opposed to the "open-faced" cases used in most other pocket watches. In case you don't know, when opening the front cover, do not force it past 90 degrees. It will damage the hinge. But even more important one should press the crown in while closing the front cover. The "latch" that catches on a small lip on the inside of the front cover will quickly wear the soft, gold-filled, cover and it will refuse to stay closed. I have worked on mainly pocket watches and clocks for 20+ years. Literally thousands of American pocket watches have crossed my bench. I am always happy to see one of these old treasures show up in such good shape. I might also recommend putting a chain on the watch. It will definitely snap a balance staff pivot if it's dropped due to the lack of any shock absorbing mechanism. I sell watch crystals, balance staffs, and mainsprings if you should have a need in the future. Please let me know how to PM you my contact info if interested. I don't want to promote my business or YT channel on your channel :-). Beautiful work as always!!!! - Mike
Thanks Mike! Yes, I'm aware of the differences between hunter and open faced watches and won't force the lid :) And the front cover on this one was indeed already so worn that it wouldn't really hold onto the case. At the end of the service I gently pressed the top of the lid with my thumbs to slightly change the shape so that it locks better and it's fine now. If you could send me a mail to stian@vintagewatchservices.eu, then I can save your contact details for the future!
That’s a lucky young lady 👍
What a beautiful old watch. Amazing condition. A very lucky young lady indeed.
With the watch being over 120 years old, she could well see its 200th year.
125 years old and in better condition than my 18 month old daily wearer. We could learn a lot from these old watches. I'd much sooner have a decorated movement like that and an enamel dial. Interesting that the watch still had manufacturing defects after all these years though.
One of the things that sets your channel apart from other watch repair channels is your extensive history lesson on each watch you repair. Very enjoyable and informative. The other things that set you apart are too numerous to list! 😏
Well there is one outstanding feature that I want to point out: your utterly hilarious and casually brought sense of humour. Still I very much hope you did not pick up your bad habits from lockdown 🤭
Oh, I have had a long life to pick bad habits up from! 😂
Wow, thanks, that's very nice to hear :) 😊
I'm more interested in wrist watches, like most people are I guess, but this pocket watch is such a beauty! The dial and the blue hands are extremely pretty and all the art work on the case here. This is a real treasure! $75....... a robbery 😄
Hei Terje, ja, $75 for dette uret er ganske vanvittig... bildene på eBay var veldig dårlige og den var solgt som "not running", hvilket trolig gjorde prisen så lav.
Эх
Beautiful inside and out. I'm lucky to have my grandpa's 1940's era Hamilton pocket watch
What an amazing find and restoration. $75!!! Goodness, it did go to the right person, however. Glad to see that watch run again when all the parts looked in great shape. I know she's young but I have high hopes that she comes to cherish that pocket watch and start a new family history for it.
What a beauty! I'm the proud owner of two old Waltham watches myself. A railroad watch from 1906, in a "Silverode"-case and a wristwatch from 1923. I bought them mostly because of the gorgeous movement-decorations. Nothing wrong with Côtes de Genêve, but these old American watches took decoration to another level. Thank You for sharing this beautiful sight!
i have a waltham as well, its a vanguard from 1944, although i wear it quite often. really differentiates me from everyone else wearing rolexes or smart watches
Hello Stian thank you for that nice video. I really love the American pocket watches from that era 1885 - 1930 they are so beautifully decorated, they are well thought and easily serviceable. And they're another thing I like it's your Solvex RM I dream of that cleaning machine... Lol
It's a nice one :)
Now that's a beautiful watch! Quite the find!
I love old pocket watches ... Many many years ago, somewhere around 1970, a watchmaker who befriended me gave me an 1890 Elgin National pocket watch for me to "... maybe try to learn how to work on...". Somewhere in the course of all my moving about through years of college and other stuff, it was misplaced. Forty years later, my brother tells me that he saw it in a box in his basement, located it, and sent it to me. It was in sorry shape, missing bits, but still wanted to run. I found a watchmaker who would take on the restoration project... A few months later, the restored watch returned home in superb shape, all of its beautiful patina and mechanicals intact and running well. I keep it on my desk and often enjoy just sitting and listening to it. These little devices are special... 😀
They are indeed special... amazing beauty 😍
*I fondly remember my daughter at the same size and probably age, dropping my CYMA pocket watch. I cringed when she held it, but fortunately Stian, YOUR DAUGHTER didn’t drop this beautiful Waltham. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WATCH AND SERVICE. I really enjoy watching your videos.*
Hello Joe, I was also on edge when she held the watch, but rest assured that the watch is still sitting on my bench until I find a nice necklace she can wear the watch on :) I really don't want this beautiful piece to drop on the floor and break... Even thought it cost me only $75, its beauty and condition really compels gentle and loving care for decades to come :)
Wow that watch is in incredible shape! Gorgeous!
I just started watchmaking school, it is amazing to be the one opening up movements and learning the lathe after watching watchmakers on youtube for a couple years. Your channel is one of my favorites, I appreciate your calm voice and dad jokes. 🙃
😂👍
Lucky young lady! Beautiful watch, and the dial was the first thing I really noticed because it’s so rare to see them that pristine. Your videos are always an event for me, because they’re so clear visually and in content. I know a lot more than I used to, but still not very much! 🇨🇦💕
That restoration was lovely and vastly increased the value of this fine old Waltham "Seaside" model of 1897. You did well buying it for such a criminally low price. Congratulations! ~Wendi UK 🌻
Thanks, Wendi! Yes, the price was outrageously low 😍
Since I was a child I always liked pocket watches. I'm an old man now and I'm thinking of putting up my wrist watches and start carrying a pocket watch again. Seeing that beautiful watch I think I'm going to start looking for a vintage hunting style watch. Thanks for another excellent video keep them coming please.
👍🤜🤛
THATS WHAT I CALL A NICE POCKET WATCH . I OWN A MAPPIN AND WEBB POCKET WATCH . LOVE THE PORCELAIN FACE ON CLOCKS AND WATCHES
What a nice looking pocket watch. I really like these old Waltham watches.
Could watch you for hours. Admire your skill and patience and the snippets of history about the watch and maker. All the best Mick🇬🇧
Have several old Waltham pocket watches in my collection. Beautiful movements.
Carry them often.
The condition of the case is just incredible given the age of the piece. Thanks again Stian for your time and effort that's gone into making these videos. We leave not only with a greater appreciation for horology in general, but also with the history and character of the individual piece your meticulous hands bring back to life. I never regret stopping by.
Much love from Scotland, Steve
Thanks so much, Steve, that was a really nice message to read :)
with a watch like this, who wants to see the dial when you can admire those trips... Thanks for sharing!!
Indeed!
You're a braver man than me giving that beautiful watch to a child.
I think you meant "that guy is nuts giving that beautiful watch to his 6 year old daughter!" 😂
To which I fully agree, but rest assured that the watch is actually still sitting safely on my desk until I get a nice necklace she can wear the watch on. I do not want her to hold the watch in her slippery little hands and drop it... it's much too beautiful for a sad fate like that!
I just got an American Waltham from the same era from a thrift store in Wisconsin for $24! Glad you put this out so I can learn more about it. My case isnt quite as nice as that one, but agree that they are real stunners!
One of the interesting results of the American practice of selling the movement and case separately is that a person on a limited budget could choose which one of the two to put more money into, depending on what they expected out of the watch. You could spend more money on the movement and less on the case and have a higher quality/more accurate movement in a case that could take more wear, or a very fancy watch with a gold case and fancy dial but have a low-jewel movement because the appearance was more important than accuracy or ruggedness. I have seen plenty of watches with hand-decorated dials in 14k gold cases but with a 7-jewel movement, and also true railroad watches carried by engineers and conductors with a 21- or 23-jewel movement in a plain nickel steel case for ruggedness.
In the 1800s - thanks greatly to arms industry during the American Civil War - the Americans became known for "mass production" (not to be confused with "assembly line production") where all the parts were made in the same factory. The Swiss, et al were still sub-contracting out batches of parts to local craftsmen in small shops which were then brought to a central factory for assembly. An elderly friend who was a watchsmith for many years used to say that American pocket watches of that era were far easier to work on because the parts were all identical and easier to replace, yet the Swiss watches required much more custom fitting for each part because each batch was made by many different craftsmen at many different shops.
I always enjoy your videos!
Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge, Jon!
It is always a joy to see when the balance wheel revives :-) And how happy the young ladies was. Lovely
Great job Stian! Enjoyed the history lesson too. Hopefully you can find some more pocket watches for future videos.
Cheers
Another great history and watchmaking lesson from Stian the master!
Gorgeous dial and the entire watch 😊
I got the same seaside. 1899 with 15 jewels. I paid $560 for it because it has a 14K solid gold case. The coin shop was going to scrap the watch and have the case melted down for the gold. This happens to almost all gold pocket watches today. I immediately told them to hold it I'll buy it it a couple weeks (I only make $15/hr). I'm going to use your video as an aid to service it and get it running again.
Beautifully decorated watch, internal as well as external
Absolutely beautiful
Love this video, I have a soft spot for old pocket watches
That was a stunning pocket watch. Great looking movement, case and the face is super cool. Heck of a deal for $75. and a super service to bring that baby back to life. Kudos once again.👍I have my grandfathers old Hampden pocket watch in a homemade wood display that I keep nearby...just for fun.
I just started getting into watches but Waltham is a name I recognize from my main hobby, fountain pens.😊
Wow. Stunning watch. Thank you for showing us this masterpiece.
I’m from Waltham! I had a high school history class that included Waltham Watches in the curriculum. We take this stuff very seriously because these watches and workers were so important to our city and country!
Very cool!
Wow, that is one beautiful watch. Good work👍
That's great you presented it to your little princess. A watch enthusiasts In the making.
Hello Stian, and thank you for creating such a good assortment of videos. I floated in quite randomly on the UA-cam tide and, with that same randomness, I’m meandering through the collection. 👍.
I’ve chosen to comment on this video particularly because I live near Waltham and have enjoyed some visits to the vast old watch factory. The campus of buildings has been repurposed, naturally, for a variety of uses, and a bit of it has been made into an excellent industrial museum. There is a good exhibit about watch production, of course. The highlight for me is the Charles Vander Woerd automatic screw machine which significantly sped up production of tiny screws. It’s quite an engineering accomplishment for the 1870’s.
That sounds very interesting indeed, I'd love to take a tour there at some point
How awesome is that?!?!?! Kudos to you and your daughter! Well done Stian! Thanks for featuring this vintage pocket watch today. Living in rural Pennsylvania, I'd say that 15 to 20% of my repair business is pocket watches, and a fair number of Waltham pieces have crossed my bench. Pocket watches are fun to do and sometimes a challenge to find parts. Thanks again for all you do. I hope your daughter can treasure her new treasure!
Thanks Rick! I'm worried about her 6-year old slippery fingers, so the watch is sitting on my bench until I find a nice necklace she can wear the watch on :)
What a great idea. The best to you both!
Wait, that watch looks like that on outside, but the inside is marvelous. Wow! That is bad... as in very very good.
Most charming timepiece I’ve seen you work on.
That dial ended up looking brand new! Great work.
Thank you very much!
Very nice. I have an ~1892 American Waltham Watch Co., 17 jewel Crescent Street model, which was my great-grandfather's watch and is currently in a bit of restoration also. Enjoyed watching your video and listening to discussion on the history of the company.
I like the way you treat every watch you work on with respect. That beautiful watch has amazing amplitude given the old mainspring. Your thought the case is new is probably right. I am a graduate watchmaker long retired. You are an excellent watchmaker with great knowledge and skill. It is a joy to watch you at work. Wishing you well each day. Cheers!
Thank you very much, that's very kind of you :)
What a beautiful timepiece and gesture to pass on to a new generation, I hope she enjoys it. I have a 14K solid gold ladies Omega watch made in 1969 biding it's time till it's passed on to my granddaughter. I also have a Waltham Riverside pocket watch made in 1937 that belonged to my father whom just passed away.
Those are very nice thoughts, Bob, and I'm sorry to hear about your father. I hope you can get a lot of enjoyment out of his watch 😊
@@VintageWatchServices Thank you, means a lot.
Beautiful!
What a thing of beauty.
An absolute stunner my friend. It was cared for all this time. Im sure that young lady will care for it for years to come.
I had seen a Boston watch co. watch on E Bay . In the 1870`s Waltham watches were very nice as well . In the early days the number produced were low . I started collecting and repairing pocket watches 7 years ago . I now have over 35.
I remember about 20 years ago now you could get a bag full of pocket watches (maybe 20-30) for $10 off ebay, a lot of caseless movements thrown in too as the gold was being scrapped.. maybe partly due to the prices of old watches being driven up by collectors but I think some people are also appreciating the pocket watch more these days.
I've used an old Tavannes pocket watch for the last 15 years, movement is big enough that even for somebody as unsteady as me it's not very difficult to clean and service it every couple of years.
-edit- forgot to mention they must have had the apprentice rubbing the jewels in the day that watch was made
Someday I will get so lucky.thanks for sharing. This amazing time pice
What a deal, I have a large 18s Waltham 120 years old. They are beautiful watches
Love that swirl on the barrel lid
Great video! It makes me want to get out our family's pocket watches to just look at the movements. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome job, as usual! And an amazing find!
I have a large collection of antique pocket watches. One of my favourites is a Waltham railroad watch with the vanguard movement.
You have motivated me into changing the batteries on my old cheap Chinese/Japanese watches. 😅 I enjoy watching you take apart and repair the old watches.
😁👍
The craftsmanship and knowledge shown here are always pure joy for watch enthusiasts.
Your daughter will surely appreciate and care for it.
Thanks so much, Michele :)
Always looking for stuff like this. Nice example and indeed a great find and restoration. Thank you for what you do
Great job (as usual). Nice comments and at the end a lucky young lady.
Thx a lot for showing.
Greetings
Thank you very much!
Same model I'm taking apart now, except I have to get a new balance it vaporized when it got cleaned, I'll be watching this video a few more times, thanks for the old school take.
This watch is beautiful! Thank you for the lovely video! I love it! 💜
What a beautiful watch! Thank you so much for the commentary.
Wonderful video! So nice to see you working on a pocket watch for a change. My watch collecting journey began with pocket watches, specifically my grandfather's watch. (He worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad.) Loved the history lesson, too, as always! Thanks for sharing!!
A very beautiful watch, indeed
Beautiful watch and a wonderful gift to your daughter. I also gave a small similar watch to my youngest daughter and gave her a chain so she can wear it as a pendant watch less chance it will be lost and or broken. Also its best to depress the crown when closing the cover it saves the lip from excess wear. Your service videos are amazing!!!.
Thanks Dominick! I am indeed also keeping the watch on my bench until I have a chain for her to wear the watch on and I've taught her how to close the lid properly :)
Absolutely stunning example
Such a beautiful caliber.. the decoration is wonderful.
That's marvelous!
Just beautiful. Why do old watches look like art work
What a beauty!
What a Beauty! Thanks for the history lesson.
What a beautiful watch , and also a lovely gift for its new owner , another triumph 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻
*Beautiful timepiece.*
What a beautiful watch!! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for watching!
Wonderful video. I plan for a special watch for both my kids as well. Thanks
What a sweet gift for a very deserving young lady. Beautiful. I have my mom's pendant/pocket watch to work on. It has a New York Standard dial and movement from 1910 and an Elgin case from 1890. At least that's what the serial number database told me. It wasn't working and was missing some parts so I sourced a replacement movement and just have to screw up the courage to extract it from its current case and implant it in my mom's case. It's a treasure I'm happy to own.
Stunning! That's all that needs to be said.
What a find…excellent video.
Congrats on your find. Nice job on the restoration.
Beautiful watch and i did love the special young lady reaction to the watch.
The craftmanship is outstanding; and what a bargain, nicely done.
First time I see the main spring being reinstalled by hand. Very nice! I too bought a Waltham pocket watch from eBay recently, according to the serial number it's from 1914. It's simply gorgeous! And veeeery dirty.
While nowhere near the calibre of this one, the mid-1920s Elgin pocket watch I inherited from my grandfather, who received it from his father, is beautiful. It would've been a pretty affordable watch for my working-class great grandfather to purchase at the time, but the finishing and design of the watch shows just how much effort and care went into even pretty affordable items back in those days.
Gorgeous!!!
Good restoration. Nice timepiece
Almost mint, that one. You must be one of few, if not the first to open it for service.
Thanks for another nice vid!
We fix about 4 weeks a week. Waltham, Elgin, Illinois, Ball-Hamilton, Hamilton, they outdid the Swiss in spades and are a dream to fix. If only we can go back . . .
I like both vintage wrist watches and antique pocket watches. For wrist watches I stay with Omega! On pocket watches I like illinois, Hamilton, Elgin,
Hamden, and others! I like railroad watches! My 1904 Hamilton is a size 18 coin silver 17 jewel rail road. It is accurate. I have a case for it which I got from Etsy! It has a chain . I actually use this watch!
That watch is beautiful
That is a beautiful watch.
That is one ☝️ of the most beautiful 😍 pocket watches of its time. Very intricate design, that somebody took great 😊 patience, making the front cover, and the precision movement. No corners cut, just a beautiful watch. This is even beyond 1970’s Westclox Scotty pocket watches, which earned a plastic escape wheel 🛞 by then. Yes 👍, this plastic escape wheel did good 👍, but 🔜 after this, quality began to decline. The movement in a Westclox Scotty pocket watch was aluminum, but it was a fairly (I mean 😪 reasonably) priced watch. It was also shock resistant. Your friend, Jeff.
What a fantastic find, and beautifully serviced. Totally turned me onto finding an American pocket watch of quality (railway watch??). I think I would have 'gifted' this to my own daughter a little later ;-) - but 'hey' for 75 bucks and the application of skill, perhaps it is worth the investment!
Lovely pocket watch and a lovely addition to the family to treasure. Keep well from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Very nice video and beautiful job👍👏
Just beautiful.
Interesting
I've worked on quite a few Waltham pocket watches and never saw that issue with the cap stones. Learn something new every time I watch one of your videos
Thanks for sharing
Wonderful 😀