American Watch Company - Pocket Watch

yaya*

Hi all,

Have a few questions about a pocket watch that we recently found in the family home.
It's an American Watch Company pocket watch and using the internet and the serial number, we believe it was made in 1888 or thereabouts.
It needs some repair work done to it so that's my first question - where in Dublin would I get this done?

The outside of the case is engraved with flowers, the initials E.L. and what looks like a farmhouse. We cannot think of any family member that would have had the initials E.L. so in order to narrow down the possiblities of who it might be, I have the following questions:
Would it only have been men who would have had pocket watches back then?
Would the flowers and the farmhouse have been requested after purchasing the pocket watch or would it have been there before purchase?

And last but not least, on the inside of the pocket watch case, there are numerous tiny little engravings - look like they were made with a protractor head nearly? - but we can't make head nor tail of them - any suggestions for what they may be? Lots of short number and letter combinations, absolutely tiny, you'd hardly notice them?


Wow, did not mean to ramble on like this!
Anyway, any help greatly appreciated!

HDMI

Pocket watches came in various sizes, the movement sizes are from the 3/0's 28mm approx up to the size 20s around 46mm. I would imagine from your description that it one of the smaller sizes and a ladies watch. Today a lot of the movements are being recased to use as a wristwatch, so a lot of parts are becoming harder to find, or if the case is gold then it is being sold just for the gold weight and the movement dumped.

The numbers and letters you see scratched inside the caseback are marks left by watch makers when the watch has been serviced, almost like a little mini servicing book of a car.

Getting vintage watches serviced in Dublin is quiet difficult, I currently have my watches shipped to Scotland for repair. I have previously recommended him so here is a link.
http://www.michaelswift.co.uk/ourservices.php

An excellent place for info is the NAWCC, National association watch and clock collectors, they have a special section dedicated to American pocket watches and will be able to advise you further, take some photo's of the movement inside the watch and post them on their forum.
http://mb.nawcc.org/forumdisplay.php?f=11

Early American pocket watches have a very loyal following and are highly collectable. The company eventually went on to make wrist watches with the brand name Waltham and made some nice watches until the late 50's. The company was then sold off and for the next 10 years or so they were Swiss made. The late 60's early 70's saw Japanese movements been used, I have one of these myself. The Waltham name you see on watches now have no relation at all to the watches back then.

Wibbs

If you could get a couple of clear photos up that may help. The face and the movement kinda thing.

yaya*

Thanks for all that info HDMI- I have found that message board you mentioned so I'll post a few questions over there too!

Wibbs, hope these photos are clear enough?

Wibbs

Nice watch. Full hunter case too(have to pop the lid to read the time) Not the usual low grade ones you tend to see. The enamel dial is in great condition too. No hairline cracks. The hunter case helps but they crack so easily and so often regardless. Hope you find out more from the other forum

HDMI

Just in case anyone is interested in yaya's progress, heres a link

http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=68464

Wibbs

Kudos to HDMI for helping out.