Most recent update:

05/12/2011

 

my pocket watch collection

 
 

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Gerry Mulligan

Model Railway

 

I have been collecting only since 2009 but my first pocket watch came to me many years ago from my father and from his father.  It is a silver watch that was made in England and was probably a low priced watch in it's day but is now priceless to me.  I now have a couple of dress pocket watches that have come to me from my wife's family - an 18S Elgin and a 12S Longines - that belonged to my wife's grandfather and great grandfather - again, a couple of priceless additions to my collection.

Since I have an interest in Canadian Railways, as you will see from my model railway page, when I became interested in pocket watches it seemed only natural that I would mostly confine my collection to watches that would or might have been used on Canadian Railways.  Thus, almost every watch that I have has certain features that would make them 'RR Grade' and 'Approved' for use by Canadian railway men on the CPR and the CNR as well as all the other lines in the various parts of Canada including the NAR that I also have a special interest in.  These pocket watches were among the best quality watches available since they were required to keep excellent time.

There are several characteristics that qualify a pocket watch from 100 years ago as eligible for use by employees on Canadian railways. 

Two of the most obvious are the 24hr dial and open face.

After that, the watch needed to be lever set and have at least a 17 jewel movement.  These two characteristics meant the watch would be very accurate and that the time could not be accidentally reset.

 

 

 

please check back again as I am in the process of getting this page set up.  I will have many more photos of my watches as I have time to upload them.  Thanks.

The pocket watches that I have date from approximately 1885 through to about 1960.  During the mid-1900's wrist watches became established and gradually replaced the pocket watch for daily use on the railways.  While I concentrate on pocket watches I do have a small number of wrist watches that would also have been used on Canadian railways.

I actually wear some of them once in a while but I do carry a pocket watch as my day-to-day watch.  Is is a Waltham Vanguard 23 jewel, 16 size watch encased in a Sturdy nickel silver case.  I wind it every day and it keeps time within 30 seconds a week.  Quite remarkable considering that its manufacture dates to about 1942 - photos below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  

 

 

 

My carry watch

Waltham Vanguard 23J 16S c1942

Waltham movement

 

          

Waltham model 1883  18S Canadian Pacific Railway - see crest on movement - from about 1889.  The dial is referred to as a 'Canadian Roadmaster' dial and is quite rare.

 

     

    Hamilton 950L 16S 23J in beautiful condition from 1918.

 

 

                

 

    This is a Waltham model 1892 'made for Canadian Railway Time Service' [CRTS] and it was made as a private label for A C Skinner, Sherbrooke, Quebec - noted on the dial.  Made in 1906.  While the CP crest watches, as the one above, would have been used on the CPR the CRTS watches would likely have been used on the CP and CNR as well as other rail lines since it does not identify a specific RR.  

 

 

        

 

    This watch is a 21J 16S Zenith Extra RR 56, the last pocket watch that was made by Zenith specifically for the CPR based on the specifications of Peter Kushnir, the chief timekeeper for CPR in the mid-50's when this watch was ordered.  Only 1000 were made and only 500 had the 24 hour Canadian dial.  This one is all original and in excellent condition.

 

 

 

member:

            NAWCC, #0172197

              Ottawa chapter 111

              #1369 - IHC185.org