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pocket watch with no makers mark, any ideas?

  • 22-06-2013 11:32am
    #1
    blackbird99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭


    This is a pocket watch belonging to my grandmothers brother who died in 1928.
    It has no makers marks as far as i can see just two inscriptions,
    one is 1/11/17,
    he lived in the Ballyporeen, co Tipperary.
    [IMG][/img]9107722666_6ae7e47954_c.jpg 127 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    [IMG][/img]9105493233_d33b260210_c.jpg 124 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    [IMG][/img]9107727556_c2548155e2_c.jpg 121 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    swiss made
    [IMG][/img]9105515219_08c3645c35_c.jpg 122 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    [IMG][/img]9107734568_22a07bdd92_c.jpg 118 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    [IMG][/img]9105512551_79a6f8aeae_c.jpg 131 by blackbird1973, on Flickr
    [IMG][/img]9107755484_9998e831d8_c.jpg 129 by blackbird1973, on Flickr


Comments

  • #2
    Menas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Menas


    No name watches were not that uncommon. Back in the olden times watch makers made generic movements that individual jewelers then put in their own customized case with their own dial. You would expect to see some markings on the dial, but they could have long since been washed off as the generic markings (hour markings etc) are baked in whilst the jewelers mark tended to wash off.
    I would not read too much in to the date inscription either, that looks to be the date of a service. The Servicer seems to have left his mark too - R/1.

    The movement looks like a standard 15 jewel and the design looks late 1800s to early 1900s. That is as close as you will get methinks.

    So with no markings on the case, movement or dial and no accurate date of purchase you are depending on an expert recognizing the movement.

    But let me give you some advice. The watch is showing signs of age and water damage on the movement. Please please get it serviced and when the time comes hand it over to the next generation in working condition!


  • #3
    blackbird99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭blackbird99


    thanks for the reply, it only turned up lately after many years missing,
    my mother, in her 70's never remembers it going.
    i noticed the light rust on some of the parts also,
    i will be getting it repaired if possible, as you say it would be nice to see it working and pass it on again.
    thanks for the bit of information and advice.


  • #4
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    TH nailed it. The "no name" on the watch was commone enough back then. Ditto for early wristwatches. People would come in and choose the style of hands/dial and case and the watch would be made up in the shop, usually, but not always with the retailers name as TH described. Even some big names today rarely marked the dials and supplied mass movements like that, eg IWC. Longines, Zenith and a couple of other Swiss makers did mark them more often, but it seems the "brand" was less of a selling point than it would be today.

    It wouldn't have been a cheap purchase for your granduncle. When you see old ads with prices and compare them to wages at the time, you can see how they might be handed down as watches were much more a lifetime purchase than today. Today time is "cheap" and everywhere, back in the 1900's it wasn't.

    I'd add that luckily you have a perfect porcelain dial(from what I can see). Most get cracks over the years*, but yours looks pristine which is good. :) the hands also look in great nick. A good solid movement too. Well worth repairing and well set up should be accurate enough too. I've an early 1900 wristwatch with a similar no name movement and it keeps time to around 30 seconds a day which isn't bad at all and a pocketwatch with a bigger balance should get close enough to that, if not better. Funny enough the fact it seems not to have run for the last god knows how long may actually stand to you. Less wear.

    PS on the no name part, many of the movement makers did put markings on them but on the dial side so a watchmaker might be able to tell you more.










    *IMHO not because of falls/knocks for the most part, but because of watchmakers in the past over tightening the dial feet screws. I've rarely seen a dial where the cracks didn't start there.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • #5
    Deep Thought
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,578 ✭✭✭Deep Thought


    Wibbs wrote: »
    *IMHO not because of falls/knocks for the most part, but because of watchmakers in the past over tightening the dial feet screws. I've rarely seen a dial where the cracks didn't start there.

    I love your little disclaimer....

    The narrower a man’s mind, the broader his statements.



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