Great Grandpa's Watch

[Blaine]

I was looking at the Great Grandparent's wedding pic again, and it ocured to me that I have that watch he's wearing. He gave it to my Grandpa, and it found it's way to me. It's an old Hampden, and it serial numbers out to the correct time period. I pulled it out of storage, wound it up yesterday, and it's keeping time.

[OldWin]

That's really neat Blaine. Its great to have links to our past like that.

[Bill in Oregon]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[rangerider7]

I have some nice pocket watches myself but my cousin got my grandfather's. I know you will pass it down and take care of it. Great history!

[Chuck 100 yd]

Man that is COOL !!
I have nothing from my grandparents. They were in the midwest along with the rest of the family and we are on the west coast. Everything was snatched up quick, not that they had anything worth anything. Still I would like to have a keepsake like you have.

[Mescalero]

I have to get another pocket watch.
Can not stand to wear jewelry.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
You are blessed to have it. Do keep it in the family. Make sure it is clearly noted that watch remains in the family.
I have been rebuilding and repairing Pocket watches for near 30 years. Probably the way you are using yours it will last for a hundred years. But do realise as all machines need periodic lubrication, your 's will also one day. Oils evaporate. The new synthetics fare far better. Even jeweled movements will wear on the wheel pivots. Probably you should think about every 10 years with a simple winding once a year. A watch used daily normally should be cleaned and oiled yearly. A once a week watch every 5 years. But in heavy dust conditions or in volcanic dust once a year can be too long.
No I am not drumming up buisness. When I am up north in the US of A I do not have time to clean and oil watches. Maybe one day. I do this strickly as my hobby. I locate, purchase and make functional pocket watches for my own enjoyment. One day when I need to that will be different matter.
Mike in Peru

[ollogger]

That's nice Blaine! Mother has one from her great grand pa its gold & as heavy as a boulder
cant re call the name on it



Brad

[Rusty]

I have one from my great uncle Bobby. I never met him and don't even have the picture of him that I once did. He was killed in 1917 in France. I still cherish that watch though.

[Ysabel Kid]

Very, very cool!

I have my grandfather's old pocket watch. I suspect it was my great grandfather's as well. It needs repaired, so I need to get on that. Your post is inspiring me to do so.

[Griff]

Cool beans, Blaine! They are hard to keep in good repair... and watch mechanics are getting even more rare than the watches.

[Blaine]

Cool beans, Blaine! They are hard to keep in good repair... and watch mechanics are getting even more rare than the watches.

I know I need to get this one (and another one my Uncle picked up in WWII) to a GOOD watch dude, but I don't know how to find one. I'm afraid I'd end up with fake guts in them if I took it to the wrong guy.

[BrianSH]

Blaine, Griff, Ysable Kid et al,
I currently have a watch out to Govbergwatchrepair.com
Its a Wakmann divers chronogragh that I bought in '78. Turns out that watch was made by Breitling (hot darn !) and has a Valjoux 236 movement.
Anyway these guys are replacing a few parts and I expect return next week. I can only say give them a call, and they do free estimates.
-Brian

[BrianSH]

I have to get another pocket watch.
Can not stand to wear jewelry.

I've known guys that take a multi-function plastic watch, remove the bands, and carry it in their pockets.
For 2014, Jaegaer-LeCoulter is introducing a pocket watch, but you're gonna have to dig deep for that one.
- Brian

[FWiedner]

I also have one my Great-Grandpa's pocket watches.

It's an old Elgin that according to family lore, rode out the 1906 San Francisco earthquake nestled securely in Pop's breast coat pocket.

;;

My Mom gave it to me about 10 years ago, and it generally lives in a 'bottle' on a keepsake shelf in my man-cave.

She gave my brother his (Great Grandpa's) old Remington hunting rifle. He doesn't hunt at all, but I have to admit that he is a dammed fine rifleman.

Supposedly this was the rifle used to feed the family when times were tough, and the prized watch bought when hard work finally paid off.

Not sure why she gave what to whom, but I can live with it.

[Blaine]

That's real nice, Fweidner