American Waltham Watch Co. Half Hunter 1919

     15 jewels with a micrometer regulator

 

 

An excellent example of American watchmaking. By this date Waltham had perfected the art of assembling pocket watches with interchangeable parts on a "mass production" basis. In fact, watches and guns (the Colt 45, for example) were the first products to use this system worldwide, and now we wouldn't think of doing things any other way.

 

Despite the case being "gold filled" - a version of gold plating enabling much greater thickness of gold - these watches were almost as expensive when new as those with solid 9ct cases. All the value was in the movement, which is why they last so well as timepieces. When I first became interested in pocket watches I was given some very good advice - buy a Waltham or an Elgin and you can't go too far wrong. The parts are still available if you go through eBay, and you won't have to make any replacements for yourself.

 

This example came to me as a non-runner. After stripping down to its component parts, ultrasonically cleaning them and then sparingly oiling where necessary, it sprang back to life. So satisfying. Thank you America!

 

 

Available for sale on eBay, but be quick. My last project sold within 8 hours of listing.