Vintage watch repair.....

338375

338375

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Nov 4, 2006
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I have a vintage pocket watch (circa 1930's) that was my grandfathers.
I would like to find someone who can clean (internal) and make a new crystal for it, it has a crack in it....
I'm skeptical to send it off to someone because of the sentimental value, but would like to get it in good repair so I can occasionally carry it.

Anyone have any recommendations of people you have used in the past ?

Thanks
 
I used to do watch repair as a stress reliever...

Depending on who made it It could cost 200-300 to a whopping 1000-2000 to get it repaired...

I suspect it's an American rail road watch which is good news as there are tons of spare parts for them...

And images of the movement?

EDIT:

any any any watch maker can fix a pocket watch. the movement is massive parts are robust, I say check google ( or Iphone) for a watch repair guy, and just do the usual checks on them. also ask around to get quotes ( most places will ask you to leave the watch with them for a week or so so they can inspect it and tell you what needs doing. )


also google search TimeZone its a watch forum that is the BF of the watch world.
 
It's doubtful that a watch made in 1930 would be a railroad watch but it should be a nice watch to carry occasionally.Check with jewelers in your area,or local phone book for people that repair watches,they really are pretty common.If you can't find anyone to do it,check these guys,http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/index.php,I've never had anything done by them but they have a pretty good reputation and their prices are reasonable.Last I new,it ran between $85.00 and $125.00 to have a watch cleaned and adjusted,if it needed repairs,that was extra.
 
Railroad pocket watches were made into the '40's IIRC.
 
I think they made railroad pocket watches into the 1960s. My father was a locomotive engineer and carried a Ball Hamilton pocket watch that was manufactured in 1953. He gave me the watch when he retired in 1991 and I keep it on a table beside my computer. Not sure about the U.S. but in Canada railroad pocket watches have a 24 hour dial. The pocket watch was an important piece of equipment on the railroad and the watch inspector would examine your watch for accuracy on a regular basis.

As mentioned, check the yellow pages in the phone book for watch repairs. Shouldn't be too hard to find someone who can replace the crystal and do a cleaning. Any old watch can be fixed if you find the right person. I had a master watchmaker from Toronto replace parts for my father's watch. I remember him showing me an old pocket watch from the 18th century that was working on.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll do some checkin tomorrow....
I would feel better finding someone local to work on it, the thought of putting it in the mail makes me a little uneasy...

I'll have to get it out of the safe and look at it again, I don't remember what name is on it. It has a steam locomotive on the face and has the identical train engraved on the back.
 
knarfeng said:
Railroad pocket watches were made into the '40's IIRC.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying that they weren't made later than the 1930s,but most of the good RR watches are in somebodies collection by now,although I do have a pretty nice 1924 Sangamo Special that I picked up at an auction a couple years ago for $30.00.:D
 
I'd recommend giving Eric Martin a call. I was made aware of him thanks to the guys over at the military watch forum who hold him in high regard. He's since repaired two of my watches and done an excellent job.

http://www.emwwatchrepair.com/
 
Thanks Bill. I'll go to his site a little later and check it out...
The people I've talked to locally kind of look at me funny when I tell that what I want done.. I guess times have changed
 
Today, most watch repairmen are able to replace a battery, and possibly replace a badly marred crystal. The old craftsman who could remove a movement, clean and then lubricate, then regulate it, replace any needed parts are pretty well gone. Stop and think, just how many watches today are not battery powered. Those which do remain, are usually very high buck items, and the last time I needed service on my Rolex, it cost me over 5 bills, the watch was gone for almost a month, although with decent care that is only required every 6 or so years. Not many mechanical watches are on the market tody, so actual watch repairmen are also becoming hard to find. If you will stop and think, twenty five or more years ago, most watch repairmen were physically handicapped, but could spend time at their repair bench, did a great job, but with the influx of quartz watches, few went into the dying repair business. Times, they be changing.
 
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