California Gold Rush trail...Pocket Warch

[Bedrock Bryan]

I know this is the internals of a pocket watch, I think these internals are mostly gold as I’ve held my share of gold nuggets and relics from other hunters and my own nugget finds. Heavy for size and little to no oxidation other than a few parts. This site is verified 1840s to 1870s without a doubt. any help much appreciated re manufacture etc.

 

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[IMAUDIGGER]

Nice find I bet it was exciting.

I always wonder why it is we find so many inner parts without the cases.
I suspect it was because they would scrap them out after they broke.

With only the photo to look at...I'm going to say gold plated (which was most common).
Appears to show some copper color poking through in the center and along the rim in the 9-10 o'clock position.
But that could be just me looking at something over the Internet.

Any other interesting finds?

Remember - they continued to use those trails for many years after the gold rush.

 

[Bedrock Bryan]

Thanks for replying, I’m strangely great full my Deus high frequency coil died and then going to my 9” round coil my head phones died. This site is very heavy ferrous much history for a west coast area...some pre gold rush and pre state of California....to get to the point I fired up my Equinox 800 with the 11” coil in park 2 with auto tracking ground balance...I have a 6” inch coil so I am going against conventional wisdom... then the magic happens... this is pounded site started banging off low mid tones to my surprise...some examples, oil lame wick assembly, Milford button, Levi Strauss & Company button, .32 cal rim fire I believe caliber? Think I’m right though. Multi hole fancy button. And great coat button that is roached...will put photo of better depiction of roached button...yes rambling...great day!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I have to agree with AUDIGGER, the piece you found is most certainly gold-plated over a brass base with iron gears.
But I don't think this was a pocket watch, I'm thinking possibly a stop watch or the back of an early alarm clock.

My buddy swears by his Deus high frequency coil, I tend to stick with my trusty 11" coil.

Kudos to you for saving California's early history too. I visited the California Historical Society Museum in San Francisco in August.
If you ever have an opportunity to get down there, it's definitely worth a visit.

Dave

 

[Anduril]

Well one thing's for sure... it's not a Timex.
Otherwise, it would still be ticking.

And I'm now reminded of all those cheesey 1970's era Timex torture-test commercials, like the one with two Sumo wrestlers...

 

[dozer dan]

Jackson or Josephine county?

 

[Jason in Enid]

I've never heard of a watch with gold internals. Too soft and costly for something that has a lot of moving parts and is never seen.

 

[Bedrock Bryan]

Thanks all for info, yeah probably gold plating if even that. For being in the ground for I suspect 100 plus years it still has a lot of luster. And to dozer dan, no California, but yes I’ve found my share of cool stuff in Josephine County, not to far from where I grew up in Coos County. As far as stop watch very possible because this was a gathering place for small events/multi role area with a number of structures. Just rock foundations now. Once again thank All

 

[Bedrock Bryan]

Am calling this SOLVED....thanks again but if any other info on this time piece is out there...that be great

 

[dozer dan]

I live in Jackson county and took a trip to Yreka yesterday to look at a Mack truck I’m thinking about buying.

 

[Bedrock Bryan]

I live in Jackson county and took a trip to Yreka yesterday to look at a Mack truck I’m thinking about buying.

Yreka has a very rich gold history for sure, I always love hang out in that region. Am going to post an object I found in Josephine County on “what is it”