Old Pocket watch

[strick]

Perhaps someone that knows a little about watches can help me find the year and maker of this watch. The front bezel and watch face are missing. The back cover and inner workings are intact. I found it on an old home site...went back to look for the bezel but no luck so far. Any way the inner plate is marked Special RR #40 which indicates it was a Railroad grade watch. There is a serial # of 202443 There is also a ser# on the watch case along with a makers mark but they are not discernible due to corrosion and as I understand are of no help any way. Looks like the watch was gold plated. The really nice thing about this watch is the engraving. It was brought to my attention that it is an engraving of the USS Maine from the Spanish American war.

strick

 

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[jimzz977]

Congrats, nice relic

 

[against the wind]

February 15th, 1898, The USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
It was claimed to have been a deliberate act of terrorism by Spain. In March, a month later, the United State declared war on Spain.
Thus began the Spanish / American War and the birth of the Battlecry, "Remember The Maine"
Congrats on your find. It is in all probability, post 1898.

 

[Molewacker]

Nice that you ID'ed the ship - congrats!

 

[Kurios1]

That's a very cool old relic there mate. Congrats on the recovery.

 

[coinman123]

February 15th, 1898, The USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
It was claimed to have been a deliberate act of terrorism by Spain. In March, a month later, the United State declared war on Spain.
Thus began the Spanish / American War and the birth of the Battlecry, "Remember The Maine"
Congrats on your find. It is in all probability, post 1898.

And probably made rather soon after it sunk, as that was the peak of when the phrase was most used.

I would say that the watch is probably from around 1898-1910, based on the style of watch and the design of The Maine on it.

 

[cambria09]

Hello strick. Wow that is really a special sort of find! Sorry I cannot help with the ID on it but thanks for posting it. Good Luck out there. C9

 

[trdking]

Bunn and Illinois used the word special e.g. Bunn Special but it really can be any maker. Please post pics of the movement and case marks no matter how corroded. I can say that I have ever seen railroad abbreviated on a watch RR or a hash tag 40 curious. If you clean up the bridge plate is there any indication of number of jewels in the watch? Should be at least 19 for 1st part of RR quality standards. Any indication of adjustments positions? Are any of the jewels in the bridge plate Blue?

 

[trdking]

February 15th, 1898, The USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
It was claimed to have been a deliberate act of terrorism by Spain. In March, a month later, the United State declared war on Spain.
Thus began the Spanish / American War and the birth of the Battlecry, "Remember The Maine"
Congrats on your find. It is in all probability, post 1898.

A few years back I picked a USS Maine Shot glass made of pewter. It was hand etched with "remember the maine" Some time later work brought me to Annapolis Maryland and visited the Naval Academy there and toured its amazing museum of Naval artifacts. (More Medals of Honor on Display there than I have ever seen) They have a display case on the Maine with lots of memorabilia. I noticed they did not have a shot glass and I mentioned it to the Head of the museum. He expressed interest and I mailed it to him with the instructions of use don't use what ever. 2 months after I received a very nice letter from the Admiral thanking me for the donation and stating that it had been added to the display. You may consider this watch for that purpose so all can enjoy it

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the beautiful relic!

 

[Brendan75]

Hi, wow that is a nice old pocket watch you found. Congrats

 

[ecmjamsit]

Later research showed that the hot coal cinders were kept next to a magazine storage. The resultant heat set off the magazine. It was not terrorism at all. Excellent find.

 

[Mackaydon]

If your watch shows the 'USS Maine', it's a poor depiction since, IMO, the Maine had two stacks while your watch only shows one. Perhaps I'm being too 'picky'-or my rate of going blind is increasing.
Notwithstanding, it's a great find !
Don.........

 

[Johncoho]

If you can get a picture of the movement inside the back, I can tell you what you have. Could be a common watch or could be something worth restoring. It does appear to be 18 size, gold filled, and can't tell if it is open face or hunter case from the pics. A front pic would be nice too. I am a semi-retired watchmaker. Congrats by the way.

 

[sutphin]

THATS A COOL FIND......

 

[strick]

Thanks guys I'll get more pictures up asap. The old homesite dates bach to late 1800's early 1900's so the time period is right. When I dug it I thought nice find... an old watch mostly intact which is rare and an engraving of a ship. I normally post on a smaller forum and one of the members there replied that the ship appeared to be the USS Main....I was thrown a little by the one stack as well but after carefully studying lots of pictures and paintings it looks more like it then not...there are the two flags fore and aft... the two masts... port holes and reverse bow. I definitely would consider getting it restored and or donating it to the museum if they are interested.

strick

 

[strick]

Here are a few more pictures of the innards of the watch..I know nothing about the terminology of the watch you guys were asking...hopefully this helps. Thanks again fellas!





strick

 

[Johncoho]

Here are a few more pictures of the innards of the watch..I know nothing about the terminology of the watch you guys were asking...hopefully this helps. Thanks again fellas!


View attachment 1562781 View attachment 1562782 View attachment 1562784
View attachment 1562786 View attachment 1562787 View attachment 1562788

strick

From what I can see it would not be worth restoring. It appears to be one of many Swiss movements that were imported to look like good U.S. watches. The movements were imported and fitted to American cases. I can't make out the case name, but it may be Swiss as well. Those imports liked to put names on like Railroad, Special, and others to appear to be U.S. made Still a cool find, but sorry for the bad news.

 

[strick]

Thanks Johncoho into the treasure chest it goes!

strick