| A Brief Look Back | | | | pocket watch is set by opening the crystal and bezel |
| In the 1800's America's commerce depended on our | | | | and pulling out the setting-lever. Once the lever is pulled |
| railroad system, and railroad safety depended on | | | | out, the crown can be turned to set the time. The lever |
| accurate timekeeping. In 1887 the American Railway | | | | is then pushed back in and the crystal and bezel |
| Association defined the basic standard for watches. It | | | | closed over the dial again. This method of time-setting |
| took a disaster however, to create widespread | | | | was preferred by railroad employees, because it was |
| acceptance of stringent accuracy and durability | | | | impossible, once the lever was pushed in and the |
| standards for the timepieces used to regulate the daily | | | | bezel-closed, to accidentally set the watch to the |
| operation of American railroads. The biggest impetus | | | | wrong time. |
| was a horrific train wreck on the Lake Shore and | | | | Adjusted Movements |
| Michigan Southern Railway in Kipton, Ohio an April 19, | | | | The collector or watch craftsman will see movements |
| 1891. One of the engineers watches had stopped for 4 | | | | marked as "adjusted" or "adjusted to n positions". This |
| minutes! By 1893 stringent standards for railroad | | | | marking shows that the watch has been tuned to |
| watches had been adopted by almost all railroads. | | | | keep time in up to eight different positions. This is an |
| These standards read, in part: | | | | expensive and time consuming process, and was only |
| "...open faced, size 16 or 18, have a minimum of 17 | | | | done on the highest quality movements. Railroad |
| jewels, adjusted to at least five positions, keep time | | | | movements were required to be adjusted to five |
| accurately to within 30 seconds a week, adjusted to | | | | positions or more. |
| temps of 34 °F (1 °C) to 100 °F (38 | | | | Jewelled movements |
| °C), have a double roller, steel escape wheel, lever | | | | The better vintage pocket watches are judged by |
| set, regulator, winding stem at 12 o'clock, and have bold | | | | how many jewels are in the movement. Jewels, |
| black Arabic numerals on a white dial, with black | | | | together with proper lubrication-oils minimize damage |
| hands." | | | | due to metal to metal contact in a movement. Seven |
| The standards were raised from time to time as | | | | jewels is considered the lowest functional level of |
| watchmaking technology improved and the need | | | | jewelling that a movement can receive. These jewels |
| arose. Once Diesel-Electric locomotives were | | | | are found in the watch's escapement. Otherwise there |
| introduced for instance, watches could not be affected | | | | can be 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 jewels. 17 and 21 |
| by electromagnetic fields. | | | | jewels are the standard in modern, mechanical pocket |
| Types of Pocket Watches | | | | watches. A quality pocket watch will usually have the |
| The two categories are Hunter-case and open-face. | | | | movement's jewel-count engraved on the top-plate of |
| Open-face watches have nothing to cover the crystal | | | | the movement. |
| and are fast and easy to read. They have the winding | | | | Manufacturers |
| stem at 12 o'clock and the seconds sub-dial at 6 | | | | One of the foremost requirements for railroad |
| o'clock. Hunter-case watches have a hinged protective | | | | watches was... American origin! Some the main U.S. |
| cover to protect the watch crystal from scratches | | | | makers were Ball, Waltham, Hamilton, Elgin, and Illinois. |
| and damage and can have the winding stem and hinge | | | | There were others, so stay on the lookout for those |
| in various places. All railroad chronometers had to be | | | | rarer makes. Sometimes they can be a good buy on |
| of the open-face kind. | | | | the collector market. Of course european makers |
| Watch Movements | | | | such as Omega, Rolex etc. produced some very |
| Vintage pocket Watches have four main types of | | | | collectable pocket watches as well. But that is another |
| movements. Railroad Chronometers were all required | | | | subject. |
| to be of the Crown-wind, lever-set type. This kind of | | | | |