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Post by brokennock on May 24, 2020 12:55:18 GMT -7
While I understand that a pocket watch would not have been a common item for most people in colonial America, especially not on the frontier, they did exist. Unfortunately one of the differences between then and now is that we often have a legal responsibility to know what time it is, legal hunting hours cont always end at the same time you can't see your sights anymore.
So, if one were to find a sampling of mid-18th century pocket watches, what would be some common stylistic and function features. Would they have had Roman numerals or aribic numerals? Push button cover or "open face?"
I have a couple of nice pocket watches that I use when I have to wear a suit. In perusing the net for cheaper ones I notice that most of the inexpensive options, even some that otherwise look pretty fancy, have the numbers oriented the wrong way. Maybe this would have been different then too?
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002 
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Post by Keith on May 24, 2020 16:18:12 GMT -7
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Post by brokennock on May 25, 2020 0:31:49 GMT -7
Nice Keith, thank you. Looks like none of those have a cover.
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Post by artificer on May 25, 2020 9:23:50 GMT -7
About 20 years ago, I did a lot of research on original 18th century pocket watches and almost bought one, before I talked to a very skilled watchmaker who warned me the cost was almost nothing compared to what it would cost to keep it running. Townsend seems to make a pretty good reproduction along with period correct Roman Numeral "IIII" for 4. Here's a link: www.townsends.us/collections/pocket-accessories/products/nickle-plated-pocket-watchHere's a Video INCLUDING him talking about having to go to a watchmaker to have the back pried off to change the battery. www.youtube.com/watch?v=om5hXLDxta420 years ago, I decided to just keep my modern wrist watch in my Sporran and sneak it out when it was really necessary to know the time. Honestly, I would still do that. Gus |
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coot
City-dweller
Posts: 156
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Post by coot on May 25, 2020 9:46:28 GMT -7
The majority seem to have had Roman numerals with silver or gold cases, with or without a cover. Many originals offered for sale today are extremely ornate & likely reflect the top of the market - but there was no such thing as an inexpensive watch in the 18th c. Try a search for "fusee" which described a type of mechanism used in some watches and was (esp in France) used as an alternative term for "pocket watch"
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Post by spence on May 25, 2020 10:24:01 GMT -7
I have a Townsend watch which seems fairly authentic.  They are still available, but are German silver, now, instead of brass as mine bought 25 years ago. Spence |
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Keith
Hunter
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 1,002
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Post by Keith on May 25, 2020 14:55:09 GMT -7
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Post by artificer on May 26, 2020 21:44:42 GMT -7
Keith,
I really enjoyed looking at the Freemason's Watch. Thank you.
I imagine that would have been fairly rare and most likely owned by at least a Master of a Blue Lodge, if not of higher orders.
Gus
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ewoaf
City-dweller
Posts: 203
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Post by ewoaf on May 27, 2020 15:27:42 GMT -7
K Walters @ the sign of the gray horse on etsy sells the best bang for your buck.
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Post by brokennock on May 27, 2020 16:42:00 GMT -7
K Walters @ the sign of the gray horse on etsy sells the best bang for your buck. Thank you. I have a bit of a watch "thing" so this road could get dangerous. |
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