my first pocket watch and a merc

[rodarian]

Got my first ever intact pocket watch but i can't tell anything about it except that it is indeed a pocket watch. It wont open and im afraid to force it. Can anybody give me an idea as to the age of this and how to clean it better so i can maybe get it open. It looks like copper or brass to me and some fancy engravings on it. Got a cool knife, a merc and something that resembles a heart. A lot of junk that i spared you the pic of...lol.


I GOT IT OPEN!

 

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[CoinandRelicMan]

If it was mine, I would soak it in cooking oil, still the process of get it open could take months! I had one that was larger and had little weight for its size, took at least 3 to 4 months to get it open!

 

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[rodarian]

So just everyday vegetable oil and let it soak for a couple months? Will that take away the built up corrosion or just loosen things up enough to possibly get it open? I don't think i will ever know the age or the maker until i get inside this. Thanks for all the advice.

Rod

 

[rodarian]

Or would olive oil be better? Sorry for the back to back posts.

 

[coinman123]

Nice watch, it looks turn of the century.

 

[rodarian]

Well, after making a few calls and taking it to a watch guy,who by the way, told me it was probably quartz and has a battery inside, wouldn't or couldn't open it. I took it upon myself to get the trusty swiss army knife out and proceeded to gently pry it open. Here is the end product. I was able to get the serial number of both the watch and case. The case was made by the c.w.c. co. star and crescent moon trade mark. Couldn't find that online but did find the actual watch. Elgin Pocket Watch Information: Serial Number 8090461 (Grade 187)

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Glad your watch guy was wrong, it has works, and no battery.

An inch and a half...that is rather small for an average.

Cool find, like one other poster I have found many pieces, but never a complete one.

Now that you know it brand, and ser. # you'll have no trouble dating it.

Good find, let us know after you look the serial # up.

Coulkd be wrong here, but I think regular #s are less common than roman numerals ?

 

[rodarian]

i put the link to this watch exact specs. Did it not work?

 

[rodarian]

Lemme try this again. Here is the link: Elgin Pocket Watch Information: Serial Number 8090461 (Grade 187)

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I'm sorry the link does work, I didn't notice / click on it, but now that I have not seeing a date ?
Did you get that info ?

 

[rodarian]

It's the fifth spec down and if you look at the top, there are tabs to click on that give a little more info but that model was made from 1897-1900. Plus, it tells how many were made during each year in the "grade 187 details"

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice digs.

 

[Lakemonster]

Somewhere in the back of that case along with the maker should be what it is made of. In your case you want to look for the words Sterling, Coin, Alaska Silver or German silver. That was a very nice ladies watch for the time. For giggles look around and see if you can find the word "Adjusted". Those were even better time keeping movements..... and were much pricier.