This Pocket Watch is Still Shockingly Accurate Even After 111 Years

[@avitaltagar]

That is without any shadow of doubt the most beautiful movement I have ever seen. Just wow

[@_Natalie_Jackson]

Gosh, what a gorgeous movement. That's the sort of movement that makes me want a transparent case back so it can be seen and appreciated without having to open the watch.

[@DannyOhana]

Right!? I have watches with NH35s in them that have display case backs that the manufacturer could have not bothered with, yet this gorgeous piece of art is hidden.

[@THOMMGB]

Back in the day, a pocket watch salesman had a clear crystal on the back to show off the movement. Those cases are sometimes offered for sale on eBay. They are pricey, but so cool. Right now, gold is a bit over $2700 an ounce so gold plated cases are costing more now.

[@ms.bunniesarecute2287]

I so wish they still finished movements this way 😢. Stunning, omg! Fabulous work, as usual 😊

[@fw1421]

They do,on Rolex and Patek Philippe watches.

[@GalileoAV]

There is a jaw shaped hole in my floor right now, one of my favorites you've ever had on the channel. What a work of art

[@davidhunternyc1]

It's shocking what you did! Congrats. A 111 year old watch that keeps "perfect" time. You would think that every mechanical watch maker would create movements as accurately as this watch but none exist. It's also my own uneducated opinion that this watch movement is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. What time only wrist watch movement is the most accurate, most impressive you've ever seen? I think I remember you saying in the past it was a 60s Longines movement but I could be wrong.

[@RichMitch]

That's no wristwatch he's reviving!

[@Logan-nq9wq]

W first comment

[@stuartburden3968]

Well no, it's a pocket watch with a display dome. A very nice piece indeed.

[@tomahoks]

Get over it

[@stuartburden3968]

​@@tomahoksexactly

[@rip93ford]

What is this, a wristwatch for giants?!

[@THOMMGB]

Marshall, Thank you so much for this video. I have several Elgin railroad pocket watches. I plan to follow along and do exactly what you're doing when I get brave enough to service them. Some of them have a broken balance staff so I'll follow along one of your balance staff repair videos when the time comes. - Thomas

[@denkitney8865]

Great to see you go the extra mile, and take us along with you.....great vid' 👌👍👌👍

[@jrother]

That is probably the most beautiful time piece you have featured on the channel, Marshall.

[@FlareHeart]

Beautiful! This movement definitely deserved that extra care to get it running "perfectly." I love these old mechanical watches, they are such marvels of ingenuity.

[@theonlypanapanda]

Hey Marshal. I absolutely love how every time i watch your videos, it feels that you have a conversation with us. Not only do we get to see how the watches work, but we also learn about their history.

[@elund408]

Before WW2 the USA made some of the best watches in the world. and the railroad watches are the best of the best of that era.

[@SanderEvers]

I love watching these restorations. Very cool to see the technology of years ago that really hasn't changed much in so long.

[@devon2337]

Almost threw my remote through the TV screen when you balanced the movement on the 2nd wheel to pull the canon pinion. You made a deal with Murphy on that one.

[@Hopalong..75]

I worked on the RR in the 60s,70s,and 80s. When I started a lot of people carried pocket watches, Elgin, Illinois, BW Raymon, and the top of the line was the Hamilton 992B in 18 K gold with a Simmons Gold watch chain. By the mid 70s almost all of us were wearing Bulova Accutrons with the RR face. We also had to take our pocket watches to a RR authorized jeweler to have them tested and certified for accuracy every year. RR watches can't use a Hunters case so the crystals were broken often in use.

[@rolandstravels]

That’s a beautiful watch.

[@Anonemouse001]

Woooo! Favorite time of the day is Marshall time!

[@sassypuppy2937]

You are absolutely right Marshall, simply gorgeous movement!! 😮

[@stuartgrier5605]

I am always amazed at the mechanical engineering in these watches. The engineers who created the individual components which are used in these watches were craftsmen and engineers. Utterly beautiful watch.

[@bullnose01]

Gorgeous movement that screams to be seen and appreciated. The threading on the caseback and the front bezel are identical, which makes turning the case into an exhibition case very easy. A matching front bezel and crystal are not hard to find on eBay. I have a 1952 Hamilton Railway Special with the venerable 992B movement (which runs at about -10 sec/14 days) on my desk, and I often turn the watch around on its stand just so I can admire the working movement.

[@AGPullen]

Now I want one of these. Such a gorgeous movement!

[@tymeryder7264]

What a grand watch! Love your level of detail and narration. A copy of your video should accompany the watch when gifted.

[@natemcintosh]

Fabulously produced video as always ... and a nice watch too! Loved watching

[@samnova450]

Fantastic job on the watch. Have a 1910 Elgin that belonged to my great grandfather. Plan to get it serviced some day.

[@fudgeinator]

111 year old watch running that good is amazing

[@REKLESSWOLVES1]

My Nonna always used to say `` When watching KZbin and a Pop Up Advert disturbs, interrupts and annoys the hell out of you and disrupts the video you are watching, NEVER EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THAT SPONSOR OR ADVERTISER``, I live my life by that rule. Up yours KZbin. Great Video, as always. Glen UK.

[@CDT61352]

Great work and as always an enjoyable video showing your care of the watches you repair.

[@mattcathell5627]

Love your videos. I have a Hamilton Railroad Special. I believe it was made in 1943 and carried by a gentleman that worked for the Illinois Southern railroad. It was the inspiration for my tattoo to mark the birth of my daughter.

[@singJJBplay]

This reminds me of my Grandfather's pocket watch that was passed down to me. It's a 23 jewel Waltham; he worked on the railroad in the Adirondacks here in Upstate NY.

[@thomascuddy6439]

I have that exact watch. It runs beautifully.

[@drevill7827]

I luv yer content!!!… you do a great job narrating your vids!!…. I started this hobby/skill to repair my Dads “unfixable”, “ruined” watch…. After over a year and about 70+ service/repairs on watches I picked up at garage sales and eBay, I gained enough experience and knowledge to fix it…I’m proudly wearing my Dads Croton watch from 1960 and it keeps perfect time!!! So thanx bro!! Your encouragement and shared experience in no small part helped me…. Sub for life!!!..😉👍😁… keep on trucking!!!…

[@kw8757]

Shouldn't that be "keep on ticking"? 👍

[@drevill7827]

Right on!!..🤣😂… keep on ticking!!!…👍

[@davidcarter4877]

This video should be a required watch over on r/pocketwatch, you answered sooo many questions we get there every day!

[@WatchRestorationCottage]

Ah, we love pocket watches!!! Thank you for giving pocket watches some love too. These movements are so gorgeous. Incidentally, that ring in the end is a dust ring. It helps to keep dust and debris out. Thanks for the video on this beautiful watch.

[@fw1421]

I love Marshall’s videos. This is a nice watch.

[@mikehibbett3301]

So much wonderful detail, hidden from general users, on a device that was designed for "industrial" use. Wonderful.

[@davidbales8053]

what a gorgeous watch and heirloom

[@LordPrecision]

36:53 - i think you actually can make a tool to make this job easier. You need a flat metal disc with a hole in it. Around a disk there needs to be a dial. Place it under a digital microscope. Now you can estimate more clearly how much you need to turn: the error is given, just adjust it to that degree (at least if i understand it correctly)

[@evanhorton2520]

An acquaintance of mine is an expert on the Waltham Watch Company, and has most of the machinery they used. You're right...they are large machines, and made of steel and/or iron. You'd need a pallet jack or forklift to move them. They're up here in Maine, and I've seen most of them...amazing!

[@Daindrais]

That is such a classic pocket watch! And what an excellent video. I haven't seen those wood-tipped tweezers before. They're cool!

[@BrianOlsonPhotogent]

I would never want to put the back on this. It’s a fantastic looking movement!

[@mehill00]

That is just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

[@Indiskret1]

Before watching, just seeing the movement without the back: WOW! 😍

[@bigmountain7561]

The little pocket on the right hand side of your blue jeans was made for the pocket watch.

[@sd4594]

Always a good idea to ware it with a watch chain.

[@rondickson1491]

What a beautiful pocket watch! I love pocket watches. A great restoration. Best wishes from Virginia.

[@adrianwarner8686]

Superb on every level. Thank you.

[@chrisdavidson9431]

Beautiful watch Marshall - thanks for sharing👍

[@ronyoung3167]

I love old pocket watches. I have one from 1888-1889 Am Waltham Co. It has a lever to set time as well but it's a "hunter" sidewinder style. Stem at 3 o'clock position. Still runs and keeps good time

[@5ringsaudits]

Yeah, I learned so much about railroad grade when I chose my Ball wristwatch and then my Ball Pocket watch. Lots of history there.

[@Xaxon]

There's just something so classic about a beautiful old pocket watch. Everything from the look, to just the sound of them. I really need to get one and a nice chain for when I am getting dressed up for something. My Tudor kind of killed my watch budget for the year though. Maybe next year.

[@v-1nce]

giving the freshly cleaned balance wheel a little puff of air is a nice touch :) (you may have done this for a while, just noticed it in the submariner video)

[@reidlanham2011]

I have an old Elgin packetwatch that is in decent shape but I'd love to have you restore it!!

[@R8y008]

Hey Marshall I love your videos and want to make watchmaking a career...your videos have really helped

[@mako88sb]

I watched the saltwater damaged Rolex video from 2 years ago and wish I could get into this as a career. Not quite 65 yet so maybe a tad late for that.

[@R8y008]

@@mako88sb yah I'm 16 so I Wana get going with it

[@dieselsk8]

Wonderfully beautiful! Good job!

[@blackscotydog]

Nice work Marshall! .....You're a pro now.

[@underthetire]

I have an old Elgin as well, my grandfather said it was a conductors watch, though mine is silver. Hasn't been serviced in at least 75 years...

[@sparkyfromel]

I'm in love with this watch !!

[@Stuphologist]

What a beautiful machine!

[@robkoning6019]

I love elgins. Got a few myself.

[@ohger1]

My grandmother was given a small Waltham pocket watch as a pin for her wedding before 1910. It's never been serviced as far as I know and it runs well (I've tried it, don't run it). I need to get this serviced so I can give it to my grand daughter.

[@sd4594]

I think I can read on the bridge that it's a BW Raymond model, a very high quality Elgin. A minimum of 17 jewels was required when this watch was made to qualify as a railroad grade watch. Later that was up to 21 jewels. Ther are also a number of other requirements for a watch to be considered a railroad grade. Everyone on the train crew would have to have one of these and before they change crews they would have to synchronize their watches. Environments would vary from riding in the pocket of the engineer in the cab of a steam locomotive's harsh environment to the vest pocket of the conductor on passenger trains.

[@adrianmuino3412]

It must be a pleasure to work in a watch like this, it is beautiful!

[@richardcranium0]

Railroad Grade timekeeping spec was (generally) +/- 30 seconds per week, or +/- 4 seconds and change per day - thus meeting even today's Swiss Chronometer (C.O.S.C.) standard of -4 sec. to +6 seconds/day. EDIT: Of course, an American watch can never be C.O.S.C. certified, as they will only certify Swiss-made watches... Other factors (generally, they changed/evolved as time went on) that made a pocket watch "railroad grade" were 17+ jewels, movement size of 16s or 18s (which by American standards is/was 44.03mm or 45.72mm, respectively), lever set, open face case, Arabic numerals on the dial, and adjusted in 5+ positions.

[@musemguy]

RR watches in the US had to have 21 jewlels I carried a Hamilton 992b. still do over 30 years later. We also had to have them inspected once a year.

[@WatchRestorationCottage]

The Hamilton 992 line is one of my favorite.

[@cattythecat9161]

Wow.... look at that beauty.... Great Work

[@bruceprosje9243]

Recently had a 1886 Elgin pocket watch serviced. It's going to my grandson.

[@itsnevo8757]

I was watching one of your videos late last night and it got me looking online for a Breitling. Originally I was thinking about buying something that I could assemble myself, like buy the movement now, the case, dial and other parts later and then just make my own Breitling. I ended up going to a few pawn shops local to me and I ended up finding a mint Breitling A24322 Navimeter with everything including box and paperwork. So yeah, I spent lots of money buying a watch I didn’t need, but always wanted thanks to your videos lol

[@r100curtaincall]

congrats on your very good result. often a sign the watch hasn't been run in ages, so thankfully the pivots are all fully intact and not all worn out from dummies running it with old crud inside. The odd looking pallet fork is known as a poised pallet fork and it helps with the accuracy in the vertical positions. much like poising the balance wheel, it helps to give more consistant timing, but the effect is small by comparison so it is something nobody really does anymore, as it's expensive to do. The jeweled safety barrel is an amazing thing on these higher end watches. on the original top end veritas it's damaskeened as well, and is quite beautiful. The craftsmanship of these older watches is top notch and would put even a modern day rolex to shame.

[@_f355]

at 26:12, you came VERY close to messing up the regulating pins. be careful, Marshall!

[@_f355]

I'm also a bit concerned that you had to move the regulator almost all the way to the "slow" side, it shouldn't be that way. if I were to guess, the hairspring's terminal curve is probably resting on one of the regulator pins, which would also explain the high beat error.

[@_f355]

yes, zooming in at your magnificent 4k video at 41:29, it definitely looks like the hairspring indeed lies on the inner regulator pin. if I were you, I'd get that watch back and correct this.

[@glennlopez-cepero7515]

Awesome work!!

[@georgejohnson1498]

I really prefer a time only watch. All the quality and cost then go where it matters! This is just so fine for me. Best wishes from George in UK

[@bruceneal4173]

Wow!! Beautiful indeed.

[@Gustavofeanor]

Such a beautiful watch ❤

[@lesjohnson7183]

Wow what a beautiful movement!! pity it's hidden where no-one can see it or appreciate the craftsmanship that's gone into it.

[@melissastevens9929]

The irony of a watchsmith saying "at the earliest" when he meant at the latest !😊

[@robertmiller4664]

I am a collector of American pocket watches, pre 1900 is my favorite time period. What a lot of people don’t know is that the American pocket watch manufacturing from about 1865 through the 1930’s was the most sophisticated micro machining industry in the world. In the 1890’s, Swiss watchmaking was generally much more crude, and the Swiss often made copies of American models and sold them cheaply in the USA. Collectors usually refer to them as “Swiss Fakes”. They would have non functional “Jewels”, and American sounding names.

[@chrismaverick9828]

Good god, that's beautiful inside.

[@orvillefindley8117]

Great video, I really enjoyed that 👍

[@sarper9016]

I want to suggest you one thing, while thightening the screws you can turn them a tiny bit backwards to make their thread line up before you actually screw them in.

[@chrisivens3413]

He does often do that but as you have seen, not always.

[@mattsparling9843]

I do wish @Wristwatch revival would allow himself to be tagged in posts. So many questions. 😢

[@jimdavis6833]

I have an Elgin railroad watch (18S) from the 1890s that belonged to my great grandpappy that he actualy wore when he worked for AT&S in Kansas. I think he bought it new, but am not certain. My great Grammy gave it to me on my 18th birthday. It only took me a week to drop it and break the balance staff. I never told her, then in 1961 I had it fixed. About 6 months later I again dropped it. Yep, broke another balance staff. I never bothered to get it fixed after that.

[@jhonatanmartinezventura2220]

I have a Lord Elgin 23 automatic and it still keeps accurate time and has not had any service done on it.

[@DannielWilkinson-kw6dd]

The want is strong with this one. I wear a pocket watch 75% of the time, something like this would be a real treat.

[@jameslewis8431]

the way it is displayed one of those glass backs would look cool.

[@robertwilliams2623]

I have my dads B&O pocket watch and jest love how beautiful it is.

[@MrMartinsla]

It's so enjoyable I think I'll WATCH it again 😂

[@sobohobo12123]

Nice. Got my bedtime video queued up and ready to go.

[@timteecvhn]

Marshall, I just need comment on what you guessed the price roughly would be for this watch if sold ever- That's the low end mate lol. That's quite unreasonably low infact, most of the watches of this grade from Elgin in particular, go for around anywhere between 500(lowest normally) to like 1,500 dollars, or even more. That's apparently how expensive these watches are, and how much people are willing to pay and sell them for depending on which particular model we are talking about. (The price range is kinda generally speaking for mechanical railroad grade Elgin pocket watches.)

[@devon2337]

Yeah, a B.W. Raymond in this condition is +$500. If it had an up/down wind indicator, it pushes +1000 USD. Judging by the use of Mate, you are talking AUD.

[@timteecvhn]

@@devon2337 Nope, USD. I just simply said mate because yea. (I don't really speak one particular variation of english- I kinda... speak in multiple variations at random times.) Still though, yeah some watches are VERY expensive, even if they are of a type no longer used in modern day society. They just happen to cost so much because although there were so many, most have probably become lost, scrapped, or otherwise no longer around in some way to result in what remains still to be worth so much.

[@Doesnotexisttoyou]

How does it keep time in the 4 vertical positions? Usually, when you have to swing the regulator arm that far slow, the vertical positions won’t keep great time. This can be because it has a higher or lower amplitude than when it was adjusted as the factory. Adjusting these watches to keep proper time in 5 or 6 positions is super easy. Remember to use your meantime screws. They’re there for a reason.

[@InfernoPhilM]

We live in the shadow of a once-great society

[@lutomson3496]

my grandpa had one like that he worked for Northern Pacific Railroad

[@terrybradley8297]

The ring that goes around the movement is called a dust cover… for obvious reasons 👍😊

[@flecjl]

Beautiful watch!

[@bobchronister3429]

Absolute stunner

[@argat11]

I have two Elgin pocket watches with the same movement as this in the video! Both movements are identical (grade 455 from 1918) but different cases. I'm so glad you did this specific video, Marshall! One question... Where can I get a display dome with the little hook that you show at the beginning of the video? All the best!

[@mikehibbett3301]

I love the new tool!

[@colingale]

wow, was just looking for a vintage nurse style watch and this came up :-) ,

[@Runco990]

I still have my great grandfathers pocket watch. It also still runs. It's not THIS nice, but also a railroad type. Nice to know the kids don't immediately put it on ebay to see what they can get.

[@astrajim]

Oooh new video, this is a good day :D

[@NofaceCat]

Made in Elgin Illinois west of Chicago about 40 miles

[@SirGrowing]

Now, crudely weld a bracelet to it, and it becomes a wristwatch revival again!