Monday, February 13, 2017


This is a 1908, Dueber Watch Co., "Skeletonized" Movement. 15J, ON3P-U.
A 15 Jewel, Un-Adjusted, 18 size, Open Face [Model 3], Pendulum Set, Movement, with Cut-Outs so the 'Works' are visible. 


Some of these "Skeletonized" Movements were done by Factory Workers at home or by Jeweler / Watchmakers to demonstrate how a watch works. I've seen another with a "Skeletonized" Dial as well [I have a metal Hampden Dial I might 'cut-out' but for now I settle for replacing the Hands [oh yea, the movement is running].   

Thursday, February 9, 2017


This is a 18 size, Dueber Watch Case Co., "Dueber Special", Engine Turned, 14K, Gold Filled, Hunter Case. 
Front has a nice Floral Engraved, Shield. [pic's shot in low light to cut down on the glare but Case probably needs a good polish].


Back is completely Engine Turned. The 'Fob' has 3 Chain Links, intertwined, which would be for a member of the "Odd Fellows" Lodge. 

Inside Case Back is the "Dueber Special" Shield & Anchor T.M. which means it's 14K Gold Filled, Warranted to Wear for 25 Years.  

Inside Dust Cover is stamped "Warranted <Dueber> 25 Years. Update; After polishing Case it went from looking like a Dull Rose Gold to a Bright Yellow Gold.

Sunday, January 29, 2017


Here's a 18 size, NOS, Dueber-Hampden, Salesman's Case. 
This Case is a Snap Together Model, without Bow. 

Marked on both Bezels; Dueber-Hampden. Most Salesman's Cases were without Bow as they were not intended to be 'Carried' but to show off both Dial & Movement to prospective buyers [mostly Jewelers]. 

This Case is Silverinne [The Dueber Watch Case Co.'s name for their nickel amalgam].  

These Salesman's Cases came in 4 Styles; Snap-On, without Bow. 2-Hinge, with & without Bow & 2-Hinge, Gold Plated, with Bow. I assume that the Models with Bows were so the Salesman could 'carry' it in his waistcoat pocket for "targets of opportunity" they might encounter on the Street, Saloon, Boarding House, etc., if anyone seemed to show an interest. Though all the Salesman's Cases are rare it's Needless to say the Models with Bows are much rarer than the ones with out Bows. 

Monday, January 23, 2017


Here we have a "Dueber", 16 Jewel, 18 size, Hunter, Serial No. 701740, in a "Metropolitan Watch Case Co., New York.", 20yr. Gold Filled Case. 
This Model was made in 11/15/16 & 17 Jewels. All were Un-Adjusted [non-railway approved] Movements.


Movement signed "Dueber", Canton, Ohio. has Screw-Set Jewel Settings & a Teske Regulator. Most of the examples I've seen of this model are the 15 Jewel. 

The Gold Filled Hunter Case is in excellent condition. Heavily Hand Engraved with little wear & no brass showing.

Marked Warranted 20 years, w/ a Horse-Shoe & 4 Leaf Clover Trade Mark [I located this TM in Ehrhardt's book; "Trade Marks, Watch Cases, Pocket Watches, Etc."]. The short lived "Metropolitan Watch Case Co., New York." was only in business c.1890's, so it fit's the movements era.  

The "Red Dueber" "Circle" Dial is in very good shape, w/ only a small edge chip @ 3:00 [mostly hidden by the bezel]. I've seen examples w/ Open Morning Glory Hands but this does not mean that the Standard Hands, like these, weren't usually fitted by the Factory [the 1896 Catalog lists 'either Moon or Spade Hands']. 

Wednesday, January 11, 2017


An interesting Watch Chain in a style from the late 1800's. Called a "Memento Mori", after the Roman admonition "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi" [all glory is fleeting unto death] many were carried by Medical Practitioners or as a religious warning about preparing for eternity. 
This one is not as 'Macabre' as some of the others [Human Skulls, Human Skeletons, Brains, etc.].  


The 'Bar' is in the shape of a Key. Possible meaning; Key to the Kingdom of Heaven or the Doors of Eternity.

This  one showing it's size relative to an 18 size pocket watch. The Anatomically Correct Skull is that of a Hummingbird which happens to be the name of the Bar here in Macon, GA, that I'm known to frequent.  

Sunday, January 8, 2017


Here's Number 3 of the Dueber-Hampden Advertising Novelties.  The Stickpin.
So far I've only seen 3 kinds of these Advertising Novelties.


I already have the Match Safe & the Watch Chain Fob. 

Pin attachment for keeping your Tie/Ascot in place.

This is just like The Dueber-Hampden Watch Fob, except for the Pin-Back.

Thursday, December 22, 2016


A revision, of sorts, as this Watch is now a part of My Collection; "The" Hampden 18 size, Electric Railway, Serial No.2640034, 17Jewel, Adjusted, Model 3, Manufactured in 1909.
The Third time this Unique Hampden has been up for Auction.


It's a Pendulum Set [ON3P-A] Dueber Grand, Movement, with a different Barrel Bridge Plate, marked "Electric Railway" rather than "Dueber Grand". It seems to be the only documented example of this model.

It has a Single-Sunk, Arabic,Enamel Dial & Med. Spade, Blued Hands. It has been variously sold as a 1908 & 1910 Hampden but pocketwatchdatabase.com lists it with a manufacturing date of 1909. Possibly a Prototype for the Streetcar & Inter-Urban Market that never went into production. Definitely not intended for use by the Major Railroads as only Lever-Set Movements were acceptable on the Main-Lines. Hampden had a "Electric Railway Standard" 16 Size, Lever-Set, Watch in production in both Open-Face & Hunter configurations but few were made, which leads me to believe that they never became popular with Motormen & Street Car Conductors.