n2ize
06-10-2014, 01:01 PM
Over the past year or so I began collecting vintage and antique pocket watches. I have amassed a fair collection of watches. But it goes beyond just collecting. Since most of them still run I have been putting them to practical use and have been using them as timepieces. There is something cool about carrying 60+ year old watch complete with chain and fob It's a bit of practical and functional old tech in today's high tech world. The watches I have collected (and carry and use) range from low end watches (they were called "dollar watches" back in their day) because they were low priced, contained no jewels and often when they broke down many people just bought new ones rather than have them repaired. They were sold under brand names such as Westclox (La'Salle Illonois), Ingersoll (i.e. the famous "Ingersoll Buck"), and Ingraham (made in Bristol Connecticut). I also have some high end watches made by Waltham (who has one of the biggest watch factories in the country located in Massachusettes... the building still stands). Hamilton and a couple of high end watches made in England. I also have an old key wind type watch that dates back to the 1850's and still runs, although it is very rare that I carry or use it.
Surprisingly, of all the pocket watches in my collection the ones that seem to keep the most accurate and precise time are my Westclox "Pocket Bens". They seem to neither gain nor lose time, even when run over a 24 to 48 hour continuous period. Not bad for a watch that was made in the 1940's and was designed to be inexpensive and contains no jewels. In fact it's rather impressive.
In any event I found this interesting silent film tour of the Westclox watch factory in Peru/Lasalle Illinois. It was made in the 1920's or perhaps even earlier. It highlights the production of the manufacture of Westclox watches and clocks during the days when the factory was state of the art and in it's prime. Sadly, the factory was eventually closed and abandoned and a part of the factory was destroyed by arsonists. However I think the main part of the factory still stands, including the grand entrance. Perhaps some of you who live out that way may have some info about the current condition and status of what remains of this historic factory. Perhaps some of you knew people who once worked there.
In any event here is the film...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NfJGDZc0sE
Surprisingly, of all the pocket watches in my collection the ones that seem to keep the most accurate and precise time are my Westclox "Pocket Bens". They seem to neither gain nor lose time, even when run over a 24 to 48 hour continuous period. Not bad for a watch that was made in the 1940's and was designed to be inexpensive and contains no jewels. In fact it's rather impressive.
In any event I found this interesting silent film tour of the Westclox watch factory in Peru/Lasalle Illinois. It was made in the 1920's or perhaps even earlier. It highlights the production of the manufacture of Westclox watches and clocks during the days when the factory was state of the art and in it's prime. Sadly, the factory was eventually closed and abandoned and a part of the factory was destroyed by arsonists. However I think the main part of the factory still stands, including the grand entrance. Perhaps some of you who live out that way may have some info about the current condition and status of what remains of this historic factory. Perhaps some of you knew people who once worked there.
In any event here is the film...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NfJGDZc0sE