Railroad Collectibles and Memorabilia

Railroad Memorabilia

Railroad Collectibles and Memorabilia

Antique Railroad Grade Pocket Watches

Railroad grade pocket watches were built to conform to the General Railroad Timepiece Standards specifications, a set of technical requirements designed to ensure that train engineers and other rail company employees would carry timepieces that were accurate, reliable, and durable. The mass production of these precision pocket watches, many with interchangeable parts, movements, cases, and dials, was an amazing feat of industrial engineering at the time, and has left us with a legacy of wonderful pocket watches that keep very good time today. Here collectors can find all the great old American pocketwatches from Waltham, Elgin, Howard, Hamilton, Illinois and others, with a new collection of historic timepieces appearing daily.
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ULTRA RARE PLATINUM-1.00ct DIAMOND WALTHAM POCKET WATCH ULTRA RARE PLATINUM-1.00ct DIAMOND WALTHAM POCKET WATCH Free Shipping

ULTRA RARE PLATINUM-1.00ct DIAMOND WALTHAM POCKET WATCH

Buy it now: $2,499.95 Free $2,499.95
22 mins 47 secs
Vintage Hamilton Pocket Watch Stainless Chain Knife Vintage Hamilton Pocket Watch Stainless Chain Knife

Vintage Hamilton Pocket Watch Stainless Chain Knife

Buy it now: $375.00 Based on Zip $375.00
Plus shipping
43 mins 8 secs
ANTIQUE HAMILTON POCKET WATCH,16 SIZE 17J - 974 MOV'T ANTIQUE HAMILTON POCKET WATCH,16 SIZE 17J - 974 MOV'T

ANTIQUE HAMILTON POCKET WATCH,16 SIZE 17J - 974 MOV'T

Current bid: $88.00
$2.00 $90.00
50 mins 32 secs
Antique Art Deco Elgin Watch Antique Art Deco Elgin Watch Free Shipping

Antique Art Deco Elgin Watch

Buy it now: $49.90 Free $49.90
52 mins 42 secs
Antique Pocket Watch SETH THOMAS RR, Athabasca, Canada Antique Pocket Watch SETH THOMAS RR, Athabasca, Canada

Antique Pocket Watch SETH THOMAS RR, Athabasca, Canada

Current bid: $147.50
Based on Zip $147.50
Plus shipping
1 hr
5 mins 6 secs
"Am Watch Co." Waltham Gold Pocket Watch, Hunter Case? "Am Watch Co." Waltham Gold Pocket Watch, Hunter Case?

"Am Watch Co." Waltham Gold Pocket Watch, Hunter Case?

Current bid: $67.00
$4.95 $71.95
1 hr
15 mins 39 secs
1912 Illinois Pocket Watch 1912 Illinois Pocket Watch Free Shipping

1912 Illinois Pocket Watch

Current bid: $137.50
Free $137.50
1 hr
43 mins 52 secs
ANTIQUE HAMILTON WATCH MAINSPRING TIN ADVERTISING PIECE ANTIQUE HAMILTON WATCH MAINSPRING TIN ADVERTISING PIECE

ANTIQUE HAMILTON WATCH MAINSPRING TIN ADVERTISING PIECE

Current bid: $25.00
$7.00 $32.00
2 hrs
29 mins 36 secs
ILLINOIS  BUNN SPECIAL  16 SIZE RAILROAD POCKET WATCH ILLINOIS  BUNN SPECIAL  16 SIZE RAILROAD POCKET WATCH

ILLINOIS BUNN SPECIAL 16 SIZE RAILROAD POCKET WATCH

Current bid: $125.00
$10.00 $135.00
2 hrs
29 mins 42 secs
HOWARD KEYSTONE POCKET WATCH CIRCA 1917 HOWARD KEYSTONE POCKET WATCH CIRCA 1917

HOWARD KEYSTONE POCKET WATCH CIRCA 1917

Current bid: $50.00
$10.00 $60.00
2 hrs
30 mins
Old Vintage E. Howard Series III Watch Movement!  Old Vintage E. Howard Series III Watch Movement! 

Old Vintage E. Howard Series III Watch Movement! 

Current bid: $475.00
Based on Zip $475.00
Plus shipping
7 hrs
16 mins 5 secs
Waltham 18 Size Gold Fille Open Face Nice No Reserve NR Waltham 18 Size Gold Fille Open Face Nice No Reserve NR

Waltham 18 Size Gold Fille Open Face Nice No Reserve NR

Current bid: $89.88
$8.00 $97.88
7 hrs
55 mins 32 secs
Antique 16S Waltham Pocket Watch Box, No Reserve Antique 16S Waltham Pocket Watch Box, No Reserve

Antique 16S Waltham Pocket Watch Box, No Reserve

Current bid: $51.00
$6.00 $57.00
8 hrs
5 mins 28 secs
Elgin Natl Watch Co.Heavy Pocket Watch As Is/Parts Elgin Natl Watch Co.Heavy Pocket Watch As Is/Parts

Elgin Natl Watch Co.Heavy Pocket Watch As Is/Parts

Current bid: $22.49
Based on Zip $22.49
Plus shipping
8 hrs
14 mins 2 secs
WALTHAM VINTAGE POCKET WATCH WALTHAM VINTAGE POCKET WATCH

WALTHAM VINTAGE POCKET WATCH

Current bid: $40.00
$3.39 $43.39
8 hrs
29 mins 57 secs
ELGIN 18S KWKS 11-15J POCKET WATCH                     ELGIN 18S KWKS 11-15J POCKET WATCH                     Free Shipping

ELGIN 18S KWKS 11-15J POCKET WATCH

ANTIQUE JUST SERVICED CIRCA 1883 MVT. RUNS NICE MUSTSEE
Current bid: $99.99
Free $99.99
9 hrs
29 mins 11 secs
FINE ENGRAVED LADIES OS GOLD  WALTHAM POCKET WATCH 1890 FINE ENGRAVED LADIES OS GOLD  WALTHAM POCKET WATCH 1890

FINE ENGRAVED LADIES OS GOLD WALTHAM POCKET WATCH 1890

Buy it now: $385.00 Based on Zip $385.00
Plus shipping
9 hrs
29 mins 53 secs
VINTAGE ELGIN 15J G.F. HUNTER  POCKET WATCH W/ DIAMOND VINTAGE ELGIN 15J G.F. HUNTER  POCKET WATCH W/ DIAMOND

VINTAGE ELGIN 15J G.F. HUNTER POCKET WATCH W/ DIAMOND

Current bid: $38.00
$8.95 $46.95
9 hrs
49 mins 2 secs
ANTIQUE ELGIN POCKET WATCH -STERLING SILVER CASE ANTIQUE ELGIN POCKET WATCH -STERLING SILVER CASE

ANTIQUE ELGIN POCKET WATCH -STERLING SILVER CASE

Current bid: $39.99
$6.00 $45.99
10 hrs
1 min 17 secs
1896 BALL COMMERCIAL STANDARD 16S 17J  OF POCKET WATCH 1896 BALL COMMERCIAL STANDARD 16S 17J  OF POCKET WATCH

1896 BALL COMMERCIAL STANDARD 16S 17J OF POCKET WATCH

PAT NOV 17 1896 LOW SERIAL # 242349 STAR 10K GF CASE
Current bid: $110.50
$6.00 $116.50
10 hrs
3 mins 32 secs
Illinois Autocrat Open Gold Pocket Watch 1919 17 Jewels Illinois Autocrat Open Gold Pocket Watch 1919 17 Jewels

Illinois Autocrat Open Gold Pocket Watch 1919 17 Jewels

Buy it now: $149.00 Based on Zip $149.00
Plus shipping
10 hrs
6 mins 28 secs
VINTAGE CENTURY / SETH THOMAS 18 SIZE POCKET WATCH VINTAGE CENTURY / SETH THOMAS 18 SIZE POCKET WATCH

VINTAGE CENTURY / SETH THOMAS 18 SIZE POCKET WATCH

Current bid: $61.00
$8.95 $69.95
10 hrs
22 mins 55 secs
 ILLinois pocket watch  ILLinois pocket watch

ILLinois pocket watch

  • Details »
  • Buy It Now for $75.00 »
  • Seller: andrei5773 
  • Feedback: 202 / 98.8%
  • Shipping Type: Flat Rate
  • Shipping Cost: $8.00
  • Item Location: Woodside, NY, USA ZIP 11377
Buy it now: $75.00 $8.00 $83.00
10 hrs
23 mins 36 secs
6/0 Size Waltham Ladies 15 Jewel Saphire Grade Watch 6/0 Size Waltham Ladies 15 Jewel Saphire Grade Watch

6/0 Size Waltham Ladies 15 Jewel Saphire Grade Watch

Current bid: $11.61
$6.00 $17.61
10 hrs
46 mins 39 secs
21 Jewel Hamilton Pocket Watch Mod 940 18 size NR  $.99 21 Jewel Hamilton Pocket Watch Mod 940 18 size NR  $.99

21 Jewel Hamilton Pocket Watch Mod 940 18 size NR $.99

Current bid: $142.55
$9.95 $152.50
10 hrs
48 mins 15 secs
Illinois size 16 Pocket Watch with chain, movement 706 Illinois size 16 Pocket Watch with chain, movement 706

Illinois size 16 Pocket Watch with chain, movement 706

Current bid: $74.00
$4.95 $78.95
10 hrs
50 mins 4 secs
Some sources of information on the history of railroad grade pocket watches and other topics of interest to watch and clock collectors and horology enthusiasts.

The place to start is Horology - The Index, the website of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, or NAWCC. There you can find horological organizations, information on horological science and the development of timekeeping devices, and useful tips on antique pocket watch repair and restoration as well as buying, selling, appraisal and collecting antique watches and clocks. They also have a very nice virtual watch and clock museum tour with all kinds of interesting horological information and pictures.

To get a quick overview of the development of portable timepieces, from clock-watches of the 16th century to the railroad grade pocket watches of the late 19th century, see wiki's watch page.

To find definitions of words used for the various parts of watch movements and other technical terms used in horology, see Barry Goldberg's watch information page.

If you would like to understand the intricacies of how things like balance wheels and lever escapements work, check out The Horologium.

Some interesting perspectives from noted collectors of antique pocket watches:

Tom McIntyre talks about collecting American Watch Co. products of the Waltham Watch Company, including lots of historical details about watch companies, watch movements, and informed antique "railroad" watch collecting.

Vintage watch and clock expert Jonathan Snellenburg talks about the societal forces driving watch and clock technology and the historic cultural changes that resulted from better timepieces, as well as technical details of the progression from the verge escapement through pocket watches to wrist watches.

Horologist Barry S. Goldberg gives advice on collecting antique American made pocket watches, including great tips for beginners on things like gold-filled and silveride cases, two tone watch movements, and how the original authenticity of railroad grade pocketwatches can be compromised.

The Ohio jeweler and watchmaker Webb Ball led the commission that established the General Railroad Timepiece Standards, standardizing railroad chronometer specifications.
 
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