Documented railroad watch, actually used by a railroad man on the Central
Pacific. Gold filled hunter’s case 18 size pocketwatch is lever set,
stem wind, sports a really nice porcelain dial. The Oneida GF case shows
brassing on the unpersonalized shield and on the three horse heads on the
back. Triple hinged, it’s tight and functions correctly and nicely. The
wear on the front shows that the owner, who opened and closed the watch
frequently in the performance of his duties used his thumb to push the
cover closed. Believed to have been used by a conductor, especially
since engineers used primarily an open face watch, while a conductor was
permitted a hunter’s case for the performance of duties requiring an accurate
timepiece. The dial has roman chapters, and red Arabic numbers at every
5 minute intervals. The dial is marked Hampden Watch Co. The high quality
case has fancy engravings even on the edges. There is a seconds hand
at the 6 position. Opening the rear lid and then the inner lid, one can
see it’s movement is jeweled with screw down jewel settings, and the serial
number (123804) dates this to 1879 (Hampden started in business in 1877.)
The movement is also marked Springfield Mass (later they moved to Canton
Ohio), and the name Lafayette. There is also Pat Pinion engraved on the
nickel plates. Railroad inspected at least 3 times, and dated at the time
of the inspections, with the inspector’s name on the first inspection,
his inspector’s number, the serial number of the movement, and the date:
Sep. 11, 1879, and C.P.R.R. The next time it was inspected it again has
the movement serial number, the inspector’s number, and shows the movement
was removed for servicing and replaced with a temporary Waltham movement
while servicing was being done, and then the original movement was returned
to the case (after all, the man needed a timepiece while his was being
serviced!), and dated: April 17, 1907. Then there is another inspector’s
number when it was again inspected. They’re all marked: C.P.R.R.
That ’s the last inspection of the watch, so we just have to assume it’s
owner retired after many years of faithful service to the Central Pacific!
The watch is in running condition, feels great in the hand, and one can
almost smell and hear the sights and sounds of that steam locomotive, the
passengers cars, and the daily routine of it’s owner as he performed his
duties.
Photographs and description courtesy George
Schupp collection.
