I collect fountain pens and pocket watches, does anyone else on DU?

[CoopersDad]

I am crazy for mechanical clocks and have six pocket watches, including three "railroad" watches.

And I've collected fountain pens since age 11 and attend pen shows and shop on eBay regularly.

Does anyone else on Du have an interest in pens or pocket watches, or mechanical clocks generally?

[mdmc]

1. Some drug addicts broke into my grammies house and robbed her

took all of my grandpa's coins and rings. All I have left are a couple of old pocket watches.

[mdmc]

2. The watches are about 100 years old now

[CoopersDad]

5. Sad about the thefts, but glad you have some watches.

You might be interested in looking up their age and history if you're able to remove the back to find the serial numbers.
You might already know about this site for looking them up, enter the manufacturer then the serial number.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/

I know of a very reasonable watch cleaner/repair person if you're interested in cleaning and adjustment.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My boss at a law firm collected railroad station clocks.

[marble falls]

4. I borrow people's pens and watches. Have you the time?

[CoopersDad]

6. I'm mesmerized by clockworks, especially escapements.

My pocket watches all have display backs to let me watch them run.

I wind two of them daily, the ones in my OP, and keep several pens filled with ink.

Feel free to borrow a pen!

[Mike 03]

7. Are the prices about in line with your experience as a collector?

I ask because although I don't collect pens or watches, I do collect mostly books or other odds and ends. I also look at the prices of other objects on eBay and what is blowing my mind is how the prices on collectibles seems to have dropped significantly from when I was a more active collector of first editions and signed first editions.

Maybe I'm wrong and I just happened to look at things that are not in high demand anymore. But I'm insanely curious to know if anyone else has noticed this with the items they happen to collect.

And if it's true, Why? Are people re-evaluating the worth of things in a world that is so troubled? Or is that prices have come down to meet the majority of people who simply don't have much disposable income on hand?

Actually, I DO Have a pocket watch that my father gave me. His grandfather had owned it. It's small and (allegedly) gold. It's somewhere in a box in my garage. I have no clue as to its value. When I saw your post I phoned my mother to see if she could remember a little bit more about it, but she doesn't know much more than I do. The thing that struck me about the watch was how small it is. I recall it as being rather heavy, with a flip up cover.

[CoopersDad]

8. Thanks for responding, I can help you with your watch.

Regarding prices, fountain pens made a comeback some time ago and prices can be very high for a quality pen with 14k or 18K nib.
However, very reliable pens can be had for under $30, which I'm sure seems like a lot for a pen, but I love writing with them and collecting them. I'm fascinated by the mechanisms and by the different materials and finishes.

For watches, I think value hasn't changed that much over the ten years I've been collecting and I was surprised to find a 100 year old Elgin 17 jewel watch in a display case for $150 on eBay.

The movements are amazing to me-- I tinker and build prototypes and cannot imagine how they made clocks and watches 100, 200 years ago and earlier. The jewels are bearings, selected because of their hardness, rubies and other precious gems are used.

If you can find your watch I can tell you how to open it and find the serial number-- I can use that to find the year your watch was made and learn more about the case. Gold cases are typically gold-filled rather than pure gold but the inside of the case should include that detail.

Please let me know if you can find the watch and if you want to trace it's history and details!