RE: Guess What I Bought Last Weekend?

[dswigle]

This is so cool, Brad! I love watches, especially pocket watches and cuckoo clocks. :) I know, right?

She is a beauty, I love the decorative work on the outside, I can see how that would appeal to anyone...but, the real beauty is inside and how that well-oiled machine is running. Now that is truly sexy. Yes?

You will have to help me... on the site where it is all cataloged, there is a place it says Railroad Grade: No What does that mean?

I can't believe I haven't seen you in forever, even if you do vote me on a trail, so I finally got myself over here to see if you were okay. Hello, Brad!!! Hope all is well with you.

Great watch!!! Thank you for sharing. They really are fascinating pieces!

Comments

[bdmillergallery]

Hi Denise! I like a good cuckoo.. clock, not a person.. lol. The way they made these and the gear operation is truly sexy. I agree. I am so fascinated by everything clockwork. I am glad you stopped by and let me know your interested too. It's not something everyone wants to collect, but I think most can appreciate the design and beauty of one of these pieces of art.

I know Railroad grade watches came about as a standard sometime in the 1800's after a few deadly train collisions. The watches needed to keep accurate time, and not all watches could. Let me see if I can find some info...

Here is something:

The general railroad timepiece standards have been adopted since 1893 and any watch used in rail service by railroaders responsible for schedules has to meet the following mechanical standards: “Be open face, size 18 or 16, have a minimum of 17 jewels, adjusted to minimum five positions, adjusted to temperatures of 34 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to +38 grade Centigrade), steel escape wheel, lever set, micrometric regulation, Lépine caliber. Some Railroads wanted Breguet hairspring, adjusted to isochronism and 30 degree Fahrenheit and minimum of 19 jewels.”

The following requirements for railroad-approved watches were set by RD Montgomery, general inspector of Santa Fé Railway system in 1930: “The regulation watch designated as of 1930 to be standard is described as follows: 16 size , American, lever-setting, 19 jewels or more, open face, winding at ‘12’, double-roller escapement, steel escape wheel, adjusted to five positions, temperature and isochronism, which will rate within a variation not exceeding 6 seconds in 72 hours tests, pendant up, dial up and dial down, and to be regulated to run within a variation not exceeding 30 seconds per week”.

There is more to the story, but this was the gist of it. Here is the site I got the into off of. A Short History Of Railroad Watches

Ahaha.. The trail vote! I don't always have time to make my way around to everyone, so that is a nice way to make sure I let them know I appreciate their work. Glad you stopped over.. I will make sure I do the same and check out what's blooming in DC! Until then.. enjoy the summer weather next week :-)

[dswigle]

I like the trail for the same reason although I use the automotor and I actually never thought about the Trail but I want to thank you very much for using it and added me to it!

[bdmillergallery]

No problem and it's my pleasure. I think the hard for coming up is changing the way voting will be handled, so trails may be the best way to go soon.. for those that do not have all the time in the world to look for great content. We shall see! lol

[dswigle]

Good point! I make the time, mostly, but, threre are days that arern't my own. You are right! We shall see. It will be interesting!