Expert: Melvin Mills - 9/16/2008

Question
I was given a pocket watch from an old lady and her husband that I did some
work in her home and charged her very little over cost.  They did not have a
lot of money, and I liked them, their family did nothing to  help them put,
they had 6 kids.  Anyway after her husband died a few years ago, he was born
in 1905, he had told his wife to give me two things, 1 was a 1905 solid gold 5
dollar piece and the other was a gold Elgin pocket watch.  It was yellowed and
had small crack in the face.  It was left to him by his father who was shot by
his wife for extra marital affairs and was broken during the struggle.  He held
on to it for all these years after removing it from his father before the police
came. That was in 1920. I put it away not thinking anything about it.  Today I
ran across it and opened the hinged case and saw that it was a wadsworth 14
karat case #1012720 and the movement has a number 22,071,290 which
after some research showed it was made in 1919, correct for the timing that I
was told. There is a little circle second spot on the bottom.  Now for the
questions it will wind but quickly unwinds and there are two pins coming out
from both sides of the stem that are loose. Is there something that goes to
this, there is a part on the bottom of the watch that the clip goes on to so it
does not look like a chain would go there.  There seems to be light rust
around one screw where the Elgin label is.  Is this watch worth getting fixed
and I know it is hard to tell how much but what would be to much to pay, it
hasn't run in 88 years.  Also could you tell me what the problem might be/  
Thank YOu Chris

Answer
Chris,

That is an interesting story.  When you get a chance, make sure you write down the story and keep it with the watch.  When you pass it on, it will increase the sentimental value, if nothing else.  People will pay more if they can get the history of the watch too.

If you can send me some pictures, I might be able to tell whether you would want to get it fixed.  Ultimately, that will be up to you.  So many times I have fixed watches that didn't make sense financially, but it was worth it to the owner.

Just because it is 14k gold makes it valuable.  It probably has a good movement because it was rare to buy a nice case but not a nice movement.  Most likely, it would make sense to get it fixed, even without sentimental value.  

send me some photos and I will tell you what I can.

Kind regards,

Melvin

email-
millswatchrepair@gmail.com