Expert: Melvin Mills - 12/5/2011

Question
QUESTION: I have a pocket watch that was passed down and do not know how to find out its age or what type of watch or metal used. Would you be able to help? Below are some of the markings from the watch:
A. Aman & Co. Dayton, O. ( 2 lines on watch face)
6359599 (inside case, front and back and inside cover to mech.)
N-797 (inside case, back)
DUEBER warranted 20 years (3 lines on inside cover to mech.)
ELGIN NAT'L WATCH CO. (on mechanism housing)
USA (on mechanism housing)
12603463 (on mechanism housing)
Safety Pinion (on mechanism housing)
some sort of gauge from F to S (on mechanism housing)

Thank you very much.

ANSWER: A. Aman & Co. Dayton, O.-  this is a private label watch. That is when a watch manufacturer will put the name of a jeweler or store on the watch face. Tiffany & Co. does this even today.

DUEBER warranted 20 years -Dueber is the name of the company that made the watch case. Warranted 20 years means that this watch is gold filled and the gold was guaranteed not to wear through to the base metal for 20 years.

ELGIN NAT'L WATCH CO-this is the name of the company that made the watch. They had a long and distinguished history in America.

12603463-according to this serial number, this watch was made in 1906.
They gave her the F and S but just the speed of the watch. Moving the needle closer to the F makes the watch run faster and closer to the S makes the watch run slower.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I know this is most likely a dumb question, but is it a bad idea to clean the watch myself? Even if it isn't valuable, I don't want to ruin it. There is some "muck" in the detail.  Thanks again!

Kristyna

Answer
Kristyna


Are you talking about on the case or on the dial?

Whatever you do, do not clean the dial.

The case, on the other hand, is a different story. You can use a polishing cloth without worry. If you want to give the case a really good cleaning, you need to take the movement out first.

Kind regards,

Melvin