I collect Elgin pocket watches (and some of their wristwatches). I started collecting them when I was a kid and my great-grandmother gave me her great-uncle Edgar's Elgin pocket watch from the late 1860s. I have quite a few of them, maybe 2 dozen total or more? All of them are in good working order, and represent the very best of American manufacturing---beautiful strong metal works inside, and even though these watches are 100 plus years old, parts are readily available and so are repairers.
These photos? My repair lady Kate, whom I love as much as my barber Ellie and almost as much as my fat cat Spike, showed me these the other day. For sale.
What on earth do you do? I just stared at them. Usually you see one or 2 Elgins at an antique store, and you buy it or you don't? But more than 20!!!!!
The picture of the 3-4 are the ones I am considering. One is a plain open face (upper left in upper pic)with a train etched on the back----trains are very collectible items, and I don't have anything like that. Then there are 2 small hunter watches (hunter means that it has a lid and closes like a clamshell). The smaller of those (middle top in pic, closed)is gold plate and in superb condition, and Kate tells me not very easy for her to sell---nobody wants something like it (I SURE AS HELL DO! because I like pretty cases). The bigger hunter (open--middle bottom of pic) is solid gold-----and the gold is worth more than the watch itself and its owner wants to melt it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sh!t. I don't have that kind of money. I see Kate this afternoon. I should leave the check book at home so I don't have a heart attack or do anything foolish.
3.jpg)
14 comments:
What antique store is this? How is the kiln doing?
Cool collection! :)
Wow, he wants to MELT IT????
That's just so wrong.
I think foolishness is in order here. Maybe you can trade her some pots for some Elgins?
Or you can sell me some wee pots and use the fund$ toward Elgins?
Or rob a bank. No, wait. I didn't say that.
Pots, pots. Sell lots of pots.
I love watches. Analog watches of all kinds and these are gorgeous.
man, do you know how many dozens of pots it would be in trade? yeah, I gotta sell some, because Kate doesn't seem to need any!
man, do you know how many dozens of pots it would be in trade? yeah, I gotta sell some, because Kate doesn't seem to need any!
The watches are gorgeous. My husband has an antique pocket watch that's a beautiful family treasure.
Do report back and let us know if you left the check book at home.
Neat thing to collect! Kind of Wind In The Willows stuff. I collect tea cups with solid flowers or butterflies for handles...verey rare and I just found out that each one is now worth about $100! I'm afraid to use them!
so the truth comes out, Gary the potter is really Sylar! ;)
I can't BELIEVE they want to melt it down. What the ****? That's just wrong on so many levels. It's an antique!!
And maybe (like Fortune Cookies said) you ARE Sylar from Heroes. He is a watch-repairer and has a passion for watches. You do remind me of THAT part of him (he's actually a pretty bad guy!)....
You'll have to let us all know how many you end up buying (because I KNOW you can't resist them all!)...
I don't know Sylar or Heroes, sorry!
Wow, those are all beautiful Gary. I can't believe that someone would want to melt down an antique, but it takes all kinds.
Wow! Yeah, I know you well and these pretty little thing. Leave the check book at home....or, better yet? With the Missus.
I think those pretty pocket watches are your downfall when it comes to spending! LOL!
Hope she gets it working in ticking fashion!
You could always sell off Spike? [Don't tell him I said that.] ;-x
Happy V-G Day!
Post a Comment