A goal acheived

[Razz]

I joined this forum about a year ago after getting interested in watches from digging out 3 inherited watches; 2 pockets and the Omega pie pan that is my avatar. My goal was to get proficient enough to work on my ancestor's time pieces. What I did not expect was how deep I would become immersed and what a great community of sharing ideas, learning, historiy and stories I would find here. I previously spent time in a coin collecting forum but the depth of horology intrigues me much more than numismatics, although that is a great hobby /profession as well.

I find myself fairly emotional as I write this post as I just managed to get the worse of the 3 watches running! It is a Swiss pocket watch with a clam shell silver (0.800) hunter case all matching serial numbers. The inscription is to my great grandfather from his father and dated Jan. 9, (18) 91. Yes, 133 years and 6 days from the presentation. There is a ways to go for restoration, but my grandfather passed more than 47 years ago and it is ticking again...

I am hoping folks here can help me try to figure out the watchmaker who made this. This last shot is cool in that you can see the paper under the train bridge in front of both screws.

The biggest clues I see are the Locle and L or LE Robert engraving on the movement cover plate. This is different than the presentation engraving and is not the name of my relative. Several houses got their start in Locle Switzerland including VC, Ulysses Nardin, and Zenirh I beleive. Thanks for reading.

 

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

7 hours ago, Razz said:

find myself fairly emotional as I write this post as I just managed to get the worse of the 3 watches running! It is a Swiss pocket watch with a clam shell silver (0.800) hunter case all matching serial numbers. The inscription is to my great grandfather from his father and dated Jan. 9, (18) 91. Yes, 133 years and 6 days from the presentation. There is a ways to go for restoration, but my grandfather passed more than 47 years ago and it is ticking again...

yes it gets you like that , i was still filling up an hour after i got my grandfather's watch ticking 50 years after he died. Funny hobby this , for another the next day you can end up vocalising loudy multiples of expletives joined in a variety of unimaginable ways. 

[watchweasol]

Hi. Swiss or French five bar cylinder movement. A lovley looking watch with a good history,  well done

[LittleWatchShop]

Nice work.

[Neverenoughwatches]

4 hours ago, watchweasol said:

five bar cylinder movement

I haven't thought about this before but does the " five bar " relate to the five seperate bridges and cocks WW

[RichardHarris123]

It does indeed. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

It does indeed. 

Thanks Rich, I've heard the term branded about but never thought to ask what it meant. It came to mind a few weeks ago while i was messing with one. 

[Razz]

I put some information into an AI program and it spit out L. Robert Le Locle, brand of pocket watches started by Louis Robert in Le Locle in 1869 and later the company was sold to Jules Mathey in 1929. Not sure how much of this is true because you have to fact check AI. The watch movement is 28.6mm or about 12 1/2 ligne. It is a crown wind and crown hand set as well (by pressing a button on the edge of the case and turning the crown).