My recent hunt results... Leonidas Kriegsmarine and more

It again has been some time that I have been a stranger here. Despite the lack of posts there has been no lack in the bounty in recent months. The coin shop source for me has been rather good still. The last thing I posted about was an 1850 18K Joseph Johnson on Aug 2. Seems longer ago than it is I guess. I sold that to finally get something I wanted so badly, an Omega AT M150 Coaxial Chrono.

Anyways I kept going back and the dealer would surprise me rather often. A Hamilton 992B in stainless case $50 comes to mind. Then a 992E with a Gail Borden in near mint and some generic 15 jewel HC Elgin all for $200. 1878 18s 15 jewel Elgin in a coin silver heavy case was $20 but needs a crystal. So far he has been the best source I have ever had. I did pick up a Hamilton 921 at a antique show for $120 though but not a screaming deal.

So on to what the title says.... I was in his shop today and before I even had to ask he was getting a couple pf watches off his back counter. First up was a rather basic 6 or 8 size Elgin HC watch. My first though...oh no is this it. Then he puts this watch down face down. Obviously the first thing that I see is the Eagle all bold and not ground down. I turn it over and nice and bold Leonidas is looking at me square in the eyes. The crack in the crystal is barely registering as I am eyeing up the condition. Thick original lume on the numbers. Most of it still in the hands as well. The blue steel not showing a single spot of rust. Does it get better? Does it run???

I give the watch a light movement of the wrist and it ticks for a few seconds and stops. Well the balance may be good then. I open the back and there is this butiful, but dirty Cal 45 movement. No rust still so there is hope. I get the balance to swing again, check the chrono function. As I am looking at it I finally notice the chain and coin. I confirm with him that the two came in together...yep. What a huge fob! Seems impractical but rather fitting. The German war machine was known for the grand scale that they liked to put on a dress show...what better than a big 1768 silver Thaler. 

So now come the question...how much. I am running through my head how to come up with hundreds to pay for it. He gives me a price for both and lets just say I could not get the check book out fast enough.  

So I got the poor thing home and went right to my bench, that I finally moved in the house and set up. I spent the next couple of hours cleaning, pegging out holes, and oiling the pivots as it went back together. There is just something about hearing a watch start to tick after you put the balance back in. That sense that you did something right and the watch is thanking you. Sadly I did not have a crystal for it so I will have to go bug the watchmaker I use to frequent to put a glass one in for me. The broken one is plastic and I don't have one the right size for it. 

And now what we all want....Pics 


































I got my watchmaker to fit a glass crystal on the watch.  Below is how the finished watch looks with the new glass.