GRANDPA'S RAILROAD POCKET WATCH; DO YOU REALLY HAVE IT?

SYNCHRONIZING  WATCHES

In the years when I was growing up there was a saying:  "If you want to know the correct time, ask a railroad man."  In those days we wound our mechanical watches daily, and, daily even the best of them lost time. Railroads needed dependable time pieces, because, even a minute off could result in two trains colliding.  Rail safety experts demanded watches, chronometers actually, of precise accuracy. These pocket watches were manufactured to the highest standards. The watch could not loose more than 4 seconds in a day. It must have a movement of at least 17 to 23 jewels.  The  mechanism must have variable spring tension to adjust for
temperature extremes. The balance spring must be by Breguet of  Switzerland. Otherwise, the watch must be American made.  A separate lever must be used to set the watch so that the time might not accidentally be changed during winding. The face must be white with large black Arabic numbers.  The second hand, if present, must be a separate dial located at six o clock.  Most importantly, they never have a cover.  Railroad men have little time for flipping open watch covers.

Major manufactures of railroad watches were Waltham, Elgin, and Hamilton.  Hamilton commanded almost 70% of the market. On most railroads conductors and higher received their watches at no charge with lower echelon workers required to purchase their own.  About every two weeks all workers had to have their watches calibrated by a company appointed watch maker. Employees of the lower ranks were often allowed to have their time piece inspected by a dispatcher, or, station agent.  Wherever the service was rendered, the cost was usually deducted from the workers pay. Railroad employees were also required to upgrade their watches after a number of years of service, which varied with each railroad. This is the reason why more than one member of a family can lay claim to owning an heirloom pocket watch from the same railroader.

HAMILTON RAILROAD WATCH

In my many years of riding the rails, I've had scores of people tell me that they have their dad's, or, grandpa's railroad watch.  When I ask for a description it usually turns out that they have a pocket watch of some sort, but, not an actual  railroad chronometer.  I never tell them the truth.  I leave their memories in tact.  Memories are priceless, but, watches are not.  Despite their high level of craftsmanship, most authentic railroad time pieces sell for between five and fifteen hundred dollars, the higher priced ones being gold plated. Many gift shops found in the vicinity of railroad museums sell new facsimile pocket watches with a steam locomotive engraved on the back of the case.  I used one made by Timex for years before giving it to my grandson.  It was a great ten dollar time piece.  Of course it lacked fine accuracy, but, I was only riding the train, not running it.