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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face railroad pocket watch

Hampden Special Railway 16-size pocket watch

Partially verified

This open face pocket watch was produced by the Hampden Watch Company and is dated by the dealer to circa 1915. According to the seller, it houses a 16-size nickel bridge movement decorated with damascening and fitted with 23 jewels, raised gold settings, a micrometer regulator, and a lever escapement. The movement is reported to be stem-wound, lever-set, and adjusted to five positions. The open face white gold-plated case measures 48 mm in diameter with carved edges and engine turning. The visible double-sunk white enamel dial features bold Arabic hour numerals, red outer five-minute markings, blued steel spade hands, and a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock.

Front view of the Hampden Special Railway pocket watch showing the double-sunk enamel dial and carved bezel
Front view of the Hampden Special Railway pocket watch showing the double-sunk enamel dial and carved bezel — Atlam Watches via Antiques Boutique. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Hampden Watch Company
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
4.166 (AB-186620)
Source-reported date
c. 1915
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
3327334

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Visual Presentation

The pocket watch displays a double-sunk white enamel dial signed "Hampden" in capitalized lettering. The hour track is composed of bold stylized Arabic numerals surrounded by an outer minute track accented with red numerals at five-minute intervals. A subsidiary seconds dial is sunk at the 6 o'clock position.

Visible time indication is provided by blued steel spade hour and minute hands, along with a blued steel pointer on the subsidiary seconds register. The open-face housing features a foliate-carved bezel framing the mineral glass crystal, an angular pierced bow, and a fluted crown at 12 o'clock.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial signed 'HAMPDEN' with double-sunk construction.”
  • “Bold stylized Arabic hour numerals with an outer minute track accented by red numbers at five-minute intervals.”
  • “Blued steel spade hour and minute hands, with a blued steel pointer on the subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.”
  • “Open face metal case with foliate-carved bezel decoration, fluted crown, and an angular pierced bow.”

Reported Movement Specifications

According to the seller's description, the watch houses a 16-size nickel bridge movement fitted with a lever escapement, a micrometer regulator, and raised gold jewel settings, including a large gold cap on the mainspring barrel. The listing notes that the movement is decorated with damascening and incorporates 23 jewels.

The movement is reported to operate via stem winding and lever setting. The seller records the movement signature as "HWC Canton O, 23 Jewels, Special Railway, Adjusted to 5 positions" alongside serial number 3327334, though the movement itself is not depicted in the listing's photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “the top quality nickel bridge movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator with raised gold jewel settings including a large gold cap on the mainspring barrel.”
  • “The movement is decorated with damascening and is signed “HWC Canton O, 23 Jewels, Special Railway, Adjusted to 5 positions” # 3327334.”
  • “The watch is stem wound / lever set”

Case Construction and Documentation Limits

The case is described in the source as a white gold-plated open-face case featuring a screw-off back and bezel, with carved edges and engine turning. Dimensions reported by the dealer are 48 mm in width and 13 mm in depth.

Because only a single direct front-facing photograph is provided, internal case hallmarks, the case back's engine-turned surface, and movement details are not visible for independent verification. Furthermore, the circa 1915 production date reflects the dealer's title listing rather than verified archival records.

Evidence for this section
  • “white gold plated open face case, which has a screw off back and bezel.”
  • “The case has carved edges and engine turning”
  • “The watch measures 48mm wide x 13mm deep”
  • “Superb 16 size 23 Jewel Hampden Special Railway pocket watch c1915”

Open research questions

  • What manufacturer hallmarks, purity guarantees, or case serial numbers are stamped inside the screw-off case back?
  • Does movement serial number 3327334 align precisely with Hampden factory serial production lists for circa 1915?
  • Where is the setting lever located beneath the threaded bezel, and is its mechanism fully intact?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Hampden Special Railway 16-size pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement signatureHWC Canton O, 23 Jewels, Special Railway, Adjusted to 5 positions“signed “HWC Canton O, 23 Jewels, Special Railway, Adjusted to 5 positions””
Movement serial number3327334“# 3327334”
Case materialWhite gold plated“white gold plated open face case”
Case dimensions48mm wide x 13mm deep“48mm wide x 13mm deep”
Dial descriptionDouble sunk white enamel“white enamel dial, is double sunk”
Winding and settingStem wound / lever set“stem wound / lever set”
Crystal materialMineral glass“The watch has a mineral glass”
Case closure mechanismScrew-off back and bezel“screw off back and bezel”
Barrel jewel detailLarge gold cap on mainspring barrel“a large gold cap on the mainspring barrel”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial signed 'HAMPDEN' with double-sunk construction.
  • Bold stylized Arabic hour numerals with an outer minute track accented by red numbers at five-minute intervals.
  • Blued steel spade hour and minute hands, with a blued steel pointer on the subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.
  • Open face metal case with foliate-carved bezel decoration, fluted crown, and an angular pierced bow.

Research qualifications

  • Movement condition, jewel count, damascening, and serial number are not visible in the provided image and rely entirely on the dealer's description.
  • Internal hallmarks, gold plating specifications, and case back condition are unverified visually.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Superb 16 size 23 Jewel Hampden Special Railway pocket watch c1915 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record bc448dfa31

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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