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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Partial pocket watch

Remains of a pocket watch

Partially verified

This object consists of the incomplete, internal remains of a pocket watch, currently held by the Military History Institute and Museum. The specimen is constructed from brass, or 'réz' as recorded in the museum records. The circular housing measures 55 mm in diameter and has a thickness of 10 mm. Visually, the object appears as an empty watch frame, lacking the dial, hands, and the majority of its functional gear train or escapement components. The surviving metal frame retains a pendant and a bow at the top, which indicates its original configuration as a pendant-wound watch. The piece is associated with the location of Ostffyasszonyfa in Vas county, Hungary, according to the museum documentation. The current state of the object reflects a significant loss of material, leaving only the primary chassis and core metal components remaining for historical study within the institute’s collection.

Frontal view of the brass movement plate and pendant of the partial pocket watch.
Frontal view of the brass movement plate and pendant of the partial pocket watch. — Military History Institute and Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Partial pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
/1267/htm_HADREG_2018_01_01_Hgy
Source-reported date
Not established
Source-reported place
Not established

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

Physical Composition and Structure

The surviving remains of this pocket watch are constructed from brass. The structural core consists of an exposed metal plate assembly that reveals the internal arrangement of the watch frame. The diameter of the piece is measured at 55 mm, with an overall thickness of 10 mm.

The housing is topped with a distinct pendant and bow, which served as the mounting point for a chain or fob. The internal cavities of the watch plate suggest the original housing of a spring-driven movement, though these elements are largely absent in the current state of the object.

Evidence for this section
  • “Remains of a pocket watch (brass)”
  • “Átmérője: 55 mm, vastagsága: 10 mm.”

Documentation and Provenance

This object is documented by the Military History Institute and Museum. The records identify the item under the name 'Zsebóra maradványa', which translates to 'remains of a pocket watch'. The collection includes specific geographical data linking the object to Ostffyasszonyfa in Vas County.

The administrative records provided via the Europeana aggregator confirm the item’s accession into the military museum's collection. There is currently no recorded maker's mark or specific manufacturing date associated with these remains, and the museum has not provided a chronological classification for the piece beyond its identification as a partial specimen.

Evidence for this section
  • “Remains of a pocket watch is held by Military History Institute and Museum”
  • “place associated: Ostffyasszonyfa (Vas megye)”
  • “Europeana record /1267/htm_HADREG_2018_01_01_Hgy”

Condition Report

The object is currently categorized as a partial specimen, reflecting its incomplete state. The lack of a dial, movement, and hands indicates that this is a salvaged remain rather than a functional horological instrument. The material appears oxidized, which is expected given the reported brass composition and historical provenance.

Because the piece is a fragment, it is not possible to determine if it originally contained a cylinder or lever escapement, or whether it featured complication functions. The surviving structure serves primarily as a physical record of a timepiece that has lost its internal and external functional components over time.

Evidence for this section
  • “Remains of a pocket watch”
  • “partial”

Open research questions

  • What specific type of movement was originally housed within this brass frame?
  • Can the provenance of this object be linked to any specific historical event or military figure associated with the Ostffyasszonyfa region?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Remains of a pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Diameter55 mm“Átmérője: 55 mm”
Thickness10 mm“vastagsága: 10 mm.”
InstitutionMilitary History Institute and Museum“Military History Institute and Museum”
Associated LocationOstffyasszonyfa“Ostffyasszonyfa (Vas megye)”

Visible details

  • The object is missing its dial and hands
  • The central movement plate is visible but lacks major functional components
  • The case features a pendant and bow at the 12 o'clock position
  • The perimeter of the case exhibits a slightly undulating or non-smooth edge profile

Research qualifications

  • The specific date and maker of the watch remain unidentified in the provided source material
  • The extent of the original watch's complexity cannot be determined from the surviving remains

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

Consulted source

Remains of a pocket watch

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record a0e9ec39b8

Terms in this record

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