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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch

Waltham Open Face Railroad Pocket Watch for Dominion Railways

Partially verified

This Waltham open face railroad pocket watch, dated circa 1887, was produced for the Canadian market and Dominion Railways. The timepiece houses a 15-jewel, 18-size M1883 gilt full-plate adjusted movement bearing serial number 3624800. The movement is configured with screwed jewel settings, a bimetallic balance, an overcoiled spring, and a precision rack-and-pinion regulator. It is fitted in a 55mm coin silver patent swing-out case by A.W.Co. The source reports that these watches were manufactured for the Dominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia.

Top-plate view of the Waltham gilt full-plate movement swung out from its silver case
Top-plate view of the Waltham gilt full-plate movement swung out from its silver case — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Waltham
Reference
M1883
Catalogue / lot identifier
1061
Source-reported date
circa 1887
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
3624800

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

Identity and Provenance

This Waltham open-face pocket watch is identified in the source as being produced for the Canadian market and Dominion Railways. The documentation states that these watches were manufactured for the Dominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia.

The timepiece is dated to approximately 1887 and is associated with movement serial number 3624800.

Evidence for this section
  • “Waltham. A rare silver open face railroad watch for the Canadian market Dominion Railways, No. 3624800, circa 1887”
  • “These watches were made for the Dominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia.”

Movement Construction

The watch contains a 15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full-plate adjusted movement. Technical features include jewels in settings, a bimetallic balance, an overcoiled hairspring, and a precision rack-and-pinion regulator.

Inscriptions on the movement include 'ADJUSTED', 'SAFETY PINION', and the serial number 3624800.

Evidence for this section
  • “15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full plate adjusted movement, jewels in settings, bimetallic balance, overcoiled spring, precision rack and pinion regulator”

Dial and Case Features

The timepiece is housed in a 55mm coin silver A.W.Co. patent swing-out case, which is reported to feature gold inlay of a locomotive. The top plate is engraved with the text 'DOMINION RAILWAYS.' within an ornate foliate ribbon banner.

The double-sunk white enamel dial is signed 'A.W.W. Co. Waltham' and displays a painted enamel vignette of a locomotive and tender, Roman numerals, and Arabic 24-hour markers.

Evidence for this section
  • “coin silver A.W.Co. patent swing out case with gold inlay of a locomotive”
  • “double sunk white enamel dial signed, A.W.W. Co. Waltham beneath a painted enamel vignette of a locomotive and tender”
  • “Engraving on top plate reads 'DOMINION RAILWAYS.' within an ornate foliate ribbon banner”

Open research questions

  • Are there extant production records that correlate serial number 3624800 specifically to the Dominion Atlantic Railway?
  • What defines the technical specifications of a 'patent swing-out case' beyond its naming in the source?
  • Does the 'double-sunk' description of the dial imply specific period manufacturing techniques for Waltham railroad dials?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waltham Open Face Railroad Pocket Watch for Dominion Railways
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Caliber15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full plate adjusted movement“15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full plate adjusted movement”
Serial Number3624800“Dominion Railways, No. 3624800, circa 1887”
Case ConstructionCoin silver A.W.Co. patent swing out case“coin silver A.W.Co. patent swing out case with gold inlay of a locomotive”
Historical ContextManufactured for Dominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia“These watches were made for the Dominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia.”
Movement Caliber15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full plate“15-jewel M1883 18-size gilt full plate adjusted movement”

Visible details

  • Full-plate gilt movement shown swung out from its outer silver case housing
  • Engraving on top plate reads 'DOMINION RAILWAYS.' within an ornate foliate ribbon banner
  • Engraved balance cock decorated with scrollwork alongside a precision micrometer regulator mechanism
  • Plate inscriptions include 'ADJUSTED.', 'SAFETY PINION', and movement serial number 3624800
  • Blued steel screws and jewel settings visible on the movement plate

Research qualifications

  • The dial and case exterior with gold inlay are not depicted in the primary photograph, which displays only the swung-out movement and case frame.

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

Consulted source

Bonhams : Waltham. A rare silver open face railroad watch for the Canadian marketDominion Railways, No. 3624800, circa 1887

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 50ef9bd784

Terms in this record

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

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