Era · before 1920
Golden Age pocket watches
The years when the railroads and the watch factories pushed each other hardest. The 1893 timepiece standards set the target, the 18-size watch was the workhorse, and smaller 16-size grades like Hamilton's 992 of 1903 took over until 16-size production passed 18-size around 1915. Most railroad watches you'll find were built in this stretch.
22 references we cover.
Hamilton · 992
Railroad gradeHamilton 992
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 992
- Years
- 1903–early 1930s
$390–$500 typical ask
181 on eBay
Hamilton · 950
Railroad gradeHamilton 950
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 950
- Years
- 1910–1935
$1,050–$1,750 typical ask
14 on eBay
Hamilton · 18-size railroad
Railroad gradeHamilton 940
18s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 940
- Years
- 1898–1928
$290–$575 typical ask
95 on eBay
Waltham · Vanguard
Railroad gradeWaltham Vanguard 23 Jewel
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Vanguard
- Years
- by 1911 to the mid-1950s
$370–$525 typical ask
150 on eBay
Waltham · Vanguard
Railroad gradeWaltham Vanguard 21 Jewel
18s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Vanguard
- Years
- 1894 into the 1910s
$440–$625 typical ask
18 on eBay
Waltham · Riverside
High-grade dressWaltham Riverside Maximus
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Riverside Maximus
- Years
- 1890s into the 1910s
$1,025–$1,250 typical ask
3 on eBay
Waltham · Riverside
High-grade dressWaltham Riverside 19 Jewel
16s · 19 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Riverside
- Years
- before 1920
$420–$750 typical ask
20 on eBay
Waltham · Crescent Street
Railroad gradeWaltham Crescent Street 21 Jewel
18s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Crescent St.
- Years
- mid-1890s into the 1910s
$390–$675 typical ask
22 on eBay
Waltham · Model 1892
Railroad gradeWaltham Model 1892
18s · 17 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Model 1892
- Years
- 1894 into the 1910s
$400–$2,175 typical ask
15 on eBay
Waltham · Maximus
High-grade dressWaltham Premier Maximus
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Premier Maximus
- Years
- before 1920
Specs and what to check →
Elgin · B.W. Raymond
Railroad gradeElgin B.W. Raymond 19J Grade 240
18s · 19 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 240
- Years
- 1900–1914
$280–$600 typical ask
25 on eBay
Elgin · Father Time
Railroad gradeElgin Father Time 21J Grade 367
18s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 367
- Years
- 1909–1920
$350–$1,350 typical ask
16 on eBay
Elgin · Veritas
Railroad gradeElgin Veritas 21J Grade 239
18s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- 239
- Years
- 1900–1912
$725–$1,050 typical ask
11 on eBay
Elgin · Lord Elgin
High-grade dressLord Elgin 23J Pocket Watch
12s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Lord Elgin
- Years
- 1898–1912
Specs and what to check →
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Bunn Special 21-jewel
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special
- Years
- 1913–1940s
$410–$575 typical ask
116 on eBay
Illinois · Bunn Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Bunn Special 23-jewel
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Bunn Special
- Years
- 1913–1940s
$850–$1,025 typical ask
16 on eBay
Illinois · Sangamo Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Sangamo Special
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Sangamo Special
- Years
- 1913–1930
$1,000–$1,525 typical ask
23 on eBay
Illinois · Santa Fe Special
Railroad gradeIllinois Santa Fe Special
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Santa Fe Special
- Years
- 1913–1930s
$550–$1,025 typical ask
12 on eBay
Howard · Railroad Chronometer
Railroad gradeHoward Series 11 Railroad Chronometer
16s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Series 11
- Years
- late 1910s–1920s
$675–$950 typical ask
19 on eBay
Howard · Bridge model
Railroad gradeHoward Series 5 19-jewel
16s · 19 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Series 5
- Years
- 1900s–1910s
$800–$900 typical ask
7 on eBay
Howard · 12-size extra-thin
High-grade dressHoward Series 8 12-size
12s · 21 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Series 8
- Years
- before 1920
$390–$400 typical ask
1 on eBay
Howard · Bridge model
Railroad gradeHoward Series 0 23-jewel
16s · 23 jewels
- Grade engraved
- Series 0
- Years
- 1900s–1920s
$1,125–$2,025 typical ask
12 on eBay