Antique Pocket Watches

Pocket watches were developed before miniaturization permitted the manufacture of watches small enough to wear on the wrist. In the 16th century, the earliest portable timepieces small enough to be carried on the person were too big for pockets, too, and were worn on a chain around the neck. It was not until the 17th century that watches were made small enough to fit easily in the pocket.

In the latter part of the 19th century, the growth of railroads contributed to the more widespread use of pocket watches. Trainmen needed to know the time in order to switch tracks properly to avoid trainwrecks. In fact, a famous train wreck in Ohio in 1891 happened because a watch belonging to one of the engineers had stopped for 4 minutes. By 1893, standards were developed for pocket watches used by railroad men; pocket watches meeting this standard were known as railroad-grade pocket watches. Among other requirements, railroad-grade pocket watches had to keep time accurately to within 3 seconds a week.

Even after the introduction of wristwatches, pocket watches predominated. Wristwatches were originally thought to be appropriate for ladies, but not manly enough for gentlemen. During the first World War, however, military officers realized that a watch on the wrist was more readily accessible than one in the pocket, and the transition to wristwatches for men began. Pocket watches continued to be widely used in railroading, but gradually lost favor among the general population.

		Bids	Current Bid/ Price	Sale Ends
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	LARGE Antique Elgin Gold gf Pocket Watch - Runs & Stops 118 Yrs. Old - Ornate Case - Low Shipping- No Reserve Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: lgsparts Feedback: 52 100.0%	16 bids	$100.00	2 hrs 1 min 47 secs
	VINTAGE IVY TOLE WARE TOLEWARE WALL CLOCK POCKET WATCH Details » Buy It Now for $84.49 » Make An Offer » Seller: ellisantique Feedback: 8,961 99.8%		$84.49	2 hrs 44 mins 22 secs
	COLLECTABLE SOLID BRASS POCKET WATCH ROSS COMPASS Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: deceasedestate Feedback: 18,797 99.1%	0 bids	$31.03	9 hrs 29 mins 18 secs
	work copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: dacheng168 Feedback: 0 0.0%	0 bids	$0.98	11 hrs 13 mins 34 secs
	work copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: dacheng168 Feedback: 0 0.0%	0 bids	$0.98	11 hrs 13 mins 53 secs
	ANTIQUE POCKET WATCH HOLDER STAND CHERUBS PUTTI Details » Buy It Now for $374.99 » Seller: beauvoirantiques Feedback: 1,725 99.7%		$374.99	13 hrs 7 mins 55 secs
	Old Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: joe-515 Feedback: 0 0.0%	0 bids	$100.00	17 hrs 11 mins 40 secs
	work copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: chinese-art918 Feedback: 123 94.4%	0 bids	$0.99	18 hrs 29 secs
	work copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: chinese-art918 Feedback: 123 94.4%	0 bids	$0.99	18 hrs 12 mins 37 secs
	ANTIQUE CONQUEST TRAVEL POCKET ALARM CLOCK Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: outkas_176 Feedback: 620 100.0%	0 bids	$9.99	21 hrs 52 mins 32 secs
	14K white gold watch with diamond accents Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: nlavenia Feedback: 64 100.0%	27 bids	$36.33	1 day 3 hrs 19 mins 50 secs
	SWISS PATENT 90517 A ROSSKOPF POCKET WATCH 1921-1929 Silver Medal in Spain and Belgium 1921 - 1929 Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: oliverjeanemily Feedback: 2,249 100.0%	0 bids	$139.99	1 day 16 hrs 4 mins 24 secs
	HAMILTON Model #22 Marine Chronometer wooden WATCH CASE Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: pkgeneralstore Feedback: 9,630 100.0%	7 bids	$203.50	1 day 17 hrs 21 mins 4 secs
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	Old Paris Waste Pail Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: thegoldenclamantiques2010 Feedback: 0 0.0%	0 bids	$350.00	1 day 20 hrs 6 mins 6 secs
	~MINT HOWARD WATCH CO 14K SOLID GOLD POCKET WATCH 1912~ Mint All Original/Keeps Perfect Time/68.1 Grams/No Rsv! Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: naturehiker50 Feedback: 2,311 100.0%	20 bids	$545.00	2 days 1 hr 26 mins 27 secs
	Antique Victorian Bronze Figural Pocket Watch Holder Beautiful Female with Hand Mirror Base, Great Cond, NR! Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: bkcranston Feedback: 4,807 99.9%	9 bids	$73.88	2 days 1 hr 31 mins 24 secs
	work copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: renshigood889 Feedback: 0 0.0%	0 bids	$0.98	2 days 12 hrs 33 mins 20 secs
	ANTIQUE ? 8 DAY WALTHAM TIME PIECE--DOES NOT WORK Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: khat2342 Feedback: 761 98.9%	2 bids	$19.50	2 days 14 hrs 58 mins 37 secs
	vintage pocket machine watch Details » Buy It Now for $43.00 » Seller: ladmu85 Feedback: 57 95.0%		$43.00	2 days 16 hrs 18 mins 56 secs
	model # 21 USA , Hamilton Naval ship chronometer amazing fusee , detent 14 j , escapement , must see ... Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: tonto2u Feedback: 495 98.9%	15 bids	$1,136.00	2 days 19 hrs 50 mins 32 secs
	style copper Spherical machine Pocket Watch Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: 518yong Feedback: 93 97.9%	0 bids	$0.99	2 days 22 hrs 38 mins 29 secs
	ANT FRENCH ORMOLU POCKET WATCH HOLDER PERFUME FIGURAL Details » Buy It Now for $450.00 » Seller: 43ches Feedback: 311 100.0%		$450.00	2 days 23 hrs 17 mins 17 secs
	vintage gold plated ruby pocketwatch chain slide old !! Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: wow4u2 Feedback: 18,736 99.8%	0 bids	$6.99	3 days 49 mins 35 secs
	Lot 3: 2 Elgin & 1 Hambden Pocket Watches + 2 Chains Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: from_alexs_attic Feedback: 513 100.0%	4 bids	$10.50	3 days 2 hrs 29 mins 25 secs
	Antique Rockford Pocket Watch 18Sz Stem Wind Set Runs Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: from_alexs_attic Feedback: 513 100.0%	9 bids	$39.99	3 days 2 hrs 47 mins 53 secs
	old fashioned doorknocker pocketwatch fob & chain Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: mydustyoldstuff Feedback: 2,754 99.8%	1 bid	$9.99	3 days 2 hrs 55 mins 47 secs
	VINTAGE PAINTED IVY TOLEWARE WALL CLOCK POCKET WATCH NR Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: nybob201 Feedback: 2,428 100.0%	2 bids	$10.50	3 days 3 hrs 1 min 41 secs
	Pocket Watch Style WARNER'S ELECTRIC - Standard Time Co Details » Bid on This Item » Seller: lakeside_relics_dot_com Feedback: 4,813 99.8%	3 bids	$26.00	3 days 3 hrs 41 mins 16 secs
	UNIQUE RUSSIAN 84 SILVER ENAMEL EASTER EGG WATCH OLD лучший подарок на Пасху! Details » Buy It Now for $12,500.00 » Make An Offer » Seller: stastar Feedback: 179 100.0%		$12,500.00	3 days 17 hrs 4 mins 31 secs

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