If you were in the market for a watch in 1880, would you know where to get one? You would go to a store, right? Well, of course you could do that, but if you wanted one that was cheaper and a bit better than most of the store watches, you went to the train station! Sound a bit funny? Well, for about 500 towns across the northern United States , that’s where the best watches were found.
Why were the best watches found at the train station? The railroad company wasn’t selling the watches, not at all. The telegraph operator was. Most of the time the telegraph operator was located in the railroad station because the telegraph lines followed the railroad tracks from town to town. It was usually the shortest distance and the right-of-ways had already been secured for the rail line.
Most of the station agents were also skilled telegraph operators and that was the primary way that they communicated with the railroad. They would know when trains left the previous station and when they were due at their next station. And it was the telegraph operator who had the watches. As a matter of fact they sold more of them than almost all the stores combined for a period of about 9 years.
This was all arranged by “Richard”, who was a telegraph operator himself. He was on duty in the North Redwood, Minnesota train station one day when a load of watches arrived from the East. It was a huge crate of pocket watches. No one ever came to claim them.
So Richard sent a telegram to the manufacturer and asked them what they wanted to do with the watches. The manufacturer didn’t want to pay the freight back, so they wired Richard to see if he could sell them. So Richard did. He sent a wire to every agent in the system asking them if they wanted a cheap, but good, pocket watch. He sold the entire case in less than two days and at a handsome profit.
That started it all. He ordered more watches from the watch company and encouraged the telegraph operator
I buy my watches at K-Mart, which is part of Sears. Maybe I should say that I buy my watchbands and batteries at K-Mart, because the Casio itself is still going strong after 20 years or so.
Where did the steam-era conductors get their watches?
Not sure, Mister B. My dad was a watch repairman back… oh, in the 40’s thru the 70’s. Now and then a ‘railroad man’ would bring his watch, usually a Bulova, Elgin, Hamilton or the like, to him for cleaning and adjusting. I asked him once about “railroad watches” and he said there really wasn’t such a thing, any GOOD watch 17 jewel and up was fine. I know he also sold this type watch as did any good jewelry store. I suppose there may have been a railroad here and there that recommended, or maybe even mandated a certain make but I’m not at all sure about that. I still have his watch, seen here below…
Did your research article say what brand of watch it was? My greatgrandfather came through that area during those years when he immigrated from Sweden and wound up working for the Union Pacific RR. I have his watch.
VERY cool watch, Jarrell. [Y][8D] Does it still work? Or is it just on permanent display?
My grandma was a telegraph operator in Marietta, OH at the turn of the (20th) century. It was there where she met my grandpa, who was a fireman on one of the steamers. They married within a year. She was 16; he was 31.
Now that you’ve shared your Paul Harvey story with us, Jarrell, it makes me wonder if my grandma had one of those watches. I’ve seem some of those older pocket watches go for a pretty penny on places like eBay. Would love to find a working one and fix it up.
Mrs. Hot Rod , I’m not sure I understand your question on the brand of watch. The only thing my Dad said was that any good watch such as the makers of Bulova, Elgin, Hamilton and, I believe… Waltlham produced, that had a sufficient number of jewels would keep accurate time if properly cleaned and adjusted, usually yearly.
Of course the Swiss became some of the finest watchmakers in the world and, to my knowledge, still are.
Here’s my two. They are both CPR watches and still keep perfect time. They were handed down to me from my Grandparents. One day I unscrewed the back and then punched in just the serial number to Google. It instantly told me the date of manufacture and where it was made. They were both from the 1800s.
I also have a few WW1 Military issue pocket watches passed down. Finding the value’s of all these watches is quite easy, what surprises me that some are worth so much more than the others, yet they are from the same era.The two CPR watches I have are worth about $2000.00 each. I have friend who owns seven CPR watches. Two of them are beautifully engraved with a train in the mountains. They have a value of $12000.00
The CPR watches are really heavy, you sure know when your wearing it. A railway hat is one thing, but how many of us have proper Railway watches when running our trains.[(-D]
There is a bit in this film about The Railroaders on watches.
Wow, 16 and 31! You’re here so I guess it worked out well…
Yes, Dad’s watch is still running, he gave it to me back in '85… the year he passed away. I try to remember to wind it a couple of times a week (but sometimes I forget) It still keeps good time though it is way past time for cleaning and new oil.
Brent, thanks for the link, I’ll watch it tonight when I have more time. Your watches are a couple of beauties and I know you value them even more because of who owned them. I know I would!
Batman: I would say your evaluation on those CPR watches may be a little high I bought a gold filled waltham years back for $25.00 in perfect condition, today I would be lucky indeed to get $500 IF I could sell it, There is a very rare Elgin SOLID GOLD not gold filled 1904 double cased railroad watch for sale for $10,000, a very high price for a very rare watch,- - - - lots of gold, silver Elgin, Waltham, Hamilton RR pocket watches for sale for under $300.00 Ebay has over 1000 for sale at prices around $2-300.
They vary in price and fluctuate over time, but who wants to sell one of these classics, I don’t
Tatans You are probably right on price. It is the written appraisal I was referring to. These are often higher than than what you could sell them for.
I inherited a decent art collection when my mother died. Five of the pieces insurance appraisals are about 40% higher than I ever could sell them for. On the other hand the grand piano would go for at least $5000.00 more than its book value. My daughter is picking up where her Grandmother left off as far as music goes so I won’t be selling it for that new car anytime soon.
Like anything though, somethings are only worth what you can get for it. As far the watches go, I think they will be in the family a long time. Even my kid’s feel the ghost when they hold them in their hand. [:)]
