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Watch Chains

Anthony Jordan

Practically Family
Messages
674
Location
South Wales, U.K.
Esteemed fellow Loungers, having read through all 20 pages of this thread with a question, I am none the wiser, albeit undoubtedly now better-informed. Perhaps you can help!

Whilst on holiday in the Netherlands last year I bought myself a cheap vintage pocket watch. The silver plate was very worn and I doubted if it would keep very good time but nonetheless I really wanted it for some reason and got the seller to bring the price down to the 10 Euros which constituted all my remaining spending money...

Anyway, it came with a twisted fancy chain, with no t-bar, in a very coppery brass which really didn't look right with the brassy/silver tones of the watch. Therefore, before Christmas I was moved to try and find a better chain for it, getting through two handsome, but not quite right, chains before eventually settling for the one illustrated, which was the right price and (being in two tones, brass and white metal) worked well, I thought.

My watch and chain:

IMG_1630.jpg


The other contenders, now on their way to good homes:

IMG_1760.jpg

IMG_1743.jpg


Bearing in mind that I am only used to my family heirloom heavy silver watchchain, a single Albert with t-bar, the one common denominator with these, which caught me by surprise, was the ring catch where I thought the t-bar would be. In my simplicity, I thought that its purpose was to clip "around" the waiscoat buttonhole, if you follow me, so that it would serve much the same anchoring function as a t-bar, just in a different way. The span of the catch, however, makes a nonsense of this, as I swiftly found out. My question, then, is - what is it for? I am coming around to the view that I am supposed to thread the chain through the buttonhole with watch in one pocket and something else on the other - is this correct? Any information welcome!
 

Marc Chevalier

Gone Home
Messages
18,192
Location
Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
My question, then, is - what is it for? I am coming around to the view that I am supposed to thread the chain through the buttonhole with watch in one pocket and something else on the other - is this correct? Any information welcome!


In the 1920s and '30s (in America, at least), t-bars began to be unfashionable. Instead, men began to wear their new chains --chains just like yours-- hanging across from the lefthand waistcoat pocket to the righthand one (either the upper or the lower pockets, according to taste). On one end of the chain would be the watch; on the other, a pocket knife, a cigar cutter, or perhaps a retractable pencil. The chain was not meant to go through any buttonhole, but rather to hang freely.


BWC2387-01.jpg
 
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Anthony Jordan

Practically Family
Messages
674
Location
South Wales, U.K.
Thanks Marc, very helpful indeed! In that case, I'd welcome any further suggestions as to what might be a good accompaniment to the other end of the chain. I am quite tempted by a vesta case (always courteous to have a light for a lady) or a pocket compass...
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Personally I only use bolt-ring chains for my trousers. The free-hanging chain thing sounds a bit risky for me (in case the watch falls out of your pocket).

There are a number of things you can clip onto the other end of your chain.

Pocketknives.
Vesta cases.
Compasses.
Sealing-stamps.
Coins.
Pocket fountain pens.
Coin-cases.
 

nihil

One of the Regulars
Messages
206
Location
Copenhagen
I wear both modern and vintage waistcoats and have never had any problem with a pocketwatch falling out. The weight of the watch itself does a good job at keeping it inside the pocket.
 

ShrunkinCowboy

New in Town
Messages
35
Location
New Mexico
My watch chain belonged to my Great-Grandfather.
I inherited it, along with his eight-sided Waltham pocket watch.
When he retired in 1935 as a Rabbi in Utica, NY, his congregation gave him the Waltham as a retirement gift.

Steve
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I've found that it isn't risky, at least with vintage waistcoats. Here's why: the waistcoats' pockets tend to be deep and tight (especially if the waistcoat fits you snugly, as it should), and the pocket lining fabrics aren't slippery.

I have waistcoats like that. And a bolt-ring chain. maybe one day I'll give it a shot.

Well, here's my little effort.

I usually use this chain only for when I wear my pocketwatch with trousers. I know the bolt-ring is significantly bigger, but here's the results:

IMG_0784.jpg


Watch and vest-pocket fountain pen.
 
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Anthony Jordan

Practically Family
Messages
674
Location
South Wales, U.K.
Thank you all for your suggestions and pictures of your own watch/chain/fob combinations. Duly inspired, I rooted around in one of my junk boxes and disinterred this old family gold-filled Wahl Eversharp. Whilst the combination of the coppery tone of the pencil with the brassy tone of the watch and chain is not perfect, I think I am happy for the time being. Thanks once again!

002-13.jpg

001-12.jpg
 

Anthony Jordan

Practically Family
Messages
674
Location
South Wales, U.K.
DeaconKC, you're very kind!

Undertaker, thanks for the tip on the pencil, which I will certainly bear in mind.

The watch is a Kienzle, which I believe is a fairly old-established firm of German watchmakers. I haven't been able to find out much about them, except that they made watches at a number of quality levels, and I suspect that this may have been one of the cheaper ones. I'd welcome any further information.
 

undertaker

Practically Family
I should warn, most of these old vest-pocket pens and pencils are only gold-filled. Polish them sparingly, or you'll strip off all the gold.

Yes Sir. That is why I use the cloth. I know some guys who polish gold filled watch cases on the buffing machine, but it is just too scary to me. A little too long or a little too much jeweler's rouge and nothing but brass, ask me how I know:eusa_doh:. They do not seem to tarnish when you carry or use them like they do laying around in a box.
 

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