Briefly, since I don have time to read a book, can you give me a history of old pocketwatches?
The first pocket watches were made probably about 500 years ago. European craftsmen working alone or in small groups made modest quantities of watches until the first large scale manufacturing in big factories began in the USA in the 1850’s and 60’s. Wrist watches became popular after World War I and pocket watch production gradually all but ended. Today most watches over 300 years old are in museums, and anything over about 200 years old doesn’t turn up very often. As far as wearing and timekeeping is concerned, most handmade watches are really just collectables, any repairs to this type of watch require highly skilled craftsmen. For many American watches made in the era of mass production, parts are still available, repairs can be made for a more or less reasonable cost, and timekeeping will usually be reasonable, often within a few minutes a day. These watches, made mostly by Elgin, Hamilton, Hampden, Howard, Rockford, Seth Thomas, South Bend and Waltham are generally suitable for r
