Heirloom
I pulled this watch down off my shelf yesterday afternoon, where it had been sitting for a couple of years. It originally belonged to my grandfather, who received it for graduation in 1905. It shook me up a little to think that one hundred years ago, someone that I knew and loved held this in their hands, and used it everyday. I decided I had to find out more about it, and hit paydirt almost immediately on the web.
The watch does not run at present, so a quick skim through the website led me to Ed Ueberall, who was more than kind and patient in answering my questions. If you need an antique watch repaired, you probably couldn’t do much better than calling him up. Ed patiently explained how I could open the watch back and find the serial number, which he plugged in to a database (which I later found on the web) and told me a lot about how watches were purchased back then.
I didn’t know, for example, that until the 1920’s you purchased the watch movement and the case separately, and the jeweler you bought it from married the two together. Ed told me that the watch was better than average, and probably cost about $20, with the case going for an additional $10 or so- at a time when a worker made, on average, five dollars a week. Extrapolate that to today’s wages and you’d be looking at an equivalent expenditure of somewhere between $3500-$4000. Watches truly were something special at the turn of the last century.
The database revealed that the watch was the 28th in a series of 1000 made in 1905, is a grade 340 mechanism (more or less, the model number), and is a size 16s watch with 17 jewels. Beyond that, there’s little to tell about the physical item. What the database doesn’t tell is any of the story behind this particular watch- the century of wear and scratches on the case, that add so much character to it.
My grandfather, Eric Philip Jern, was born in 1892, and received the watch in 1905 upon graduation. He was 13 years old. That sounds odd today, but back then an 8th grade education was the norm. I do know that my grandfather went to work on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad in about 1910, as I have a photograph that shows him in a railroad uniform, in front of a typewriter and Morse key, with a gold chain leading to his watch pocket, where I am absolutely sure my watch is hiding.
The next photograph I have of him was taken in the spring of 1919, in France, where he was recovering from being gassed in the Battle of Meuse, at the Argonne Forest. Again, the telltale gold chain is present.
Fast forward 50 years, and I have a photograph of him taken at his retirement party from the railroad, in Chicago, IL. He’s wearing a wristwatch in this photograph, and in every subsequent photograph I have. Somewhere around the time of the second World War, pocketwatches went out of fashion. I don’t know how many moves, drawers, and housecleanings this watch had to survive to span an entire century and end up sitting on my shelf, but the fact that it has done so feels, in some small way, miraculous.
Update-February 23, 2006
It runs again! I took the watch to a local clock repairman, who cleaned and lubricated it, and it is running and keeping good time! I am unbelievably thrilled.
I have no idea who you are, but it was strange for me to find that someone with my name (your grandfather) died the year I was born. Jern is not exactly a common name.
My grandfather, Albert Simon Jern (born Oct 28, 1886) was Erik Philip Jern’s brother. Albert also worked for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for over fifty years.
I don’t know how much you know about the family, but I have some information if you are interested.
My grandfather, my great grandfather and my great, great grandfather all worked for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad. Happily, my Mother,an only child, has all three of their pocket watches, issued to them by the railroad when they each began work there. I have two siblings and each of us inherited one of these treasures.
When my time comes to pass this treasure along one of my great nieces or nephews will be gifted with it.
I have found so much information on the internet about the Railroad etc. I know that regardless of what somebody would pay for the watch it is a priceless treasure. I will value and hold mine in the highest regard and will ensure that it is again running and keeping perfect time! Your story warmed my heart and reminded me how fortunate we are, you, me and my sisters to own such legacies and treasures. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt, loving story.