Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Howard 16 Size RailRoad Chronometer Series 11. Mainspring Info. Listed Also.


The Howard 21 Jewel RailRoad Chronometer is a very nice pocket watch. These were actually made by the Keystone Howard Co.



The dial on this watch is a true Montgomery style dial which has the minutes numbered around the outer chapter of the porcelain dial.



These dials are rather unique as they snap onto the movement.  There are no dial legs that hold the dial in place.




This shows the back of the Howard snap-on dial.  You can see the lip that snaps onto the movement.



This shows the dial side of the Howard movement.  You can also see the setting mechanism.  The hour wheel has been removed.



This view shows the upper plates of the movement with all of the RailRoad markings.  These movements are very simple where one plate mounts over the pivots of the gear train.  These watches are adjusted to 5 positions.



Here you can see the RailRoad markings.  This Howard has a unique serial number for those that like that sort of thing as I do.



There is only one minor flaw in the construction of these watches.  This is the click that engages the ratchet wheel when the watch is being wound.  This is a long flat spring that is mounted with one screw that is on the side of the movement.  This click fits between the top of the mainspring barrel and the ratchet wheel.  Many times this will slip out of position.  When this happens it can prevent the mainspring barrel from turning which stops the movement due to lack of power.

For the most part, these are really nice pocket watches that function very well and keep very good time.  These watches use an HR white alloy mainspring.  The HR number is SA-353.  The Howard factory mainspring number is 329 and it has the TEE end.

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