Vintage wrist watches

I've collected old wrist and pocket watches for quite a few years now, generally I prefer pre 1950 items but do have a few classically styled post 1950 example but my interest wains with the introduction of the quartz watch.

I don't often buy watches now as I have one or more of each 'type' I have an interest in....however on occasion and when the price is right I will buy a watch...or two!

These two are such items, both bought for a couple of quid each....neither work but both are in stunningly good cosmetic condition which is everything!

You can buy a watch working and that is great however the vast majority will need a service and many, many 'overwound' watches need little more than a service to get them going again as the old oils gum up over the years and stop the watch from functioning correctly or at all.

These two however need a little more, the Apex needs a new mainspring which I will get put in with a service and the 'Ingersol' watch has a few mechanical faults but the 'pin lever' movements are fairly easy to find so replacement should be easy and cheap!

A couple of things to look for in a watch is does the second hand 'tick' when the watch is gently shaken if so the balance wheel is good, also worth seeing if the hands set ok too, it is also important that the dial is in good condition as it is very expensive and difficult to match the dial when getting it restored.

Here are the watches;

Both together, roughly 32mm across the dial including winder

The Deco inspired Apex with it's swivel lugs, blued steel hands and sub second dial at the bottom of the dial/face

The back view with it's stainless steel rear cover

and cover removed showing the very clean and again deco inspired movement

The Swiss 15 jewelled movement

The Ingersol 'BIJOU'

With front cover removed showing the excellent dial condition again with a sub dial and blued steel hands.

The chrome plated rear cover would more than likely date this to the 1930's

The beautiful dial in excellent condition.

The movement with cover removed more than likely made by Theil brothers of Thuringia.

Wilkinson Sword Empire Razor set

I acquired this Wilkinson Sword Empire Razor set recently for a song, in very good original and virtually unused( if ever) condition, here's a few photographs as it arrived; 

The oak box in very good condition but much in need of a clean and polish.

And it's contents, on pigskin strop in silver plated holder, silver plated 'Empire' razor, box of unopened unused blades, card lid insert and instructions for use and care of strop.

Removed from box, blue velvet lining is in excellent condition.

The 'unopened' blade box,

And it's contents.

The razor before cleaning.

Box after a clean, sand and polish

And it's contents

The internals showing blade holding arrangement

And it in blade release position

With blade released ready for removing

Makers marks to rear of head assembly

Blade packaging front and rear

And advertising insert for 'Zero shaving cream' 

Outer advert

And advert 'blurb'

Front of instructions

And rear

Strop after re-dressing in it's polished silver plated holder

German WWI Fern-glas 08 vintage binocular

I bought these German First World War military Fern-glas binoculars fairly recently, optically they were in very good clean condition though the exterior needed a good clean!
They are of the Galilean type and do not use prisms, in essence they are like looking down toilet roll tubes magnified six times.
Optically the view is very crisp and surprisingly bright for such an old instrument  from 1916.

The 'Fern-glas 08 were introduced in 1908 as the standard binocular the infantry throughout the German army. 
They were produced by a multitude of sub-contracted manufacturers, this pair being made by C.P Goerz of Berlin. The Fernglas 08 have 6 times magnification and a field of view of 77.4 m/1000m with 39mm objective lenses.
The markings are clearly visible on the focus wheel the type and mark; Fernglas 08 and the serial number Nr.61496 above the manufacturers mark of C.P. GOERZ BERLIN.  The left hand connecting arm is marked IX.16 indicating that these binoculars were manufactured in September 1916. The top of the connecting arm is marked with a large K which denotes the use of special lubricants to allow for usr in extreme cold weather, it may be these were intended or even used on the Russian front? 

Here they are after a good clean and polish but not too much as I didn't want to remove the patina.

Vintage Valet Autostrop razor

Ok we should hopefully be now back up and running after a brief hiatus due to technical difficulties!

As a fan of all things mechanical and old/vintage then it was only a matter of time before I discovered old shaving razors.

I got my first old razor a while ago now contained within a gentleman's travel shaving set and being curious I had to try it using the original 1960's blades,....and I am still here to tell the tale and not a hint of tetanus!

Anyway as a collector you'll know how these things go, one leads to two to three and so on til you've loads of the things!

Here's a Valet 'Autostrop' I found recently as an example, it was virtually mint/NOS complete in it's plated box with unused horsehide strop, unopened blades and instructions, after buying one, reading up a bit and trying to shave with the thing I bought another and another and I know it won't be the last as when set up correctly they are great shavers!

Two Valet's after cleaning, a silver plated Canadian VC1/Model B and a chrome plated English made VC3, both use different blade retaining systems. 

Canadian silver plated VC1/Model B

Canadian VC1/Model B showing '1907 PATENT' markings.

Side view

Blade holder housing on VC1 Model B

Side view showing stropping gears.

Rear view of English made VC3

Blade retaining system on VC3 

VC3 with handle unscrewed.

Side view of VC3.

The two Valet's as found and an old Personna 'double edged'.

The VC1 Model B as found in it's box with strop and blade holder.

Not too pretty was it?

Fancy shaving with it?.....no neither did I!

Hmm!

And the worst of the lot!

The English made VC3 wasn't quite so bad but still needed a clean!

The one that started it all an English made rhodium plated VC2.

With instructions removed.

The contents unpacked...razor, strop, NOS blades in holder and instructions.

And I found this lurking immaculate original makers stamp under the backing card!