Antique Books and Old Collectible Things

Vintage innovation, modern appreciation

When I purchased the two boxes of tools from an antique watch repair shop, I didn't realize what I wonderful set of tools I would be receiving.

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

From Ring Sizers, to Clock Repair Tools, various precision tools to the manual air compressor, there's a lot of tools to learn with the watch repair business!  Right now, I've moved everything into storage and hope to have time to learn how to repair vintage watches next year.

 

   

I've started collecting old watch repair catalogs, so I can understand exactly what I acquired and how it works.  Some of this is obvious: the vice grip, the drill bits; but other repair tools seem a mystery: Do you know what the wooden box does?  It appears to light up, but is broken.  More repair work to be done before I even get started!

These is a special magnification loop.  The long part hooks over your ear, and one eye piece rotates down in front of your eye. The other eye piece further magnifies the object by swinging down in front of the first eyepiece; so you have two glass magnifiers in front of one eye.  This appears to be circa 1920-1930, and the empty casing is circa 1930.  The magnification lenses work perfectly today.

 

The tools appear to be in excellent working order, with minimal upkeep needed.  I'm looking forward to servicing and using them.

What treasures does a vintage watch repair shop contain after 50 years?

When I purchased the contents of a vintage watch repair shop, it was pretty much sight unseen!

These are the boxes as I received them...what do you see?

(Click on the pictures to see the enlarged image)

  

     

 

   

Many special items were found - pieces of watches from the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.  The tools are wonderful, and I'm looking forward to learning how to repair and restore my own vintage and antique watches.

I bought a vintage watch repair shop over the summer...what did you do?

Yes, I purchased the contents of a vintage watch repair shop over the summer!

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

 

I helped out a family with cleaning out an estate for a family member. The father had a shop and used to repair watches and clocks. When I found this out, I said that I would like to buy any tools they were willing to sell me, as I'd like to learn watch repair for myself and also for a charity shop I volunteer at.

Watches top row, left to right: Westclox, with repair instruction tag; Etanche; Swank with incorrect band; Ultra-coll Lord Elgin with faux band that is really a 1960's strechy band; Middle row: Olivia with no band, Timex with ladies band; Hampden pocketwatch; Binson black leather band, NOS; unknown pocketwatch face with full gears; very cool Bulova, Westfield with missing second hand, and Longines, with a matching crystal and engraved faceplate ready to be installed (not shown).

After spending a week with the family, I was astounded at the generous offer I was given: two boxes with the contents of the shop, for the price of LESS than a single watch repair. So, I'm jazzed beyond belief. I hope to start studying watch repair next year.

Who orders a 16 pound book and lives to tell about it?

Who orders a 16 pound book?

Well, I am one of the foolish persons who sheepishly orders what I like instead of what is actually practical.

This isn't the prettiest book I ever ordered, and it's certainly not the most practical.  But it does contain some wonderful fashion images.

So what exactly does this 16 pound book contain?

It's a vintage men's clothing catalog from 1910. Here's the details:

Chicago Tailoring Company Fall and Winter 1910-11. Fashions for Men Leather cover, had gilt impressions.

Sample rectangles for cloth inside along with printed drawings of clothing on being modeled. 19½" X 17", 35 boards printed on both sides, Cloth samples were not in good condition, due to age, and have been removed. Large and heavy sample book.

So, in English, this was the Fall Fashion line from the Chicago Tailoring Company which sent out these large books to sit inside tailor's stores at the turn of the century, show customers the pictures, and last the Fall season so tailor's could sell their suits. It's a vintage sample book.

Unfortunately, it's not in great condition, so I'm going to scan in the fashion images and see if I can fix them up.

When looking at the photos, I placed a yardstick next to the book for comparison.

For those of you who don't believe in purchasing books in poor condition, nevermind. You will shirk when you see this book. And for the record, I am wondering if I made a mistake. Or not.

And for those of you interested in costuming and fashion, please contact me! I'd love to hear from you.

1929 Hat Sizing Chart for Men or Boys

1929 Hat Sizing Chart for Men or Boys

Here is a great hat sizing and measuring chart from an antique store catalog, circa 1929.  Not only does it show how to measure your head, it also offers a simple hat sizing chart which easily converts inches to hat sizes.

6 ea: ORIGINAL WW2 Rifle Pistol Sharpshooter Pins Silver

6 ea: ORIGINAL WW2 Rifle Pistol Sharpshooter Pins Silver

Item: 6 ea: World War 2 Warrant Officer Bars Pins. Alloys range from pot metal to Sterling Silver. Various pin backs. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown.
Original pins, not a reproduction.
Various conditions. I believe these are all new, but some scratched against each other so they look a bit scuffed. Note bottom right pin is bent.
Era: WWII
Size: Varies. Most are between 1"-2"

17 ea ORIGINAL WW2 Distinctive Insignia Enamel Pins

17 ea ORIGINAL WW2 Distinctive Insignia Enamel Pins 2 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL Army Enlisted Collar (Hat?) Pins with Dual pin backs. Pins are lightly scratched and slightly worn as shown from improper storage. 4 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL Marine Corps Reserve Enamel Pin with screw back, light blue. Appears to be brass with enamel overlay. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. 1 ea: World War 2 American Legion Medal Ribbon (Brown with multi-stripe).*Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. Standard lapel back for the period. The finish is cloth over metal. 2 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL WW2 Gemsco Honorable Discharge Pin NEW. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. Standard screw clasp back for the period. The finish appears to be enamel red dot and gold overlay on wings. 3 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL US Naval Reserve Honorable Discharge Pin with screw back, white. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. 4 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL US Navy Honorable Discharge Pin with screw back, red, white, blue. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. One pin back is damaged and in poor condition. 1 ea: label for Army Good Conduct Pin, no pin enclosed with this auction. Alloy of pins ranges from pot metal to enamel overlay to cloth. See individual item description for more detail. Original pins, not a reproduction. Slight scratching on pins due to improper storage, does not affect pins in a significant manner. Some finish appears to be slightly worn as shown, due to storage. Cardstock: Pins are on original cardstock as shown. New, Maker's marks are listed next to item description if visible on military pin Era: WWII Size: Varies, Approximately .50" to 1"

 

2 ea: WW2 Wolf Brown U.S. Collar Badge Pins NIP

2 ea: WW2 Wolf Brown U.S. Collar Badge Pins NIP

Item: 2 ea: World War 2 Wolf Brown U.S. Collar Badge Pins.*Dual pin back. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. Note missing pin back.
Original pins, not a reproduction. Original cardstock included as shown.
New, no makers marks visible on back of pin.
Era: WWII
Size: Approximately .5" x .75"

15 ea ORIGINAL WW2 Distinctive Insignia Enamel Pins

15 ea ORIGINAL WW2 Distinctive Insignia Enamel Pins 2 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL Army Enlisted Collar (Hat?) Pins with Dual pin backs. Pins are lightly scratched and slightly worn as shown from improper storage. One pin has dual back clips, and another has a screw back, might be a lapel pin. If you are looking at the set of two on the bottom, this screwback lapel pin is the lower left. 2 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL Marine Corps Reserve Enamel Pin with screw back, light blue. Appears to be brass with enamel overlay. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. One pin is missing the round screw back. 1 ea: World War 2 American Legion Medal Ribbon (Brown with multi-stripe).*Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. Standard lapel back for the period. The finish is cloth over metal. 3 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL WW2 Gemsco Honorable Discharge Pin NEW. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. Standard screw clasp back for the period. The finish appears to be enamel red dot and gold overlay on wings. 3 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL US Naval Reserve Honorable Discharge Pin with screw back, white. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. 4 ea: World War 2 ORIGINAL US Navy Honorable Discharge Pin with screw back, red, white, blue. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown. One pin back is damaged and in poor condition. Alloy of pins ranges from pot metal to enamel overlay to cloth. See individual item description for more detail. Original pins, not a reproduction. Slight scratching on pins due to improper storage, does not affect pins in a significant manner. Some finish appears to be slightly worn as shown, due to storage. Cardstock: Pins are on original cardstock as shown. New, Maker's marks are listed next to item description if visible on military pin Era: WWII Size: Varies, Approximately .50" to 1"

 

2 ea: ORIGINAL WW2 Warrant Officer NIP

2 ea: ORIGINAL WW2 Warrant Officer NIP

Item: 1 ea: World War 2 Warrant Officer Bars Pins. Burgundy colored bars with gold center, alloy unknown. Probably collar pins. Dual pin back. Pins are much more colorful and in better condition than shown.
Original pins, not a reproduction. Original cardstock included as shown.
New, no marks viewable.
Era: WWII
Size: 1" x .25"