Got a little dirt on me

[capsoda]

Finally got to go on a dig a week ago. It was a late 1800s crapper that was very interesting. It was a wood liner, cyprus I think, and it had a brick partition. The outhouse set on one half and the other half had three clay pipes running in different directions so the liquid could leach out. I couldn't do any of the heavy digging but I could sure scratch around. There were two other holes my buddies had already dug but they were both post 1900s and didn't yield much that was worth anything. Didn't find much in this one either but I did find a watch. Didn’t look like much at first because I couldn’t get it open. I mixed a batch of acid that is used to eat away steal parts with out harming anything else. It soaked for several days before I could open it but it finally came open.

It has an American Watch Company (Waltham) movement and it was 17 jewels with 4 large jewels. It is a Model 1870 and was made in 1871 and it was a one day run. It is a size 18, key wind key set non-adjusted (except for the gold balance) movement. It was a pretty good watch for the day and was last serviced on February 5, 1895.

It was when I checked the hallmarkmark on the case that I was surprised. It is English made case and was assayed in Sheffield, England. Check out the pictures.

 

[capsoda]

You can see B.McG. & Co., which is probably the distributor and right under that is the hallmark and the serial #554305, The hallmark is the tombstone shape with the crown (for Sheffield) and what is under the crown that caught my attention.

 

[capsoda]

That’s right guy and girls…it says “K18â€. It is a solid 18 carat gold case. I put it in a peroxide cleaning solution that will eat up anything that is not 14k or higher. Solid 18k. Made my day let me tell ya. It was good to get out but this made it really worth while

 

[xxfollyxx]

Halmark
I was thinking gold when I saw the crown....

"The next mark we see is a Crown or Gold Standard Mark. This was first introduced in 1798 and can now been seen on all UK hallmarked gold that’s 9, 14 18 and 22ct. The crown also appears on old 12 and 15 carat gold, however this was stopped in 1932."


Awesome find, you going to sell it? If so, as is or scrap? Should fetch several hundred in scrap alone.

 

[capsoda]

It is dented up and thw engraviing on the case is mostly worn off. The first service was done in 1873 and the last in 1895 so it has 22 years of wear plus being in the stew for over a hundred so it is scrap.

The crown was the Sheffield Assay mark until the mid to late 1800s. I can't remember the exact date they started using the crown for all gold.

 

[AntiqueMeds]

nice hunk of gold. congrats.
its always fun to dig gold items, since gold doesnt tarnish its always bright and shiny as soon is you pull it from the ground.

 

[towhead]

Way cool! -Julie

 

[RICKJJ59W]

I would have called this thread "Back in Time" but that's just me []

Great to see you out near the action Cap. Cool watch! and solid 18 k bling to boot.
The shoulder must be getting better,unless it took you a week to type all that [8D]

 

[creeper71]

ORIGINAL: xxfollyxx

Halmark
I was thinking gold when I saw the crown....

"The next mark we see is a Crown or Gold Standard Mark. This was first introduced in 1798 and can now been seen on all UK hallmarked gold that’s 9, 14 18 and 22ct. The crown also appears on old 12 and 15 carat gold, however this was stopped in 1932."


Awesome find, you going to sell it? If so, as is or scrap? Should fetch several hundred in scrap alone.

the case alone should be over a troy ounce so he is looking atleast 1300.00 I would think.. for scrap

 

[RedGinger]

Way to go, Cap. Good to see you digging again and on the forum. How were you able to tell what the last date of service was on the watch?