For sale we have a 1940s Record Pocket watch, issued to British Rail Midlands division. It is an open face pocket watch with a coin edge screw front and rear. The case is formed of nickel and is a large size at 58mm. It has a beautiful glass with bevelled edge and a good original enamel dial with Roman Numerals. The thermally blued spade and whip hands are large and well-designed. To the rear, it has the BR (M) signing, with the issue number 18901. The back unscrews and inside it is signed “Pure Nickel”. It has a 15-jewel manual wind Record calibre 431 movement. It is a good quality Swiss lever movement which is keeping time to within +30 seconds a day.
 
The British railways always had a need for reliable time keeping on the move. The invention of the rail was a big driver for the mass manufacture of pocket watches, particularly in the US and the UK. Without accurate timekeeping, chaos would ensure, with an unreliable schedule and a risk to life.
 
They had pocket watches manufactured an issued specifically for use on the Railways, from the late 1800s. This example is from the 1940s from its design and issue number. It will have been used by either a station master or a guard.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
 
Dial:
The dial is enamel and is in good original condition. It has good and clear railroad track, roman numerals and signing. It is a bright white tone. There are no chips. It has a slight hairline from the centre near 2 O’clock.
 
Hands:
The hands are original. They are of spade and whip style with a thermally blued finish. The blued finish is in good condition, with a bright shine. There is no bending to the hands.
 
Glass:
The glass is original and is in good condition with a bevelled edge.
 
Loop:
The crown, stem and loop are original and are in average condition. It has some greening and light scratching. The loop is slightly bent.
 
Case:
It is an open face pocket watch, with a coin edge screw on front. The coin edge is in good condition, and it screws down well, with a good thread. It has light surface scratching associated with age.
 
Caseback:
The screw back is in good condition. It has a coin edge finish which is in good condition. The British Rail engraving is good and clear. The thread is good and it screws down well. It has light surface scratching associated with age.
 
Movement:
The movement is a Record calibre 431 movement. It is a good quality 15 jewel movement, which is manual wind.
 
The service history is unknown, but the movement is functioning well. It keeps time to within +30 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 335 and a beat error of 0.0m/s.
 
Case dimensions:
Case width: 57.9mm
Case length: 58mm
Case length with crown: 73.9mm
Case length with crown loop: 83mm
Case Depth: 19.3mm