Which watch and where to wear it

[Igor de LStok]

My first hat was a railway issue Tweed Byron Traveler which I got as part of my first clothing issue, along with two pairs of King Gee ("If they were any tougher they'd rust!") long sleeved blue shirts and trousers, when I started on the railways on No.27 Gang, West Wyalong, 34 years ago. I spent a few years working in the country, most of it as a Rail Flaw Detector Car Operator, and during that time I got into the habit of wearing a fob watch on my belt.



Why a fob watch? You'll think me vain but I didn't like the band of lilly white skin that spoiled my railway issue tan - I was young, ok? - and as a young, city-raised guy I was fascinated by Aussie country style. I hasten to add that it was an old-fashioned style by then and most of my mates were moving in the opposite direction, trying to look like disco lounge-lizards. After a while I became comfortable with wearing a fob watch and, even when I moved back to Sydney to settle, it was part of my work clothes for something like ten years or so afterwards.

Finally I caved in and started to follow the herd because the fob watch and hat didn't fit in when I started working in the office as a technical officer. The last vestage of my country days, my clasp knife which I also wore on my belt, went probably ten years or so ago when NSW enacted tougher laws about carrying a knife - I just couldn't justify a clasp knife and marlin spike when I worked on a computer eight hours a day.

Recently I've decided to start acting more like my age instead of my shirt-size. I wear a hat and I'm thinking of wearing a fob watch again as well, although I'll need to upgrade my old watch - I probably couldn't get the glass replaced. There is a practical advantage to the fob watch - I need reading glasses these days and the larger watch face can be read without dragging out my spec's or fumbling for my mobile phone, a distinct advantage at 3am when you've got a torch in the other hand.

Besides, I like fob watches.

My point, and I do have one, is how to wear a fob watch in semi-formal wear? The belt-pouch is cool on jeans and casual trousers and a fob watch and chain hanging across the waistcoat of a three piece suit is about the only jewelry you'll ever see me wear, but what about in between? The suit only ever gets aired at weddings, anniversaries and funerals and, whilst the work gear is comfortable, on weekends I want to wear something a bit more flash where the belt pouch would be out of place.

So any suggestions? Trouser pocket? But where to anchor the chain?

Cheers

Igor

[n11pilot]

That is an interesting question. Quite a few of my relatives, especially the ones who had served in WWI wore pocket watches. They are of course gone now but I can still remember the way they wore them. Most of the time I noticed them when they were dressed up and wearing the chain as you have described. I do remember my Uncle Frank wearing one once in what passed for casual in that generation. He carried it in his right pants pocket and pulled the chain out of the pocket and passed it under his belt letting the small charm on the end show. This way he could take his watch out with ease and check the time and if for some reason the watch worked out of his pocket it would hang by the chain and not fall and break. There may have been a small watch pocket sewn into the bottom of the regular pocket to accommodate the timepiece.

Except for formal wear I don't think there is a right or wrong way to wear a pocket watch. I think the important thing is that it is comfortable, it allows easy access to the watch and it keeps the watch secure.

[DanielJones]

Well if your chain has a T-bar then you can pass that through the button hole in the lapel of your suit coat and place the watch and chain in the breast pocket. Like thus.


If you wear a vest with your coats like I do then you can pass the T-bar through one of the button holes to hold it in place and put the watch in the small pocket of choice.


This fellow looks like he could be related to Blackthorn (or maybe it is him), but a similar idea on the watch and vest.


If you have a leather fob instead of a chain you could do the same lapel idea like Fred Astaire here.


Hope this helps out and gives you some ideas on the formal wearing of your pocket watch. On a side note, they can replace the crystal. Just take it to your friendly jeweler or watch shop that does watch repair in house. You don't want one that will have to send it out elsewhere. They will most likely talk you into a cleaning of your time piece, but it may be over due for that anyway. Well worth it if you want it running for another 50 years+.

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

If you wear it in your trouser pocket you could go with a couple of options. You could find a chain that has a large circular clasp that can attach to your belt loop or braces button (if you wear such devices). That way it is attached to your clothing fairly secure. It can also work in attaching it to a vest button when worn there.
Something like this.


Cheers!

Dan

[Igor de LStok]

Excellent feedback gentlemen! We are going into town this morning so I'm going to be looking at fob watches. I talked to my 18 year old about it this morning and he ran off and brought out his grandfather's fob watch - I assume my mother-in-law gave it to him - which, since he was a bridge ganger in the Victorian State railways might have been a railway issue. Going to have it appraised, I'll post photos later. Might have a look at waistcoats as well.

Cheers

Igor

[AeroDillo]

I frequently wear a vest without a coat (Texas...too hot for long sleeves ten months of the year) carry a cheap-o pocket watch, at least until I can find a decent one that won't break my already straining bank. I keep mine clipped to an inside pocket and run the chain between the third and fourth buttons. Most likely not the proper way to do it, but it's worked so far.

I've also known relatives who've carried on by hooking the chain through the buttonholes on their shirts and carrying it in a breast pocket. One day I'll get back to wearing shirts with more than three buttons and try it out.

[Igor de LStok]

I frequently wear a vest without a coat (Texas...too hot for long sleeves ten months of the year) carry a cheap-o pocket watch, at least until I can find a decent one that won't break my already straining bank. I keep mine clipped to an inside pocket and run the chain between the third and fourth buttons. Most likely not the proper way to do it, but it's worked so far.

It's just coming into Summer over here so my leather jacket is going into storage and I wear a sleevless vest from Kakadu Imports to work - its still chilly at 3am! The main impetus for wearing a fob watch is that I recently got a watch for thirty years service on the the railways and it is waaay to nice to wear for anything other than special ocassions.



Its a Dalvey full hunter that they had engraved with my name and start date, I had the choice of a wristwatch but I specifically wanted something that I could pass on to my kids and, now that I know that my son has his grandfather's watch, I'll probably leave it to my daughter. I doubt very much if either of them will work for the railways, I expect them to live their own lives and have their own story to tell, but they are both very proud of their heritage and this is part of it.

I've got a lot more of my own story to write yet though... so... months ago I picked up a cheap chinese fob watch that has not kept good time but, after checking the alternatives - I thought I'd try a new battery in it first and it seems to have fixed the problem - like you, I've other things that need my money. This will tell the time - and it'll make a statement - so it works!

What I will be doing next will be getting my father-in-law's watch cleaned up and fixed. It has a three figure number engraved on the back that makes me think it is a government issued timepiece but I need to check. As you can understand, knowing the correct time was important to staying alive when working on the track. The two things you had to have before you left the sheds in the morning was your T6300 (a form with the day's timetable obtained from the signal box) and "a watch with the correct railway time" - this was the time you got from the signalman who in turn would have got it from the Regional Signal Box whose clock would be synchonised with the one in Sydney Box.

The old railway joke goes that when the the ancient ganger had to be re-qualified for his "Trike Ticket" and was asked, "What are the two things you make sure you have on the trike when you leave in the morning?" He replied without a moment's hesitation...

"Tucker box and rabbit traps!"

cheers

Igor

[n11pilot]

Damn Igor, that is one fine looking timepiece! I can see why you would want to keep it for special occasions.

By the way I enjoyed your photos of the rolling stock. I think I may have seen similar vehicles when I was kid visiting relatives at the B+O yards.

[Blackthorn]

This fellow looks like he could be related to Blackthorn (or maybe it is him), but a similar idea on the watch and vest.

Well, now my secret is out. Yes, that is me. I was born 400 years ago, in a Scottish village called Glenfennen. Every 30 to 40 years I have to change my identity, get new documents and begin a life somewhere else in the world. It's not easy being a Highlander Immortal.

There can be only one!

[davidg]

It's just coming into Summer over here so my leather jacket is going into storage and I wear a sleevless vest from Kakadu Imports to work - its still chilly at 3am! The main impetus for wearing a fob watch is that I recently got a watch for thirty years service on the the railways and it is waaay to nice to wear for anything other than special ocassions.

Boy! They really LIKE you guys on the railways! After 30 years of Government service you're lucky if they give you a web based ceremony mentioning your name!

[Igor de LStok]

I'm actually one of the last - I was told to choose my watch before the end of November because the awards programme was closing down. There probably won't be much call for it in the future - "portable careers" are the norm today and it's considered unusual to stay with the same firm for an extended length of time.

The railways is not the only organisation that appreciates long term professionals. My wife has been a nurse at the same hospital for over twenty years and her management worship the ground she walks on. She's proven herself to be rock-solid reliable in an industry that is finding it hard to keep its work-force. Showing appreciation for staff and encouraging their professional development is just the same as the maintenance and improvement of any other valuable resource. Ask any engineer - failure to maintain and improve your infrastructure, whether it is iron rails or experienced staff, is suicide.

Cheers

Igor

[n11pilot]

Ask any engineer - failure to maintain and improve your infrastructure, whether it is iron rails or experienced staff, is suicide.

Cheers

Igor

Well said, Igor. Somewhere along the line between the "Me" generation and the "Won't try" generation we lost that ideal.

[Bill]

Nice time piece, Igor. The acknowledgement of the longevity of a career is all but gone.

People are always shocked when I tell them I have been with the same company for over 25 years. On average people change jobs every seven years.

[Doug Palumbo]

Great thread guys! Makes me want to get a pocket watch as I don't wear a wrist watch anymore.

[Blackthorn]

The last vestage of my country days, my clasp knife which I also wore on my belt, went probably ten years or so ago when NSW enacted tougher laws about carrying a knife - I just couldn't justify a clasp knife and marlin spike when I worked on a computer eight hours a day.

You have me intrigued, Igor...what were the tougher laws regarding clasp knives? Is that any folding knife, even a Swiss Army knife? Or just lockblades, or what? Is it now illegal to carry cutting tools? I'm not being sarcastic here, just wondering how far things have gone there, and when we can expect that kind of thing here.