Finds in my loft.

[Jamesey1981]

Been organising some stuff that I inherited from my mum when she passed away in 2013, figured it was about time, in amongst it were some things that belonged to my nan, my granddad's war medals and suchlike, but I found a few little bits that I thought some of you might find interesting so I thought I'd share them with you all.

The photos are showing in the wrong orientation when I view this post, but click on them and they're the right way up.

First is a rather lovely little silver vesta case, hallmarked 1925, I've always wanted to find one of these with my detector but finding one in my house will also do!

Next is an 1884 Victoria half crown, spinks and numista have this as a pretty rare coin and put a value of a couple of hundred quid on it, it does have a little ding in the rim which won't help the value, but I had been planning to clean it to a sparkle, definitely won't be doing that now...

Finally a little gold watch, it is gold, stamped 9 375, no date letter but it is early as the case back looks to open like a pocket watch, I can't get it open though and I don’t want to force it. It is missing its minute hand and its glass, but amazingly after spending a good few decades in a 1930s biscuit tin, I wound it, and it not only ticks, but it keeps time with its one remaining hand, that really made me smile, they certainly built things to last back then.

[Blackadder43]

My wife still has a few boxes of items from both her parents up in the loft too...its a task she always puts off
Her dad used to repair watches back in the day, so imagine there is some goodies in amongst his spares boxes

That vesta box is lovely, i too would love to find one of those in the fields...

What makes the coin so Rare Jamesey?

[Jamesey1981]

My wife still has a few boxes of items from both her parents up in the loft too...its a task she always puts off
Her dad used to repair watches back in the day, so imagine there is some goodies in amongst his spares boxes

That vesta box is lovely, i too would love to find one of those in the fields...

What makes the coin so Rare Jamesey?

Think it's just a year that they didn't mint many, about 1.5 million in total, which would mean there won't be too many survivors, no errors or anything on this one but just a scarce coin. Here's a page that gives some info https://www.allcoinvalues.com/united-ki ... -head.html

[Jamesey1981]

Regarding the vesta case, just noticed that I looked at the wrong chart for the year, actually 1909 rather than 1925

[Dave The Slave]

Some nice discoveries from your inheritance.
Always a pleasure to see Victorian Silver.
Things were built to last then, by Craftsmen rather than a production line.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Jamesey1981]

Some nice discoveries from your inheritance.
Always a pleasure to see Victorian Silver.
Things were built to last then, by Craftsmen rather than a production line.
Cheers,
Dave.

They were built to last indeed, I'm really intrigued by the watch, I have only ever seen a wristwatch that opens like this on the antiques roadshow and I would love to know the date of it, I'm sure it will be dated on the movement but the case back is a bit battered and dented and it doesn't open when I push the little button, really don't want to damage it further so I'm wondering if it's worth a trip to an expert.

[Oxgirl]

Lovely finds! I have a few vesta cases now. I love the unusual ones and are nice to have around with a few swan matches to light scented candles.

I too have a 1920s gold rolex that I was given as a present for my 18th birthday. They weren’t worth much then although quality vintage ladies watches are going up in value now quite steeply. Trying to catch up with the inflation in men’s watch prices! Anyway mine opens at the back too. Not in quite the same way but just to view the back movement. I hope you get that one open and it’s a lot more interesting though

[Jamesey1981]

Lovely finds! I have a few vesta cases now. I love the unusual ones and are nice to have around with a few swan matches to light scented candles.

I too have a 1920s gold rolex that I was given as a present for my 18th birthday. They weren’t worth much then although quality vintage ladies watches are going up in value now quite steeply. Trying to catch up with the inflation in men’s watch prices! Anyway mine opens at the back too. Not in quite the same way but just to view the back movement. I hope you get that one open and it’s a lot more interesting though

The price increases with rolex watches are terrifying, I have a 2001 steel and white gold datejust, I think I paid about 1300 quid for it back then, but it was definitely less than two grand, now I have to keep it insured for over 5, best investment I've ever made and I didn't buy it to make money, I rarely wear it now as it's just too valuable.

This watch is old, really old, I'll take a few more pictures tomorrow so you can see the way it opens, it has a large external hinge on one side and a little tab to pull it open on the other, I'm expecting a miniature pocket watch movement in it, wouldn't surprise me if it was pre 1900.

I think I might take it to a repairer near me that services my rolex, it may be possible to restore it, but it may not be economical to do so, would be nice to see it keeping time with two hands though.

Also found a beautifully elegant and wafer thin 1960s Avia with the 17 jewel calibre 320 movement in the same box, thought that would be too new for the forum, but that also runs perfectly and I've ordered a new leather strap for it as I intend to wear it.

[Easylife]

A lovely vesta case.
The watch is very nice too, it just seems a bit odd how it has lost a hand from under glass?

[Jamesey1981]

A lovely vesta case.
The watch is very nice too, it just seems a bit odd how it has lost a hand from under glass?

It hasn't, the glass is gone too unfortunately. This is why I'm amazed it still runs.

[Bors]

A lovely vesta case.
The watch is very nice too, it just seems a bit odd how it has lost a hand from under glass?

It reminds me of the one Nelly Pledge kept going on about.

Lovely heirlooms though. Myself I couldn`t part with heirlooms as their too personal.

[Jamesey1981]

I don't intend to part with any of them, but I would like to know more about them, and I also might like to get it repaired.

I have managed to pop the case open.

It has an import mark rather than a hallmark, glasgow assay office 9 375 for 9ct, I think the sponsors mark is JW which could well be James Weir, but there's another mark which I think is a worn date letter and I can't identify it, I have cropped in on the marks below.

The Glasgow mark makes it post 1906, but there's a big date range for that mark so it doesn't narrow it down.

Also stamped claridge 1 10th gold 9ct on the bracelet clasp, so that will be rolled gold and I think claridge is the maker.

No markings on the movement other than the RSAF timing adjustment marks, but it does look like a quality piece, all very nicely machined, this would tie in with the James Weir connection as he acted as an agent for a lot of Swiss manufacturers that needed a British address for the assay office.

Can anyone help with this please? I can find similar watches from the 20s with some art deco embellishments but this looks earlier, so I'm thinking 1906 to 1914 as there can't have been much gold being imported during World War 1, just an assumption though as although I'm good with watches from the 50s onwards this is of an age where I don't have much experience.

[Jamesey1981]

Also, here's the 1960s Avia for anyone that's interested, bit grubby as it had a leatherette strap that had perished and gone gooey, so I'll clean that up when the new strap arrives.

Gold plated, not solid gold, although these did come cased in gold too, lovely quality movement on these and wafer thin.

[Bors]

That`s a very nice thin watch . Gold plated or not its still a very nice watch to wear . I`d be very happy to have that on my wrist .

[Jamesey1981]

That`s a very nice thin watch . Gold plated or not its still a very nice watch to wear . I`d be very happy to have that on my wrist .

I'll be wearing it. Kept perfect time since I wound it yesterday, have a nice dark brown leather strap on the way that should suit it perfectly.