Pocket Watch

Warning:  Here's the full story of two of my prize possessions.  In the early 70's I bought this pocket watch from a jeweler who was closing her store.  It was $15.  The watch was made in 1889 and inscribed for the 1893 World's Fair, officially know as the World's Columbian Exposition which was held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christoper Columbus' trip into the New World.  The extra photo is a US half dollar minted for the occasion.  As you can probably see, the watch is Am. Watch Co. - Waltham.  In the area of the second hand, it is inscribed, World's Fair 1893.  The inscription is very faint now, since a man who calls himself a professional watchmaker took it in for repair, kept it 9 months with various reasons for not repairing it including having to purchase expensive new tools, and then removed some of the inscription when he tried to clean the face.  Needless to say, I've never been back to his shop.   When I lay the coin on the watch, all the numerals are still visible so the size of the coin in the extra photo is deceiving.  The watch runs fine if I set it and wind it.  I keep in in a hanging position in a glass dome.  The back of the coin has one of Columbus' ships and the date 1492, along with the mint date of 1893. The coin is the first commemorative coin issued by the US. There have been many since.   If you've made it this far, I should thank you for reading and looking.  By the way, I read an article once that said the reason watches are set to 20 past 8 when they are displayed for sale is that setting gives the potential buyer the best view of the face of the watch.