Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on September 15, 2002 at 13:03:46 from 213.210.19.24 user ACB.
In Reply to: Re: All references to "watch", meaning timepiece posted by John Wilson on September 15, 2002 at 11:52:11:
The wristwatch first became commonplace in WW1 where it displaced the fob watch. So we are in a sort of interregnum period between the wars, with pocket watches still in common use but wrist watches as the new thing. Pocket watches were mass produced and cheap enough for middle class children to have them by this time.
The eelman, Jim Woodall and the boatbuilder all have large pocket watches; no doubt about that. These very big watches were popular because large, very accurate, pocket watches were used by railwaymen.
Indeed the Hamilton Mark 22 chronometer watch of WW2, as supplied to smaller USN ships, was their standard railway watch fitted in a chronometer case with gimbals.
High quality pocket watches ceased to be mad soon after WW2 due to the impact of the wristwatch but this does not apply to mas produced ones; this suggests a significant price difference between wrist watches and pocket watches.
Nancy has a wristwatch - identified as such.
John's watch is hung from the tent pole along with his pocket barometer - a Victorian item about the size of a pocket watch. I fancy it is a pocket watch, because it is "in the cabin" in WDMTGTS, not on his wrist.
Dick pulls his watch out i.e. it is a pocket watch.
Ladies such as Mrs Barrable probably used pocket watches - often attached to a chatelaine and very decorative..