Takin' Twenty with the Virginian Brethren by Skip Salmon

[NW Mailing List]

Our local jeweler in Victoria was Joe Keeton, and he was the one Granddad  
(W.R. Bloyd) and other Virginian men took their watches to to be cleaned,  
regulated and set. I remember Joe setting railroad and other watches by the  
big regulator clock on the wall behind the counter, which was on railroad 
time,  but I can't recall a sign anywhere offhand.
 
And BTW, I'm still looking for Granddad's 1923 vintage 21 jewel Elgin B.W.  
Raymond railroad watch, serial number 26529327. It should also have some  
cleaning dates and the initials JAK (for Joe A. Keeton) scratched inside the  
back cover. I know it's like the hunt for the needle in the haystack, and 
it may  have been broken up for parts already, but one can always hope. I 
still have the  watch chain he wore on the road, and I'd love to have the watch 
to go with it if  it's still out there somewhere. The NAWCC has the serial 
number flagged for me,  in case any of their members report it.
 
Greg Harrod
Fredericksburg, Va.

 
 
In a message dated 12/19/2013 7:15:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

 
Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with eight of the Brethren 
 and Friends of the Virginian Railway.  This was our annual Christmas  
session and we were blessed to have Mike and Fran from Peoria, IL visiting  with 
us.  They were on their way back home from a Christmas visit to  Mike's 
relatives in Rocky Mount, VA. Mike is an HO modeler and is working on  an N&W 
layout with steam locomotives, and had a question for the  Brethren.  He 
asked if anyone remembered what the sign looked like that  jewelers posted in 
their shop window, who set and repaired railroad approved  pocket watches.  
None of the Brethren could recall.  Does anyone out  there know or have a 
photo of such a sign? 
Landon Gregory brought a small leather pouch filled with Railroad approved  
pocket watches and he and Gordon Hamilton had quite a discussion about the  
Hamilton and Elgin beauties.  Such terms as Crescent Street movement, up  
and down, over and under, Keystone case, Montgomery dial, North Shore were  
bantered about.  I have posted a photo of Landon, complete with white  glove, 
performing some sort of ritual on one of these watches on this site  under 
"Skip's Photos".   
I showed the Brethren the Holiday 2013 issue of "Model Railroader" magazine 
 with our good friend Gerry Albers' spread showing his spectacular  
Virginian Railway Deepwater District in HO scale. In the article he  referred to 
the "Brethren family" as "an indication of how close they remain  to each 
other and their former employer" and how he has "tapped" this Takin'  Twenty 
reports for information to build his layout.  Thanks Gerry for the  plug; the 
Brethren were impressed! 
The Jewell from the Past is from September 27, 2013:  "Cornbread told  a 
story about the luxury of being able to communicate with train crews by  
radio.  He once remembered calling the dispatcher and asking him to relay  to an 
incoming coal train to slow down a little, so he could have the yard  clear 
when it got to AG.  When the yard was clear, he called the  dispatcher back 
and told him to let the train come on in.  The dispatcher  responded, 'never 
mind, he wrecked' ". 
Also visiting us last night from the North Pole was Santa, who brought a  
bag of goodies for each of the Brethren.  I have posted a photo of him on  
this site under "Skip's Photos".   
Remember the Brethren will not meet the next two weeks, so there will not  
be another "Takin Twenty" report until January 9, 2014. 
Then there's this called "A Christmas Love Story":  A couple were  
Christmas shopping.  The shopping center was packed.  As the wife  walked through 
one of the malls, she was surprised when she looked around to  find her 
husband was no where to be seen.  She was quite upset because  they had a lot to 
do.  She became so worried that she called him on her  cell phone to ask him 
where he was.  In a quiet voice he said, "Do you  remember the jewelers we 
went into about five years ago where you fell in love  with that diamond 
necklace that we couldn't afford, and I told you  I would get it for you one 
day?"  The wife choked up and started to cry  and said, "Yes, I do remember 
that shop."  He replied, "Well, I'm in the  bar next door." 
Time to pull the pin on this one! 
Departing Now from V248, Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New  Year! 
Skip Salmon 
DII 
__._,_.___



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