Who uses their Watch Pocket?

[Sir Ratchetspanner]

Just  yesterday the dichotomy of jeans came up during a discussion about the spicifc gravity of minerals in Geology. This is what my professor told us about it

The denim jean invented by Levi Strouse to met the needs of California gold rush miners. Before the use of denim the Strouse company made pants from just thin fabric and stitched on pockets. Complaints about the pockets riping off the pant due to the weight of the gold they would put in them, forced Strouse to create a pant that was durable and useful. The watch pocket and brass rivets where added and these features have remained.

That sounds suspiciously like an urban legend to me. Gold may be heavy stuff, but it would be a very very lucky miner to collect enough to tear even the most poorly made pockets. The durability of jeans can probably be attributed merely to the fact that any kind of mining is rather rough work, and somewhat hard on the clothing.

In europe at that time, a durable pair of trousers would be made from wool, which would have been in short supply in california, and not terribly suited to the climate anyway. Thus there would be a gap in the market for durable pair of cotton trousers.

[Dline]

  http://www.levistrauss.com/Heritage/ForStudentsAndTeachers.aspx
The entire  story can be found . p0wnd

[Dline]

Also, seeing as Gold's spicifc gravity is something like 19.3 you figure it out sir.

[Datamancer]

http://www.levistrauss.com/Heritage/ForStudentsAndTeachers.aspx
The entire  story can be found . p0wnd

There's no need for all that p0wned rubbish. Take it over to some anime forums.

Companies rewrite thier corporate histories as they see fit. I agree..it sounds like an urban legend. Your average miner was lucky to pull a few specks of gold dust out of a river, much less huge nuggets that would be tearing pockets. A large number of miners worked for sizable mining operations run by whoever owned the land. They were paid a percentage of the weight they brought in and searched at the ends of their shifts to be sure they weren't smuggling out any gold chunks. There were actually stories that miners would use heavy grease and oils in thier hair so that they could run their fingers through it as they worked, catching all of the gold dust. The next time they bathed, they'd collect all of the dust at the bottom of the tub and cash it in when they got back to town.

-~D~-

[Villainous]

I was saddened to realize the other day that my pocket watch has been sitting lonly and deserted in my computer desk for the past few months, since I acquired that devil device, the "cellular telephone". prevoiusly i had worn a pocket watch for 8 years. First a gold watch witha silver buck from my girlfriend (now wife), then a silver watch with engraved comedy/tragedy masks from my sister for graduation, then a train watch acquired at a civil war reenactment somewhere along the way, and most recently a plain silver watch given to me by a pair of friends for ushering in their wedding. My pockets are getting too crowded. I need room for my watch.... at least with winter coming I can utilize my coat pockets once more....

[Capt. Algernon Flynn]

Actually, my pocketwatch is about the only thing that fits in that sort of a pocket (being a quite small watch, about the size of a half-dollar coin).

But sadly, the majority of my pants lack a fifth pocket.

[LibelAndSlander]

I don't wear jeans, but I'm rather surprised to see how many people didn't know what it was for!
Actually, I think I knew it was called the "watch pocket" before I knew about pocketwatches. I think the name always confused me.
When I did wear jeans it was mostly used for... probably cigarette butts that I didn't want to throw on the ground. Filthy, yes, but I would much rather have nastiness in my pockets than litter.

[MrFats]

I always wear a waistcoat, and sitting inside the right pocket is my Elgin National Watch Co. pocket watch.

[Von Gast]

Using it today. My Molijna is ticking away merrily in there!

[Mr. Oliver]

Ah yes, I've been using that odd pocket for my watch for years. I only found out a year or two ago that the pocket was actually made for that purpose! Go figgure, eh?

[God of Blasphemy]

The brandof pants I usually wear doesnt have watch pockets (Tripp) But today I went to buy some nicer clothes for a new job, and my new favorite pair of pants has a one! I'm used to my watch being on my left hip, so it startles me sometimes when I go to reach for it in the wrong pocket, but other than that, I'm in love with it. (because im easily amused)

[Prof. Rane, MA]

Using it today. My Molijna is ticking away merrily in there!

*Very politely, very discreetly coughs. (The kind of cough that quite clearly means 'I'm not going to say it because it wouldn't be the gentlemanly thing to do, but I suspect you meant Molnija here, sir.')*

[Lewis Steels]

Well now, you learn something new every day they say. I was previously unaware that was its intended purpose, I personally thought it was a 'fashion pocket' that was put on by Levi's, and then copied by others until it became the norm.
But even now I know I will still have it in my right front pocket, im rather fond of the 'FullMetal Alchemist style.

Also, Gentlemen, this is my first post on this board so many greetings to you all.


-Lewis Steels, Amateur Tinkerer

[The Infernal Mr Adams]

Hmm, so Ive come up with an idea....I havent seen its like in my travels so I wonder if this would be the first ever!.....while waistcoat pocket watch set ups have their own style (chains, fobs...whatever) I feel that a watch pocketed Pocket Watch should have a set up as well (chains, fob, and the like) Ive bought chain, I have a suitable fob.....But Im stuck with a certain item....does anyone in the US (or CA....or even L.A.) know where I can get one of these?



I am quite befuddled.... Home Depot didnt have one like I expected :/

[Prof. A. Morphous]

Mr. Adams,

Feel free to flog me within an inch of my life if I send you on a fool's errand but, I believe that here (the I.E. -Riverside County) they are available at Lowes. In nickel, brass and bronze (sizes vary somewhat).

-Prof. A. Morphous 

[KatarinaNavane]

You could probably find a similar device at a craft supply store marketed as a keychain-clippy-thingy. 


I had no idea that was what that pocket was for. I feel dumb now, I had been keeping my watch in the regular pocket right by it. 

[The Infernal Mr Adams]

Prof. ~ Thank you for the suggestion...Ill try Lowes tomorrow....and fear not, flogging wont be necessary if they don't have the item I seek

On an alternate note, I found a small web page about vintage jean watch pockets and how they evolved....I was saddened by the fact that they were actually created in 1902 (hoping, instead, that they had been around since the 1800s) but still I fancy the idea of said pocket and my thoughts have not changed about it's use in the Steampunk community.

[NazT]

I used to wear a pocket watch in my jeans watch pocket and I used a (shortened) wallet chain with one of those clips on it to attach it to my belt loop.  The only downside is that I found that the two pocket watches (both cheap thankfully) used to stop or lose time after a while.  Altho they didnt get scratched or bashed the movement in that pocket was enuff to mess the insides about. 

I certainly wouldnt put an expensive pocket watch in that pocket after my experiences.

Oh and cycling with a pocket watch in the watch pocket really buggers them up fast... 

[The Infernal Mr Adams]

Hmmm, that is disheartening NazT, but I shall experiment with my current watch and see if it can stand the stress of my manly gait.

On another note, Prof. Morphous, your suggestion has paid off...not only was I able to find the clasp I seeked, but I found enough pieces to finish my project 

Tonight I'll put together a serviceable mock-up and Ill have crappy web-cam pics by the weekend

Thanks all!

[Prof. A. Morphous]

Mr. Adams,

Glad to be of service. Awaiting photos of said project.

-Prof. A. Morphous 

[kiskolou]

I use it...for my pocketwatch! Yay!

[Nemo137]

When I carried a pocket watch (it suffered an unfortunate mishap last year, and I've not been out to replace it in all that time), I carried it on the left side, because that's my "watch hand" from when I wore a wrist watch. I still carry my cellular phone on that side, because it's so ingrained into my head that left side = timekeeping. I mostly use my watch pocket for lighters and keys. If I could find a pair of trousers with a watch pocket on the left, I'd keep my watch there, but I'm so used to the left = time piece/right = lighter and keys pocket scheme, it'd be hard to change.

[OpheliaButcher]

Hmm, so Ive come up with an idea....I havent seen its like in my travels so I wonder if this would be the first ever!.....while waistcoat pocket watch set ups have their own style (chains, fobs...whatever) I feel that a watch pocketed Pocket Watch should have a set up as well (chains, fob, and the like) Ive bought chain, I have a suitable fob.....But Im stuck with a certain item....does anyone in the US (or CA....or even L.A.) know where I can get one of these?



I am quite befuddled.... Home Depot didnt have one like I expected :/

ladies' purses with detachable straps usually connect with those, i'd suggest the purse section of a thrift store, or perhaps a fabric store.

[CapnHarlock]

Hmm, so Ive come up with an idea....I havent seen its like in my travels so I wonder if this would be the first ever!.....while waistcoat pocket watch set ups have their own style (chains, fobs...whatever) I feel that a watch pocketed Pocket Watch should have a set up as well (chains, fob, and the like) Ive bought chain, I have a suitable fob.....But Im stuck with a certain item....does anyone in the US (or CA....or even L.A.) know where I can get one of these?



I am quite befuddled.... Home Depot didnt have one like I expected

If there is a "real" hardware/DIY store in your area (as opposed to a large chain outlet), please check there.  In my location, "Tractor Supply Co." carries these items in chromed steel, stainless and solid brass.

[The Infernal Mr Adams]

Yay! Thanks everyone for the suggestions, Here is the final product:



And here I rock out with my watch out 



The fob is a St Christopher necklace medallion my Dad sent me which I took apart and re-purposed. Ive done a proper "Look what I made!" post in the Tactile thread. Thanks again for your help!