babyhog wrote on 12/09/10 at 10:15:21:That is so cool. When my father-in-law died a couple years ago, we found a bag full of old watches. I mean like 200+. Mother-in-law said he bought them from somebody a long time ago. They weren't worth anything (I thought), but what a neat use, we could have recycled them into motorcycles! Guess I'll have to find out if she still has them, or if we got rid of them.
If those watches are still around, find a competent antiques specialist (I mean, competent in antique watches, not justr furniture) and have them estimated/quoted, one by one.
You'll find out that whereas many were considered to be just "old watches' 20-30 years ago, thy may now have increased in value up to 100 times.
For example, a "merely wind-up watch" i.e. not even automatic may look pointless, but if it was built by somebody specific it's like discovering a vintage Studebaker in a barn...
So don't throw them away yet, much less take them down in bits, but have somebody take a serious look at them.
Who nkows, you might have a Cinderella there somewhere...