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Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solution
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Author:  michaelsummit [ Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:29 am ]
Post subject:  Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solution
Hello Everyone. I am turning to the community here to hopefully help me with a problem I have. I have an incredibly large number of vintage pocket watches and wristwatches (many hundred). I am trying to find some type of containers to store them in. Right now, I have them in bubble wrap plastic bags. I have written information on the bags with a sharpie marker, and there is a packet of dessicant in every bag, and some have a folded up piece of paper with more information about the watch. These bags are stacked inside the safe. There are several problems with this setup;
1. The bags slide all over the place when I open the safe and pull one out. A whole bunch may end up sliding out.
2. It is impossible to read the bags without pulling them out of the safe. It takes a LONG time to locate a specific watch like this.
3. The bags are bendable and do not offer as much protection as I would like.

Can anyone help me here? I am looking for some kind of small plastic boxes that do not cost a fortune to store the watches in. Ideally, I would love to have 1 watch per plastic box. That way I could have a sticker on the side of the box with the information for the watch inside and could see it without removing everything from the safe. If I had to, I wouldn't be too upset about having to store 5 or 6 watches to one slightly bigger box. Anything would be better than these bags. The problem is, when I look up "plastic storage box" online, I get site after site with thousands of different boxes that just do not seem right. I am hoping someone here has already tackled this problem and can tell me where I might be able to find something appropriate. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any help you can give.

MS
Author:  jlee5050 [ Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
If you're in the states you might try to find something at a home improvement store like Home Depot. They usually have containers with handles that are made to carry nuts, bolts, etc... The lid is also transparent and you might find something that fits your pocket watches and such. I've seen some other guy on another forum do it with his watches.
Author:  H2F [ Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
Maybe something like this that fits inside your safe?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROTATING-WATCH- ... 0718422685
Author:  michaelsummit [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
Thank you guys. Unfortunately, that rotating display case doesn't look like it would fit pocket watches (which is about 85% of the collection). A couple of the watches arrived to me in a small plastic case made by Pradeep, a company from india, that are clear small boxes 3 1/2"d x 5"l x 1 1/4"h with a hinged plastic lid, which would be ideal, but I have looked all over online and cannot find these exact cases anywhere. They say "Pradeep Tim Tom No. 33" on the bottom. I think they might be discontinued. If I could find something similar that I could stack I would be thrilled. Here are a couple of pictures. Thanks again.


Image


Image
Author:  hardrockminer [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
Try "Optoplast PLC", clear hinged spectacle cases supplied with "Boots" glasses. Managed to fit two pocket watches inside no problem. Regards.
Author:  Iantheklutz [ Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solution
Do you happen to have any friends or family members that are carpenters? This screams of simple woodworking project - making stacking wooden grid/shelves isn't that hard with the right tools. It also give you the option to pick the wood type and finish - you can go super cheap (unfinished MDF) or high end. You can size them to fit in the safe then place a desiccant in the safe to keep them all dry.

As far as organizing once you have the shelves, I'd say this is an opportunity to set up a " system" whereby each watch is assigned a shelf, row, and column location. This location can be referenced legend with a full description of the watch. This, IMO, is a lot cleaner than having stickers or whatever else locally mounted on the case.

Additionally, going through and "coding" each of the watches might afford you the opportunity to decide wether or not you want to keep a particular piece - sounds like you have a LOT of watches, some may need to go...
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
Iantheklutz wrote:
Do you happen to have any friends or family members that are carpenters? This screams of simple woodworking project - making stacking wooden grid/shelves isn't that hard with the right tools. It also give you the option to pick the wood type and finish - you can go super cheap (unfinished MDF) or high end. You can size them to fit in the safe then place a desiccant in the safe to keep them all dry.

As far as organizing once you have the shelves, I'd say this is an opportunity to set up a " system" whereby each watch is assigned a shelf, row, and column location. This location can be referenced legend with a full description of the watch. This, IMO, is a lot cleaner than having stickers or whatever else locally mounted on the case.

Additionally, going through and "coding" each of the watches might afford you the opportunity to decide wether or not you want to keep a particular piece - sounds like you have a LOT of watches, some may need to go...



I've made several watch related items out of wood, but usually focused on display cabinets - for pocket watches a simple shelving unit with a perspex sliding front and just use the clear plastic folding display stands for the watches themselves - units can mount directly to the wall. I picked up a job lot of rough cut walnut from an auction a few years ago and when that's finished and oiled it is a great backfrop for gold pocket watches.

Sorry OP, but I really can't understand having pieces and just storing them - the only ones that I have stored are ones waiting for me to work on them at the bench.
Author:  michaelsummit [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
I have too many watches to display them all at this time. I want to keep the ones that cost thousands of dollars safe. I may one day decide to turn my house into a museum, but until then, I have to find a good way to organize them and keep them secure. Thank you all for all of the great suggestions!
Author:  RJRJRJ [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
You can also look into those inexpensive cardboard jewelry boxes. Should do the trick and not cost much money at all.

Image
Author:  jkwelsh [ Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fellow collectors, please help me with a storage solutio
Have a look here --> http://www.indiamart.com/pradeeppolymers/

or here --> http://www.pocketwatchonline.com/storage.php

or even here --> http://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/t ... 1891082413

You dont say which continent your on, which may make a difference in where you want to source the solution from.

Nice problem to have (I think!)

Good Luck 8)
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