Antique Waltham USA pocket watch

If there is no sentimental value to the watch for you or your mother, then it's not worth it. It will cost more for a service than the watch is worth.

However, that's a really good dial. Often they are cracked on these older pocket watches.

Very cool find. Worth servicing to functionality? Only you can decide. But it will require ongoing attention if so. As a keepsake it would be cool to just display in one of those glass bells. I would display without bothering to make it run.

Nice looking face, Waltham pocket watches were well made and do have collectible value. Restoration is an expense that’s up to you. From your very good pictures, a servicing will probably get it going. Since you have they serial number of the watch it should be relatively easy to find it’s value on line. Thanks for posting!

Caveat number one: This site is devoted to wrist watches. The accumulated knowledge here does not translate directly to pocket watches, although the design DNA does. It is kind of like how your two years of high school Spanish did not really help you find directions in Rome.

Caveat number two: Pocket watch movements and cases were much more mix and match than we are accustomed to with wrist watches (at least after a certain time). Sometimes cases get in the way of movements, especially when not designed to go together.

Here is the good part:  Waltham was one of the premier pocket watch makers in the United States. Parts, even things like mainsprings, are readily available for watchmakers who know where to look.  These movements are large and uncomplicated. They are easier to work on because there is more room.

I know what I would do, but I am not you.  I don't keep sentimental paper weights.  I collect watches.

I have my father's Waltham Pocket Watch and use it as a office clock in the display case. When I first got it I had it in storage collecting dust then dug it out and started using it and have grown quite attached. 

Unless the case is precious metal Pocket Watches are not going for a heck of a lot these days. There  is a small market for non-runners because a Pocket Watch movement are a great first refurbish project for hobbyists. Movements are bigger so easier to work with and if you need parts there are a lot of Pocket Watch movements on sale for parts (precious metal cases got melted down I would guess).

Anyway, you could try and get into the refurbish hobby yourself and take a stab at getting it going. Otherwise you could get it fixed professionally for sentimental value I just wouldn't do it as a financial investment. Just find a good hobbyist or professional. My Brother paid money to get my Dad's non-runner Pocket Watch going got it back and it died again in months. I'm actually going to take a stab at getting it going for him later this year as I want to get into the hobby.