Acquired a piece of old hockey memorabilia, unsure who'd benefit the most from it

daOnlyBG

Hello all. I was at an estate sale not long ago, and picked up an interesting looking Longines pocket watch with some hockey charms attached to its chain. I negotiated with the estate sale company for the price, and once I paid for it, the seller said, "hold on a minute," and dug through some box next to him. He pulled out a small case/box for the pocket watch, which had a small pane inside commemorating the pocket watch to a hockey player named "Cliff Barton" on behalf of "Huberman's Inc.," for winning the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association's Allan Cup in 1929. I believe he led/captained the Port Arthur Bruins, and the very next season he would go on to play for several NHL teams. Inside the pocket watch is engraving of his name; on the case's exterior is his initials. In case anyone is interested in seeing pictures, the link to the imgur album is here.

I chiefly collect coins and watches (I used to be very active on the PCGS US coins section of this forum) though I have dabbled a little in autographs. Truth be told, however, I probably wouldn't appreciate the pocket watch as a die-hard hockey fan would.

Today, I am here to ask those who are more experienced in sports memorabilia where I could get an appropriate valuation or offer for this pocket watch.

I have reached out to Heritage Auctions, as they have sold a pocket watch of similar make and provenance (but not condition) as this one in the past. I will probably post this question on a site more concerned with horology (just as I have posted on a site more relevant to sports memorabilia), but in the meantime, I'd like to ask if anyone has any suggestions. Would it be out-of-line/poor form to offer the pocket watch to teams/associations where this player has played? Would said teams/associations even entertain sales from the public, or do they usually go through established auction houses?

Thank you in advance!

GreenSneakers

I know nothing about watches, but would guess your find would be worth more to a watch collector than a sports memorabilia collector. I’m a hockey guy and had to google Cliff Barton.

BLUEJAYWAY

Interesting piece.

daOnlyBG

@GreenSneakers said:
I know nothing about watches, but would guess your find would be worth more to a watch collector than a sports memorabilia collector. I’m a hockey guy and had to google Cliff Barton.

Thanks. I'll probably pursue that avenue, but thought I'd ask here just in case.

mccardguy1

You may want to offer it to the Hockey Hall Of Fame. You may get a tax deduction for it and the eternal gratitude from millions of hockey fans who see it over the years.

AANV

Classic Auctions might have an interest in brokering the sale for you. I don't know anything about value from a watch perspective, but in terms of value for a hockey item, I would say $2,000 - $3,000.

daOnlyBG

@AANV said:
Classic Auctions might have an interest in brokering the sale for you. I don't know anything about value from a watch perspective, but in terms of value for a hockey item, I would say $2,000 - $3,000.

Thank you- I will get in touch with them!