Pocket watch information

[Jon Hanson]

Swiss

[Kent]

Hi Simon:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

Referring to the Dennison Watch Case Co., "This was the most successful and best known of the English watch case manufacturers ..." says "Watch Case Makers of England," Philip T. Priestley, NAWCC Bulletin Supplement 20, Spring, 1994, on page 69. It was founded in Birmingham in 1874 by Aaron Lufkin Dennison (ALD), a person instrumental in the development of the American watch industry. Mr. Priestley says on page 70, "Over the years, Dennisons made cases for Dreyfus, Newmark, Omega, Smiths, Rotary, Avia, Vertex, Rolex, Rone, Rotherham, Thormens, Perrin, Benson, Dimier, Hirst, British Watchcase Co. Ltd., March & Lobin, Huber, Zenith, Gibson, Longines, Marvin, Cortebert, Marc Fauvre, Baume, Marchand & Tobin, Medana and Roamer."

Mr. Priestley's book reproduces a 1906 Dennison Watch Case Co. ad detailing four different registered marks:

ALD - Silver, 9 ct. and 18 ct. gold (there are no periods between the letters).
Sun - 25 Year Gold-Filled (may also be marked with "A.L.D.")
Moon - 20 Year Gold-Filled (may also be marked with "A.L.D.")
Star - 10 Year Gold-Filled (may also be marked with "A.L.D.")

I'm not familiar with all of the firms for which Dennison made watch cases. The name of the company "Dimier" might possibly be misspelled and might refer to the name "Dimra" that is on your watch. Or, there is another possibility. Would you please confirm the name on your watch.

Good luck,

[Sheila Gilbert]

There is a question about Dimra on the Clock board too. by Doug Campbell listed as Trademark ID on April 11.
I could only find one things about it, and that is that it's a district in Gaza.

[tony cole]

I too have a watch with the name DIMRA on the mechanism, though this is an early wristwatch in a silver case. I have found that watches made by Dimier of Geneva (who did have cases made by Dennison in Birmingham, as indeed did other Swiss makers [I have one by Frey in a Dennison case]) may be marked DIMRA. Apparently the giveaway is the Dimier mark itself which is "DBS" or "DBs". Hope that helps.