Waterbury and Waltham watches

[Jim D.]

I found two pocket watches at the market today, both running and gave 75 for the pair of them. The first one is a A.W.W.Co. Waltham with an Illinois Watch Case Co. Elgin Spartan case. From what I can find it is a 7 jewel size 16 made in 1908.

The other I am lost on. It says Waterbury on the dial, but on the movement it says "Ingersoll Watch Co. Made in USA jeweled" serial number 389,504. The case says "Made in USA for Waterbury by Illinois Watch Case Co. Elgin".

Any info on these would be appreciated. Both seem to be keeping time and look clean. I am missing the crystal for the Waterbury but everything else is good.

Jim D.

[Jim D.]

I found two pocket watches at the market today, both running and gave 75 for the pair of them. The first one is a A.W.W.Co. Waltham with an Illinois Watch Case Co. Elgin Spartan case. From what I can find it is a 7 jewel size 16 made in 1908.

The other I am lost on. It says Waterbury on the dial, but on the movement it says "Ingersoll Watch Co. Made in USA jeweled" serial number 389,504. The case says "Made in USA for Waterbury by Illinois Watch Case Co. Elgin".

Any info on these would be appreciated. Both seem to be keeping time and look clean. I am missing the crystal for the Waterbury but everything else is good.

Jim D.

[Fred Hansen]

Hi Jim -

If you can post the serial number on the movement of the Waltham it would be easier to provide some info for it.

Fred

[Jim D.]

No problem. The SN is 17,419,393 I did find some info on it I think. It is a size 16, 7 jewel made in 1908 I believe. I guess this makes it a "low quality" watch. Any more info would be appreciated as well as what the case is made of.

I posted photos of both watches at:

Waltham & Waterbury (http://jdscrafts.com/sept/)

Jim D.

[Jim D.]

One more thing I found interesting on the Waterbury. To set the hands you push in on the crown. I am sure it is nothing new to the experts in this list but it is the first one I ever saw set this way. Drove me nuts for a minute!

Jim D.

[doug sinclair]

Jim,

Ingersoll was the name of a "five and dime" retailer who added cheap watches to their inventory of cheap merchandise. These eventually became "dollar" watches as they sold for one dollar early in the 20th century. Many of these watches were made for Ingersoll by the Waterbury Clock Co. Ingersoll sold out to the Waterbusy Clock Co. in about 1920. This is likely when the watch in question was made. The Waterbury name on the dial in front of an Ingersoll marked movement they were likely using up. Waterbury eventually became part of U. S. Time which became .................................................. ........................... Timex, likely in the early to mid 1940s!

[Jim D.]

Doug,

Thank you for the info. Using it I did a search and found this add:

Ingersoll addvertisement (http://www.antiqnet.com/detail,ingersoll-watches-1926,1182145.html)

I checked other adds listed and found the Waterbury watch was mot listed as "Jeweled" so I am guessing that 1926 would be a pretty good guess for this watch. Hard to read but it looks like it sold for $4.50 back then.

I spent some time with a 10X loop this morning. It appears neither of these watches have ever been recased witch is always nice.

They may not be "quality" watches but I am not sorry to have added them to my beginners collection!

Jim D.

[Fred Hansen]

Jim -

The Waltham is a grade 610 by serial number, and was a modestly finished 7 jewel watch meant to sell at an inexpensive price. But rather than "low quality" it might be more fair to call it "low cost" ... because it is still a Waltham product after all. :smile:

The Spartan case it is in is I believe a base-metal composition with a chrome type plating.

Fred

[Jim D.]

Fair enough, it does sound better!

Jim

Originally posted by Fred Hansen:
Jim -

rather than "low quality" it might be more fair to call it "low cost" ... because it is still a Waltham product after all. :smile:

Fred