Waltham '83 Questions

[Howard Marken]

I am working on a Waltham '83 A.T. Co. Serial # 4177542 which does not have a bi-metalic balance. The balance is orginal as it has the correct numbers on it. Why would a watch of this grade not have a bi-metalic balance? All my other '83s have a bi-metalic balance.
Also, do the Waltham material grade letters, U, P, and A, stand for anything, such as, U = utility, P = premium and A = adjusted? Thank you for any information. Howard

[Howard Marken]

I am working on a Waltham '83 A.T. Co. Serial # 4177542 which does not have a bi-metalic balance. The balance is orginal as it has the correct numbers on it. Why would a watch of this grade not have a bi-metalic balance? All my other '83s have a bi-metalic balance.
Also, do the Waltham material grade letters, U, P, and A, stand for anything, such as, U = utility, P = premium and A = adjusted? Thank you for any information. Howard

[doug sinclair]

Howard,

Could be a Non-Magnetic Appleton Tracy? Does the balance have screws? What color is the hairspring? My understanding is the the U stands for unadjusted, the P for adjusted to position, and A means adjusted (but to what, I ask? Position, temperature, and isochronism?).

[Steven Mercer]

Howard

Here is an excerpt from the glossary that is on the Waltham Serial Number Lookup (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/LookupSN.asp) site:

“Material” refers to grades of Waltham material, generally reflecting the grade of the watch. The following is a general description, and as with most generalizations there will be exceptions:

• “U” stands for “Unadjusted.” These include most 7-15 jewel watches. These are usually not adjusted for positions or temperature (other than that provided by the bi-metallic compensation balance). Timing screws are brass and there are usually no mean-time screws. A “U”-grade balance staff has no oil grooves and the coarsest pivots. Wheel pivots are the coarsest used in the model.

• “A” stands for “Adjusted.” These watches, usually with 15-17 jewels, are usually adjusted to temperature and perhaps 3 positions. They may have a gold center wheel. The balance wheel may have one pair of gold mean-time screws, but the other balance screws are usually still brass. An “A”-grade balance staff may have one oil groove and intermediate pivots. Wheel pivots are intermediate in size.

• “P” stands for “Positions.” These are usually 17-23 jewel watches adjusted to 5 or 6 positions. They almost always have a gold center wheel and the highest grades have an entirely gold train. Usually they also have gold jewel settings. The balance wheel usually has gold balance screws, and often has two pair of gold mean-time screws. A "P"-grade balance staff may have two oil grooves and has the finest pivots. The wheel pivots are the finest used on the model.

[Howard Marken]

Thanks for the information. Yes, Doug, the balance has screws and the hairspring is blue.