"Massasoit Watch Company" -- Swiss Fake?

[Barry G]

Somebody just sent me the following two pictures of what appears to be an early Waltham Model #57 marked "Massasoit Watch Company Boston, Mass":

http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/massasoit1.jpg http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/massasoit2.jpg

I'm guessing it is a Swiss fake, but I haven't heard this particular name used before. What say the learned experts?

Regards,

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)



[This message has been edited by Barry G (edited 09-30-2002).]

[Barry G]

Somebody just sent me the following two pictures of what appears to be an early Waltham Model #57 marked "Massasoit Watch Company Boston, Mass":

http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/massasoit1.jpg http://barrygoldberg.net/watches/massasoit2.jpg

I'm guessing it is a Swiss fake, but I haven't heard this particular name used before. What say the learned experts?

Regards,

Barry

------------------
My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)



[This message has been edited by Barry G (edited 09-30-2002).]

[Tom McIntyre]

Yes, it is a fairly well known Swiss fake. Interesting name though.

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Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP Candidate
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[abereiter]

Are the HUGE jewels sometines a dead giveaway to the swiss fakes?

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Aaron Bereiter
NAWCC #156432
*** Member #55

[Tom McIntyre]

No. The 57 model is often found in the earlier numbers with very large chrysolite jewels. It looks remarkably like the Liverpool watches of the same period when jeweled this way.

The very light gilding that is almost white is the biggest give away. The engraving is of a much more coarse style also.

The only watch that ever gave me real pause was a Boston Watch Co. watch with bright red jewels, jeweled in both the pillar plate and the dial plate with a jeweled barrel. It was a better made watch than any real 57 model I have seen and I was convinced it was made in Liverpool and not Switzerland.

I kind of wish I had not sold it but once, as an exercise, I reduced my collection to 20 pieces just to see if I could make myself do that. My mother-in-law was very proud of me. :biggrin:

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Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP Candidate
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[Barry G]

Thanks for the confirmation, Tom! I didn't want to dash the owner's hopes unless I was absolutely sure....

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection (http://barrygoldberg.net/watches.htm)

[xylo]

The hairspring pinning stud on these English (Swiss) watches is also a bit wider with less of a taper to it than the real 1857's. The one in your pictures seems much wider than what is usually found on 57's.

There are a couple of slight differences on the dial side also. I believe that these are actually very close in construction to the first series 1857's in design.

[Tom McIntyre]

I think the balance cock is also a bit less tapered on most of them.

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Tom McIntyre
NAWCC 2nd VP Candidate
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.AWCo.org)

[Jon Hanson]

No matter what they are signed it is the finish, the ser. numbers, the engraving, the dials, sometimes the spelling, the gilding color, etc., etc.

In an old price guide, long before CS, one guys popularized this Mass. name as American and we have to revisit it every so often!

Jon

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801

[usadude]

Well, this pictures looks much like a Swiss watch I have that says Bristol Watch Co Bristol Conn. The back looks almost exactly like my fake. Is there a front view of this watch showing the dial and stem?

UDA Dude

[Barry G]

USA Dude:

Sorry, those were the only pictures I was sent.

Barry

[Bill Wisti]

I have one of these, as well as two very similar Union Watch Co., New York, Mvmts. The Massasoit has gold gilt plates, and the Unions are silver gilt. Oddly enough, a Waltham model 57 dial is a perfect fit on all three of these.