Kent
08-26-2000, 07:45 PM
David:
Making the assumption that your Martha Wahington was built by the Illinois Watch Co. (and remember, its always dangerous to make assumptions), there's a bit more that can be said about it. You can compare your watch against the advertising cut shown at: http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/162.jpg . Look at the shape of the plates and the general location of the components.
According to American Pocket Watches Vol. 2, Illinois Watch Co., Encyclopedia and Price Guide, William Meggers, Jr. & Roy Ehrhardt, Heart of America Press, Kansas City, MO, 1985 (still in print - see http://www.hoapress.com ), serial number 1,635,669 is an Illinois grade 162. It is listed as being 11-jewel, lever-set, hunting-case, size 6 watch, made in 1903. It is one of about 6,000 that were made. Only a portion (of inderterminate quantity) of which were privately labeled for Montgomery Ward's Washington Watch Co., under the name of Martha Washington.
B&B Royal is deciphered as Bates & Bacon's "The Royal" grade of case. I think that it was discussed after your earlier post that the watch companies didn't make cases (for the most part) and that there were separate case companies. One such was Bates & Bacon of Attleboro, MA. According to ads in "The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review," this firm, which was making gold-filled cases in the early 1880's, was purchased by the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. in January, 1901. A sample of one of their ads can be seen at: http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/b&broyal.jpg .
There's no doubt that the watch can be repaired, but cost may be an issue. I recommmend that you check out "The Escapement" at : http://hometown.aol.com/stdwatch/index.html . I know this person very well and trust his work.
Good luck,
Kent
Making the assumption that your Martha Wahington was built by the Illinois Watch Co. (and remember, its always dangerous to make assumptions), there's a bit more that can be said about it. You can compare your watch against the advertising cut shown at: http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/162.jpg . Look at the shape of the plates and the general location of the components.
According to American Pocket Watches Vol. 2, Illinois Watch Co., Encyclopedia and Price Guide, William Meggers, Jr. & Roy Ehrhardt, Heart of America Press, Kansas City, MO, 1985 (still in print - see http://www.hoapress.com ), serial number 1,635,669 is an Illinois grade 162. It is listed as being 11-jewel, lever-set, hunting-case, size 6 watch, made in 1903. It is one of about 6,000 that were made. Only a portion (of inderterminate quantity) of which were privately labeled for Montgomery Ward's Washington Watch Co., under the name of Martha Washington.
B&B Royal is deciphered as Bates & Bacon's "The Royal" grade of case. I think that it was discussed after your earlier post that the watch companies didn't make cases (for the most part) and that there were separate case companies. One such was Bates & Bacon of Attleboro, MA. According to ads in "The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review," this firm, which was making gold-filled cases in the early 1880's, was purchased by the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. in January, 1901. A sample of one of their ads can be seen at: http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/b&broyal.jpg .
There's no doubt that the watch can be repaired, but cost may be an issue. I recommmend that you check out "The Escapement" at : http://hometown.aol.com/stdwatch/index.html . I know this person very well and trust his work.
Good luck,
Kent