Identifying a Waltham Pocket Watch

[Orfika]

I was a given a pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather about a month ago and I've been trying to identify it ever since. I've browsed a few webpages, but I haven't found a match.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/37241737/

You may not be able to see, but it reads "Waltham, 21 Jewels" on the face. There's no graphic on the back, and I can't get to the works to find the serial #. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Orfika]

I was a given a pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather about a month ago and I've been trying to identify it ever since. I've browsed a few webpages, but I haven't found a match.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/37241737/

You may not be able to see, but it reads "Waltham, 21 Jewels" on the face. There's no graphic on the back, and I can't get to the works to find the serial #. Thanks in advance for the help.

[doug sinclair]

Orfica,

Welcome to the NAWCC Message Board.

I have a very strong suspicion that your watch is a modern Swiss one. I was unable to download any pictures in your post, and without any pictures, it is difficult to give you any more information. I suspect you will find there won't be a serial number to be found once you get the back off. If you need help posting pictures, return to the main message bord page and go to the top. Look for CLOCKS where instructions are given for posting pictures. Please get back to us.

[Kent]

Hi Orfika:

I also welcome you to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

You can probably get the movement so as to give us the serial number by unscrewing the back. You might find the information in "How To Open A Pocket Watch Case (http://k_singer.home.comcast.net/opening_pocket_watch_cases__k.htm)" useful.

Ill go out on a limb and suppose that your watch is a Waltham Riverside grade 1621. The Waltham Riverside1621 is so-named because it is 16-size and is fitted with 21 jewels. This movement is widely known to have been adjusted only to temperature. The book “Serial Numbers With Description of Waltham Watch Movements,” Waltham Watch Co., Waltham, MA, 1954, (commonly referred to as "The Gray Book) identifies the runs.

Some early examples from the late 1930s have been seen with double-sunk dials (including Montgomery dials), but the vast majority had single-sunk, imitation double-sunk, dials (more properly referred to as "Inner Circle" dials), marked "Waltham - 21 Jewels." Its hard to say if those early ones came from the factory with double-sunk dials, or had them added post-production. Occasionally, the dials might also be marked "Special Railway" or "Railway Dispatcher (http://photos16.flickr.com/19894544_4fe8f01d74_o.jpg)." There may have been other, additional names. Also, in the very late 1930s and early 1940s, Waltham marked both the dials and cases as "Premier." The early production of the Riverside 1621 movements are damaskeened in the classic manner. This disappeared as the demands of war production required reductions in labor.

These were sold as a complete watch in a factory-marked case. Its intended market was probably transit workers and those railroaders not under the time service rules. It is suspected that a large number of Waltham-signed factory cases were stripped off of the 1621s by collectors and dealers, and used as replacements for the 1623 Vanguards, whose cases were worn through to the brass.

Good luck,