Case serial numbers

[Spike]

John F ( http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002921.html ) and others have noted that case serial number records weren't kept as they were for movements.

Question: If case serial number records weren?t kept, what motivated case makers to incur the extra effort and expense of stamping them?

[Spike]

John F ( http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002921.html ) and others have noted that case serial number records weren't kept as they were for movements.

Question: If case serial number records weren?t kept, what motivated case makers to incur the extra effort and expense of stamping them?

[Jerry Treiman]

Could it be that case-makers records just have not survived?

[Barry G]

Serial numbers are primarily used to make each mass-produced item unique. It's a great way to resolve disputes as to ownership. The fact that many American watch companies kept detailed production records is an added benefit to marking each watch with a serial number, not the primary purpose.

I think the real question is why so many watch companies went to the extra effort and expense of keeping detailed records.

Just a thought...

Barry

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

[Jerry Treiman]

I think the detailed watch company records served several purposes. First, they allowed tracking of watch production through the various departments. Second, they helped in keeping tabs on inventory of finished and unfinished movements, and even of watches destroyed. Third, a watchmaker in need of a part did not generally need to send in the watch to have it fitted, all he needed was the serial number and the parts department could check the records and know the size, model and grade of the watch. It may be that the case companies kept some kind of general records that would allow them to supply the appropriate replacement stem, sleeve or crown. Any of us who have tried to replace these items is aware of the tremendous variety used, even by the same case company. Also, as with watches, individual numbers would allow the company to track the production process, control inventory and maybe even detect or deter loss through employee theft.

[terry hall]

it is possible the reason was from a manufacturing standpoint, in addition to the reasons mentioned above.

If the case components had separate operations performed on it, then the 'matching parts' could be reunited if separated.

In today's time, the numbers are useful for 'protection' against "making up" the tu tone cases. The components of these cases should have matching numbers. This of course does not rule out the re-platers....

[Spike]

Jeff Hess ( http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002413.html ) and others have noted that the number of case companies seems to be ?unlimited.?

A large number of case companies ? serial numbers that might have helped them sell replacement parts in later years ? and (as far as we know) not one surviving set of records? Interesting!

[michael chamelin]

Well now, extra effort and expense from a serial number?.......seems to me the serial number is for one reason and one reason only.......for accounting practices and keeping up with numbers produced......these companies meant to produce a quality product for a profit, nothing less nothing more, as they went out of business and or were bought out by another company, records were lost , destroyed by fire sometimes or simply thrown away as they were not interested in the least in our future collecting. Shame they had not the forsight to protect them.