Waltham Pocket Watch (Need Help) [Archive] - National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Message Board

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Dylan

06-10-2006, 02:18 PM

Hi, I have a Waltham Pocket Watch and it's really old, I need help on finding out what year it is etc and any other aditional information that you can possibly give me. The info I have is that the serial # is 3030029 and it has 15 jewels and it is a stem wind and has a flower or leaf like design on the back. It's also open faced. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Dylan

06-10-2006, 02:18 PM

doug sinclair

06-10-2006, 03:29 PM

Dylan,

Welcome to the NAWCC Message Board.

Be certain you are reading the serial number off the works (movement) inside the case, and not the case serial number. Then, refer to this serial number list (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/walsernum.htm). Click on "serial numbers" then enter the movement number. Let us know how you make out, please!

Kent

06-10-2006, 05:31 PM

Hi Dylan:

I'm not sure how you arrived at 15 jewels. The serial number listing shows the runs to only range from 7 to 13 jewels. Although its listed as a Sterling or Wm. Ellery grade, the lack of a specific marking indicates that it is likely to be a No. 1, No. 3 or No. 5 grade.

Catalog Information for these Waltham movements can be seen online in scans from the:

1887 (Updated to 1889) S.F. Myers Catalog at:
www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1887_S_F_Myers/m_index.html

To view, go to the Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page at elginwatches.com, then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on 'Go'.

Wes

06-11-2006, 05:57 AM

Welcome to the board!

Maybe the SN provided was that of the case. It is necessary to have the serial number of the watch movement.

Once you have the serial number of the watch movement, you can get a rough idea of the production date by using the Waltham Production Date by Serial Number table (http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/walthamserials.html).

Dylan

06-11-2006, 06:18 AM

Oh, yes sorry I had given ya'll the case serial number, the serial number on the inside of the watch not the inside of the case is 11260339

Wes

06-11-2006, 07:35 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">11260339 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

According to the Waltham Database (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/walsernum.htm), your watch is a model 1899 (not the year produced), size 16s, grade 620. The database also shows it as an open faced, unadjusted movement. According to the Waltham Production Date by Serial Number table (http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/walthamserials.html), it would have been made around 1903. Note the production date estimates can be off a few years.

Edited typo...

Kent

06-11-2006, 02:32 PM

Good call Wes!

Dylan:

You can see a picture and catalog descrition of Waltham's grade No. 620 on page 77 of the 1903 Oy Company Catalog at:
www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1903_Oy_Company/m_index.html

To view, go to the Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page at elginwatches.com, then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on 'Go'.

Only a small percentage of American watches (or Swiss watches for the North American market) were cased at the factories prior to the mid-1920's (even then, uncased movements were furnished to the trade at least until the 1960's). Most watch companies just made movements (the "works") in industry standard sizes. The case companies made cases in those same sizes. The practice at that time was to go to a jeweler, select the quality of the movement and then pick out the desired style and quality of case. The jeweler would then fit the movement to the case in a matter of moments.

Or, watches were sold by mail-order. Large outfits such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, or T. Eaton (in Canada), would offer the movements in a variety of cases of different design and quality in their catalogs. Smaller mail-order retailers would case the watches, typically in a 20-year gold filled case and offer it only that way, with the buyer not having a choice of cases.

A short history of American watch cases, within the online article "Decorative Aspects of American Horology," by Philip Poniz, can be viewed on The Antiquorum Magazine (http://www.antiquorum.com/vox/june_2002/poniz/poniz.htm) website.

If you can tell us about (or post a picture of) the trade marks or names stamped into the inside back of the case, we may be able to tell you a little about the case material and its manufacturer.

Good luck,