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Beetlebug
08-03-2006, 07:14 PM
Hi, I just purchased a 21j 12s American Grade Waltham watch, serial 8774617. I was thinking that these watches were sold originally close to the turn of the century, give or take. The one I have looks to have a much later case and dial then this. Can anyone help me with a ballpark on when the bulk of this grade was cased and sold?

Thanks,
Tom
Beetlebug
08-03-2006, 07:14 PM
Hi, I just purchased a 21j 12s American Grade Waltham watch, serial 8774617. I was thinking that these watches were sold originally close to the turn of the century, give or take. The one I have looks to have a much later case and dial then this. Can anyone help me with a ballpark on when the bulk of this grade was cased and sold?

Thanks,
Tom
BrianC
08-03-2006, 10:50 PM
About 1898.
Brian C.
Tom McIntyre
08-04-2006, 02:16 AM
These watches have a particular dial that is unique to the model and grade. It also appears on the big brother 16 size bridge model. It took a long time to sell these expensive watches so they may have still been in stock in the 1920's. A number of runs were made/finished for the fledgling Keystone Howard operation.

http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/12sBridgeOF/Front_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/12sBridgeOF/Front.jpg)
Click to make larger.

Here is the big brother's dial.

http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/23JBridge/Dial.jpg
Beetlebug
08-04-2006, 04:02 AM
Thanks for the info. That's certainly not the dial I have. Mine's a rather bad condition painted metal one. In inscription is dated "1937" so that may be a bit late for the movement to have been new. But I guess in the world of vintage watches nothing is impossible. It's being shipped to me now so when I get it maybe there will be more clues. What kind of a case would be common on this movement? I'm guessing a plain, solid gold or high grade gold filled? Thanks again.
Tom McIntyre
08-05-2006, 01:19 AM
I think they would have all been in gold cases except under very unusual circumstances. The screw marks on all model 1899 movements are the same, so the absence of old screw marks is not conclusive that the case is original.

I have had them in 14K (mostly), 18K (relatively scarce) and 9K (only on English Dennison cases).