21 Jewels, 20 Year Case, 26 Dollars

[Kent]

Here's a benchmark for the actual cost of a standard watch, albeit probably a bit lower than what would be paid at the watch inspector's shop. If the prices for the 19 and 21 jewel railroad grade pocket watches listed in this 1911 Mail-Order Ad (http://static.flickr.com/36/76611721_e2f50b1e0c_o.jpg) sound inexpensive, its useful to keep this well-known fact in mind: In 1914, Henry Ford astonished the industrial world when he practically doubled the wages of his assembly line workers to $5.00 per day, thus making them nearly the highest-paid hourly workers. Thus, any of the watches listed in the ad represented more than five days pay for such a worker (whose pay was probably equal to, or better than, the average railroader working under time service rules).

Some additional thoughts on the ad are:

Since the 18-size, Elgin Veritas Model is represented by the 19-jewel, B.W. Raymond, grade No. 240, the 21-jewel, 18-size Elgin being offered is probably a full-plate model, possibly a Father Time, or more likely, a grade No. 349.

Regarding the 16-size watches:
The 21-jewel Hamilton is probably a grade No. 992.
The reason that the Sangamo was noted as being "... same as the Bunn Special, only smaller ..." is that the 16-size Bunn Special had yet to be introduced.
The 21-jewel Elgin was probably a Father Time or B.W Raymond grade, since the Veritas grade was a higher grade watch.

[Kent]

Here's a benchmark for the actual cost of a standard watch, albeit probably a bit lower than what would be paid at the watch inspector's shop. If the prices for the 19 and 21 jewel railroad grade pocket watches listed in this 1911 Mail-Order Ad (http://static.flickr.com/36/76611721_e2f50b1e0c_o.jpg) sound inexpensive, its useful to keep this well-known fact in mind: In 1914, Henry Ford astonished the industrial world when he practically doubled the wages of his assembly line workers to $5.00 per day, thus making them nearly the highest-paid hourly workers. Thus, any of the watches listed in the ad represented more than five days pay for such a worker (whose pay was probably equal to, or better than, the average railroader working under time service rules).

Some additional thoughts on the ad are:

Since the 18-size, Elgin Veritas Model is represented by the 19-jewel, B.W. Raymond, grade No. 240, the 21-jewel, 18-size Elgin being offered is probably a full-plate model, possibly a Father Time, or more likely, a grade No. 349.

Regarding the 16-size watches:
The 21-jewel Hamilton is probably a grade No. 992.
The reason that the Sangamo was noted as being "... same as the Bunn Special, only smaller ..." is that the 16-size Bunn Special had yet to be introduced.
The 21-jewel Elgin was probably a Father Time or B.W Raymond grade, since the Veritas grade was a higher grade watch.

[John F]

Interesting reading - thanks for posting it.

Think I'll give these guys a call and order a few of them...

[Don Dahlberg]

This is very interesting. During the period that you are talking about, the prices for Hamilton watches were "Fair Traded" held constant for many years. The 1909 price list says:

"Three Cardinal Virtues:

1st We make only the finest grade of watch movements.

2d We were the inceptors of the plan to positively maintain the prices that would give the Jeweler a reasonable profit, and unless he will maintain these prices, we positively refuse to allow him to handle our goods.

3d We will not allow our watches to be sold to dealers who are not regular legitimate Jewelers, thereby keeping our movement out of the Department Stores, Pawnbrokers and other illegitimate channels."


Here are the movement prices for a Hamilton 940 movement:

Wholesaler $15.00
Retailer $18.50
Special Retailer $15.75
Customer (US) $28.00


For the 992
Wholesaler $17.35
Retailer $21.50
Special Retailer $18.25
Customer (US) $30.00

I do not know what was meant by a "Special Retailer" and if they could sell to the customer at less than the Customer price.

At any rate, the Kent's advertisement is clearly under selling Hamilton's Customer prices.

Don

[hc3]

Interesting, the price of these standard watches, adjusting for the decline in the value of money, is pretty much the same as it was then.