Thomas J Morrow Precision Pocket Watch Question

[Bill B]

Welcome to the boards. Please post a picture of movement and of hallmarks on case so watch may be id'ed. Look in upper left corner of page, we do not talk about value here.

[doug sinclair]

MAW,

Welcome to the NAWCC Message Board!

Your watch is of a type known as a "private label". That is, the name on the watch has nothing to do with who made it, but more likely comprises the name of a broker, wholesaler, distributor, retailer, or in some cases, even the name of the original owner of the watch. There are tens of thousands of these private label names for every actual bonafide watch manufacturer. Once in a while, enough of a particular private label name shows up that there is a record of the existence of the name. This is the case with your watch.

My usual reference book for these obscure names is the Ehrhardt & Meggers American Pocket Watches, ID & Price Guide which I believe is still in print. This book lists one private label watch that was observed with this name as being a model # 1 Hamilton 18-size, open-faced watch, stem or lever set, the grade number depending on the number of jewels. So it could be a model 924, 925, 926, 927, or perhaps a 936. Or it could also be one of the scarcer grades of Hamilton.

It could also be that Morrow had other manufacturers produce watches with his name on them as well. In order to be more specific, we would need more information from you. The best bet would be a picture of the watch movement with the case back off. One of the face as well, if possible. Be sure also to provide the serial number of the movement (not the case) if it doesn't show well in the picture.

And, Oh Yes! We don't discuss prices on the message board. But once you help us find out what it is, you may wish to check ebay to see what similar watches have brought. I will add that, sometimes, these private label watches bring a better price in the area in which the watch was first sold than they will in other areas. So if the location of Morrow can be determined, that could be a factor.

edited to add:

The pictures of this watch have been emailed to me, and I have tried to post live links to them in this post, to no avail. Sorry!

[doug sinclair]

All,

I have given up trying to make this URL live. But if you copy and paste it into your browser, you'll see the picture of the Morrow watch movement. The case is marked Gruen inside the rear cover. Can anyone identify it as to maker?

http://members.shaw.ca/doug.sinclair/morrow%20watch%20(4).jpg

front view (http://members.shaw.ca/doug.sinclair/morrow%20watch%205.jpg)

http://members.shaw.ca/doug.sinclair/morrow%20watch%20(3).jpg

Thanks,