HOWARD SERIES NINE

[Kent]

LAURENCE:

Is your watch marked Series 9? If not, how do you know that its a Series 9? What is its serial number and what other markings are on the movement?

Thanks,
Kent

[Kent]

Larry:

Thanks for the additional information. Until the mid-to-late `teens, Keystone-Howard were very vauge in referencing "Series No." to specifications. Selman (Sandy) Berger has addressed the "Series No." subject in his recent article "Some Aspects Regarding the Significance and Evolution of the Model Number Designations for Keystone Howard Watchs" (that's not the article, just the title), NAWCC Bulletin June, 2001, pp. 305-9. Sandy had discovered that the designation of "Series 9" in the reference books was misleading and that the earlier, higher grade 17-jewel, 3/4 plate checkerboard damaskeened 16-size movements were actually "Series 4" watches, and for a short while "Series 2"
watches.

His analysis showed that Keystone-Howard used a two, three and four digit catalog number for the complete cassed watches (the only way K-E sold watches). The two digit number was actually a three digit number with the missing prefix digit understood to be '0'. Thus all "Series 0" cased watches (the 23-jewel models) have a two digit number (which describes the case grade and style. For the three digit watches, the first digit is the Series number, while the last two digits again describe the case. When the "Series 10" and Series 11" watches were introduced (at a later date), the catalog numbers became a four-digit number to accomodate them.

A 1909 catalog has the following.

A non-checkerboard damaskeened 3/4 plate (1905) model 16-size, pendent-set only, double-roller watch, marked adjusted but spec'd to be "Very close adjustment to temperature, isochronism and five positions." is listed as a "Series 2," using Sandy's analysis.

A similar watch with circular damaskeening, single-roller and spec'd as "Adjusted to three positions, isochronism and temperature - " appears in that catalog as the "Series 3."

On the two in-between pages, the "Series 4" checkerboard damaskeened watch (probably your watch) is described the same as the "Series 2" except its "Closely adjusted to temperature, isochronism and five positions." Both hunting and open-face models are pendant-set, but only the open-face model is available as lever-set.

The pricing is highest for the "Series 2" lowest for the "Series 3" and the "Series 4" is in the middle.

Now it starts to get confusing ....
The 16-size, 21-jewel bridge model was introduced after the 1909 catalog and it appears in a 1911 catalog as the "Series 1" (three-ditit catalog numbers have '1' as the first digit). But, the 16-size, 3/4 plate models are shown with checkerboard damaskeening and now listed as:
"Series 2" double-Roller, 5 positions, HC-PS, OF-PS or LS.
"Series 9" double-roller, 3 positions, HC & OF - PS only.
"Series 3" single-roller, 3 positions, HC only, PS

The 3/4 plate movement cut in that 1911 catalog is only marked "Adjusted," but serial numbers 972611, 978547 and 982400 are known to be marked "Adjusted 5 Positions." On another page of that catalog, the railroad watches are grouped together (all A5P, DR) and the 17-jewel, 3/4 plate models are identified with "Series 2" catalog numbers.

Two years later, in June 1913, Keystone-Howard placed an ad in The Keystone showing its railroad watches. This is the first Howard document that I know of which actually used the term "Series.". One of the movements shown is a bridge-model watch marked "Series 2 - 17 Jewels." I know of no later reference for a 3/4 plate model identified as "Series 2" either in a marking on the movement or a catalog number. In the same era, a catalog reprint (by American Reprints, Nov 1, 1969) noted to be from 1912-1918 states that all bridge models are adjusted to five positions and that all 3/4 plate models were adjusted to three positions. It then listed the "Series 10" as the 21-jewel watch. It showed a checkerboard damaskeened 3/4 plate, 17-jewel model and stated that 3/4 plate watches were all 3 position. It listed the "Series 3" and "Series 9" as 17-jewel watches, being unclear (in some catalog number listings) which was double or single roller.

Perhaps this mess will be cleared up some day if Keystone-Howard documentation is found linking serial numbers to catalog number series'.

Sorry if this is more than what you wanted, but once I started writing, it was hard to stop

Kent :smile:

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 12-28-2001).]

[sabphd]

Dear Larry, To tell what you have depends upon the damaskeening. Ser.2 Parallel lines with dished wheels, Ser.3 Concentic circles with flat wheels, Ser.4 and 9.Checkerboard design. Ser.4 was a higher grade adjusted to 5 pos. Ser.9 was a later model and adjusted to 3 pos. Ser.4 had all gold balance screws and probably dished ratchet and crown wheels versus flat ones. The Ser.2 and 4 were short lived, perhaps to about 1910-1912. Ser.3 and 9 were produced for a while longer, perhaps up to 3- 5 years. I thank Kent Singer for referring to my analysis of these models.

[LARRY STEWART]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND RESPONSES. IT HAS BEEN MOST INFORMATIVE.

LARRY

[pago]

Is there any way to read this article by Mr Berger in an online fashion? I am currently
not a NAWCC member but could someone send it to me? Thanks

Pago.

[Kent]

Pago:

Access to the Bulletin, and its back issues, via the NAWCC Library & Research Center (http://www.nawcc.org/Library/library.htm), is one of the benefits of NAWCC Membership (http://www.nawcc.org/headquarters/join/join2.htm).