Ladd Patent Watch Case

[Dave Berghold]

Don't know if this is any assistance, but I once owned (never should have sold) a Waltham mod. 57, ser.# 318,746 in a GW Ladd case. As I understand, he made a very fine gold filled case. This might at least help narrow down the year that the pat. was applied for or issued. Happy researching! Dave

[Tom McIntyre]

There is information on Ladd cases in Warren Niebling's book, History of the American Watch Case.

Ladd made cases in several grades with a thick layer of gold and a layer of base metal. The cases differ from Boss's patent in that they do not have the inner layer of gold.

Ladd's patents do not refer to the case's layered construction, but to the use of re-inforcing gold in strategic positions. The highest grade of Ladd cases were 50% gold.

The patent dates are June 11, 1867 patent 65,579 and May 22nd, 1883 patent 278,151.

I have a number of these cases. If anyone is interested in seeing examples I will post them.

------------------
Tom McIntyre
President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web (http://www.pocketwatch.org)
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.mcintyre.com/McIntyre)

[Tom McIntyre]

For the early watches I collect, the Ladd cases are fairly common. I think they are worth a little more than a non-Ladd gold filled case, but certainly less than a gold case.

I will try to get some pictures in the next few days. They are mostly on early 18 size full plate watches. The easiest way to spot them is to look under the bezel around 8:00 for the patent dates. Sometimes it is hard to spot the marks inside the back.

------------------
Tom McIntyre
President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web (http://www.pocketwatch.org)
Tommy the JOAT's Web (http://www.mcintyre.com/McIntyre)

[ckeithjohnson]

I inquired about a Ladd case that I have back in December and Kent Singer posted a very detailed ad about Ladd cases. This post has been deleted but maybe if you posted your question on the Ultimate Bulletin Board of chapter 174 you may get a reply with the ad . Keith

[Kent]

Although the Chapter 174 Message Board is a place that ought to be visited often, you don't have to go there to ask me to something. I always check here first anyway.

http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/ladd_sm.jpg (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/ladd.jpg)
Click to enlarge

This isn't the same Ladd ad that I posted previously. I couldn't find the file, and I thought that as long as I had to scan something in and clean it up, people might like something different. Besides, this ad identifies the different grades.

Kent

[Fred Hansen]

This thread has been quiet 5 years now, but I recently picked up a 12 page catalog of Ladd patent cases and will post some images here.

Hopefully the topic starter still has an interest in these and I will also send this individual an email with this info.

Fred

[Kent]

Fred:

Bravo!

Here are a couple of Ladd ads whose original links have been lost:

1892 (http://nawcc-mb.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x/,s,2386079361,a,ga,ul,998106371,ic,Y/1892_Mar_9_Ladd.jpg)

1897 (http://nawcc-mb.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x/,s,2386079361,a,ga,ul,344108371,ic,Y/1897_Apr_14_Ladd_LR.jpg)

If you get around to scanning the pages at 300 or 400 dpi, I'd like a set. If you get "print-through" from the back of the page, try putting a piece of black craft paper behind the page being scanned.

Great find,

[Fred Hansen]

Hi Kent -

I am going to give it a go with digital photos, and have just taken a set and if these turn out well enough will post here this afternoon.

Fred

[Fred Hansen]

http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Gol%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0P%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnna0a qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0P%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,291,442

Inside front cover (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Jlo%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP00%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnQQ0n qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP00%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,255,442)

Page 1 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Gal%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0a%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnQQJ0 qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0a%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,324,442)

Page 2 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Jn0%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0a%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnQQJe qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0a%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,272,442)

Page 3 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Jnn%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0o%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnQQJn qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0o%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,276,442)

Page 4 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6Go0%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0a%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaQ0 qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0a%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,289,442)

Page 5 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6loP%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0Q%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaQQ qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0Q%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,343,442)

Page 6 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6loP%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0e%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaQe qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0e%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,343,442)

Page 7 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lPP%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0G%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaPQ qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0G%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,338,442)

Page 8 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6GPe%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP00%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaPo qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP00%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,286,442)

Page 9 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lol%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXPon%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaPJ qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPon%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,346,442)

Page 10 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6GGo%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0e%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaPe qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0e%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,305,442)

Page 11 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6GJo%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0J%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnao0 qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0J%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,300,442)

Page 12 (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6GGJ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0l%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaol qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0l%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,306,442)

Inside rear cover (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6G0a%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXP0J%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnnaon qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0J%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,297,442)

Rear cover (http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6GoJ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKx gXPon%3F87KR6xqpxQQQexoloxaPaxv8uOc5xQQQoaaonnna0G qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPon%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,290,442)

Fred

[peg leg]

Good post Fred!

Here are three key winds. All have GW Ladd patent date June 11, 1867 under bezel as Tom describes. I have one other just aquired that houses an 11j Aurora.

Keith R...

http://static.flickr.com/108/250453208_e85d85cf55.jpg

[Wes]

The Aurora's case has a pretty ornate fancy bezel that these do not have.

[peg leg]

My watchmaker forces me to come clean. He's correct, it's quite ornate, but it also is the only one without the GW Ladd stamp under bezel.

My educated guess says it's GW Ladd and gold filled.

Just having fun Wes............thanks for taking care of my collection.

Keith R...

[Tom McIntyre]

Did everyone notice that the cases were $30 while the movements varied from $7 to $20. Of course, WWCo grade was the highest grade listed on the two page sets I looked at.

[Wes]

Keith, I will come clean. I didn't even look! I just read your post and looked at the watch! :wink:

[peg leg]

Rats.............a confession for no reason. Just kidden.................Keith R...

[Fred Hansen]

I've just sent an email to the starter of this topic, hopefully he still has an interest and the email address is still current.

Fred

[Fred Hansen]

Dang ... failure notice returned on the email address. Does anyone know this individual or if he has another current email address?

Fred

[Greg Frauenhoff]

FWIW, a scan of the cover of a little Ladd pamphlet:

http://members.aol.com/gfrauen/laddcard1.jpg

[Kent]

Fred & Greg:

Thanks for posting the neat literature!

[Jon Hanson]

Fred, there are quite a few one pg L ads in old publications........