Need help identifying Hampden

[verizonguy]

Greetings and salutations,

I just got married this weekend and to mark the occasion, my father handed me down a pocketwatch that belonged to his grandfather and possibly his great-grandfather. I'm trying to learn anything I can about this pocket watch as after resarching it and browsing dozens of Hampden Watch Co pictures, I've been unable to find another with the same design on the back to help determine the model. Any information, history, etc would be greatly appreciated. Another curious thing is that one of the founders of the Hampden Watch Co had my last name and the watch was made in Springfield, Mass, 30 min from where I was born.
The number on the movement is 492296 which leads me to believe it was made in 1887. The puzzling part for me is that 1886, the year before, is when it became Dueber-Hampden. Does anyone know in which year their watches started being branded with Dueber-Hampden rather than "Hampden Watch Co"?

The number on the inside of the case is 1246703 and there is an engraved scale next to that number.

I'd be interested to find out the significance of the design on the back. There is a building in the middle of a sort of crest.

I took a few pictures:
http://verizonguy.com/watch

[verizonguy]

Greetings and salutations,

I just got married this weekend and to mark the occasion, my father handed me down a pocketwatch that belonged to his grandfather and possibly his great-grandfather. I'm trying to learn anything I can about this pocket watch as after resarching it and browsing dozens of Hampden Watch Co pictures, I've been unable to find another with the same design on the back to help determine the model. Any information, history, etc would be greatly appreciated. Another curious thing is that one of the founders of the Hampden Watch Co had my last name and the watch was made in Springfield, Mass, 30 min from where I was born.
The number on the movement is 492296 which leads me to believe it was made in 1887. The puzzling part for me is that 1886, the year before, is when it became Dueber-Hampden. Does anyone know in which year their watches started being branded with Dueber-Hampden rather than "Hampden Watch Co"?

The number on the inside of the case is 1246703 and there is an engraved scale next to that number.

I'd be interested to find out the significance of the design on the back. There is a building in the middle of a sort of crest.

I took a few pictures:
http://verizonguy.com/watch

[Greg Davis]

Generally speaking, there is no significance to the engravings on the cases, they are purely decorative. Sometimes they appear to be scenes from some estate, sometimes pictures of birds, and frequently pictures of locomotives. People frequently think that a picture of a train denotes a "railroad watch", but it doesn't. It, like a picture of buildings or birds, is just decoration.

Likewise, there is very little that can be ascertained based on case serial number unless the case was installed at the factory and the factory records were retained.

So usually, the thing that gets you the most useful information about a watch will be a combination of the serial number and a clear picture of the movement.

I'm not all that familiar with later Hampden watches, so I will leave it to someone with more knowledge to answer the specifics about your watch.

- Greg

[verizonguy]

Anyone else? :smile:

[Kent]

Hi verizonguy:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

The Dueber Watch Case Manufacturing Co. was a separate company from the Hampden Watch Co., although the ads used the Dueber-Hampden name and that name was (and still is) in common usage, and they were housed in adjacent buildings. Although there were various grades of Hampden movements, I don't recall seeing any that were explicitly marked "Dueber-Hampden."

Regarding serial number 492296, the book “The Hampden Watch Co.,” NAWCC Special Order Supplement #1, J. Hernick and R. Arnold, NAWCC, Columbia, PA, 1997 (possibly available - check with Heart of America Press (http://www.hoapress.com)) indicates that it would be a gilded, 18-size, 7-jewel, lever-set, unadjusted, model 3, Springfield grade movement. You can see where this fit in Hampden's line in a 530 Kb scan of page from an 1887 Distributor's Catalog (http://static.flickr.com/27/43570061_f24bcaeb4e_b.jpg).

If by saying that there is "... an engraved scale ..." on the inside of the case, you are referring to a balance, than the watch case was probably made by the Keystone Watch Case Co., whose 1888 Ad (http://photos22.flickr.com/31853073_31104b39fd_o.jpg) shows the trade marks used in a variety of their pocket watch cases.

Good luck,

[verizonguy]

Wow Kent, you are a wealth of information. Thank you for the response. :smile:

You're right. The inner case does have a Keystone mark (the keystone with a C inside), however the scale stamp on the inside of the outer back case is not the same as the one in that ad. It does not have a crown on top of the scale. I'm going to agree that the case was made by Keystone. I'll try to research more about their cases to see if the design had any meaning or depicted any actual building.

Thanks again for the information.

[Tom Walker]

Congratulations,
Kent provided good sources to find out more about your watch. It's a good looking watch with a nice case! You're lucky to have it passed down to you, especially with its provenance. I have a few Hampdens and a couple of watches from the company predecessors, which I consider excellent collectibles.
Tom Walker

[Kent]

verizonguy:

Keystone "J. Boss" or"Jas. Boss" cases are gold-filled, guaranteed for 15 (maybe), 20 or 25 years. A 1907 Keystone Ad (http://photos14.flickr.com/15015315_eefccd0e9e_o.jpg) shows their balance (scale) & crown trade mark used on their 25-year Jas. Boss (J. Boss) cases, and the plain balance trade mark identifying their 20-year J. Boss cases.

You have a nice heirloom, enjoy it,

[verizonguy]

Thank you again, gentlemen.

Is there a directory or registry of some kind which would contain the contact information for individuals skilled in restoring Hampden pocket watches in the Hartford, CT or Springfield, MA area? I've located plenty of web sites, but don't want to risk losing or damaging it, so figured I should hand deliver it somewhere nearby.

[Kent]

verizonguy:

Check out What You Need To Know About Watch Repair at Wayne Schlitt's Elgin Website:
<span class="ev_code_brown">www.midwestcs.com/elgin/help/watch_repair.html</span>
<span class="ev_code_blue">To view, go to the </span><span class="ev_code_brown">Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page</span> <span class="ev_code_blue">at</span> <span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.com</span>, <span class="ev_code_blue">then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on </span>'Go'.

Good luck,

[Jerry Matthews]

Vierzonguy -

Hello. I would like to add my word of congratulations to Tom's and others on inheriting such a fine watch. I now have six Hampdens, ranging from 1885 (when they were still made in Springfield) to 1907. They include an 1893 New Railway, which I would hold up for accuracy against any modern quartz watch, and a 1904 Wm McKinley. I believe they are fine, collectable timepieces.

The source I have dates your movement to 1888, which I believe is the same year that they moved to Canton. It is a bit strange that all the ads and catalogues I have seen from around that period refer to "Dueber-Hampden Watch Co" but all the movements are inscribed "Hampden Watch Co."

Just a word of caution: I was given my grandfather's watch several years ago (a 1908 Elgin) which kicked off a collecting fever which has never abated. It becomes addictive!

Best regards,

Jerry

[verizonguy]

I fear you're right Jerry. I'm already extremely interested just from inheriting this one. :smile:

[Norman Bliss]

Hi
You might want to check out "Pieces of Time" in Newington CT run by NAWCC member Rick Littlefield. Web page at http://www.piecesoftime.net/. I've bought watches from him, and had him service watches as well, and if you're in Hartford, he's right next door.

Don't know anyone else in CT or in western MA, but do know of a couple of places in the Boston area if you want to travel that far. Email me at nobliss@snet.net if you wish.

Congratulations on your wedding, and the fine watch.

Norman Bliss
Mystic CT

[Wes]

If you need to find a local watch or clockmaker, I highly recommend using the American Watchmakers - Clockmakers Institute's Referral Directory (http://www.watch-clock-makers.org/). "AWCI is an international not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the advancement of horology." This is the trade organization for folks who make thier living working with timepieces.

You might also want to ask if they even work on pocket watches, or even better, specialize in them.

[verizonguy]

I ended up sending it to NAWCC member Matt Henning:
http://www.henningwatches.com/index.html

I'll post here once I get it back with the outcome :smile: