Should Waltham movts be the only ones found in AM Watch Co cases?

[Luca]

Sometimes I see other old movements (Elgin, Illinois, Rockford) not of Waltham make in these cases (usually keywind) - even without extra case screw marks. Is it conceivable they'd be original to the case?

Luca

[Jon Hanson]

YES

[Luca]

Jon, Not sure I have your answer straight...

Yes it should only be walthams in the case?

[Smudgy]

He means "Yes, it is possible that a different manufacturer could have a watch in a AM Watch Co case that is original to the case".

Most of the American watch makers sold watches uncased, leaving the casing to the jewelers (there are some exceptions). This was possible due to the standardization of the movement and case sizes and allowed a prospective customer to choose the watch/case combination based on individual taste and cost.

[Jon Hanson]

Jon, Not sure I have your answer straight...

Yes it should only be walthams in the case?

No, they could be in anything........................

[Tom McIntyre]

Waltham had a case business independent of its watch business. They would sell cases to anyone.

Waltham also sold uncased movements. Originally these all went to Robbins & Appleton, later they were sold on the general jobber market. Robbins & Appleton had an incentive to case the movements in Waltham cases since they got an extra piece of the action on both sides. You sometimes find cases that strongly appear to be made by Waltham with jeweler's names in them.

[Luca]

Thanks for the responses folks! Very helpful.