Help on Waltham 8 day 15J wind indicator

[LJballer]

Hi, I know this is a clock but I thought this forum was the best spot to ask about my Waltham 8 day 15 jewel, adjusted, wind indicator. I have 2 almost exactly the same. The other has "eight day" written differently. Their ser#s are 19376937 and 17792304. I looked on ebay but cant find any wind indicators but the gimbaled ones. thanks so much!!
Luke

[IMHO]

Hi Luke,

I don't know if this will help you much, but of the 6 of these 37mm Waltham movements with 15J Adjusted and WI I have on records - from sn 17,405,857 to 28,924,442 - the one at sn 18,157,111 is the only one with a black dial and no whip micro regulator. Also, the same sn 18,157,111 and sn 28,924,442 are listed as A grade material (as opposed to P grade material for the other 4) in the Waltham reciords, and are the only 2 of the 6 that are not gimballed movements.

Dave

[LJballer]

thanks for the info but I really have no idea what youre trying to tell me. I am not a watch guy so I don't know much. thanks
Luke

[Jerry Treiman]

With these Walthams it is important to differentiate between the "spot indicator" on your clock and the true winding indicator used on some of the gimbaled clocks and jewelers window clocks. The spot indicator is a much simpler mechanism and is also found on many automobile clocks. They came with metal dials (black, silver, etc.) and enamel dials. This one has a 3-1/2 inch enamel dial and reportedly came out of a Packard.

[IMHO]

Hi Luke,

From the small amount of information I have, it seems that your car clock is unusual in that:

(1) it's 15 jewels and adjusted - most car or travel clocks have 7 jewels, a few have 9 jewels, and are not adjusted - many of the 15 jewel adjusted movements show up as WWI gimballed ships clocks and chronometers

(2) it has no micro-regulator - most of the 15 jewel adjusted movement examples I've seen have a micro-regulator, which serves to allow you to move the regulator arm only very slightly by means of turning a screw.

(3) as stated by Jerry, most of the 15 jewel adjusted movements are gimballed and have an 8 day "up / down" power reserve pointer rather than a "spot indicator" or red ball in a window type display for letting you know it's time to wind it.

Other than that, Waltham made close to 1.5 million of these movements in 3 basic models - the model 1910 (named for the year it was designed), the model 1926, and the CDIA (Civil Date Indicator Aeronautical) made for aircraft use.

The model 1910 serial numbers are roughly 16,628,501 through 24,721,000. The model 1926 serial numbers fall between 24,721,001 and 30,690,000, and then between 31,823,001 and 31,894,000. And the CDIA serial numbers fall between 30,760,001 and 31,731,000.

The model 1910 and model 1926 movements most often show up as car clocks, but also as travel clocks, desk clocks, telephone company call timers, ships clocks & chronometers, watchman's clocks, jewelry store display clocks, and even wall clocks.

Hope that helps you enjoy your specimen even more.

Dave

[Don Dahlberg]

Fifteen jeweled 8-day Waltham were often used for car and travel clocks. I specialist on car clocks told me that if the dials says Waltham Watch Co., it is 15 jewels. If it just says Waltham, it probably is not. This rule worked for Jerry's example, but not for LJBaller.

I have a travel clock with a jeweler's name on the dial. It is 15 jewels.

They are really large watches. They are built like watches. Most clockmakers would have no idea how to service them and most vintage watchmakers would.

Don

[LJballer]

Some really great info guys! thanks a million!
Luke