Waltham Model 1857 "R.E. Farnam & Co."

[Sean Mc.]

Just picked up a Waltham 1857 KWKS ser.# 555,763. The dial is marked
American Watch Co. The movement is marked "R.E.Farnam & Co." and
"Flint, Mich." I assume that this movement was specially marked for this jeweler. I can find no reference to this company anywhere. Do any of you have a similarly marked '57 or have you seen one? Does anyone have any information on this jeweler, if that is, indeed, what the name refers to?Click Here (null)nullnullAlso, when I ran the serial # through our lookup it came up as "W.W.Co.". Does this mean that the dial is not original to the watch? Any further information you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

[Tom McIntyre]

The Waltham database only records private labels for very high volume clients. Those examples are likely special grades made to that clients requirements.

Other private label watches carry whatever grade the material of the watch would be without the special marking.

In the case of your watch it is WWCo grade, which, depending on when it was made was medium to medium high grade.

Your watch is listed as A grade material but with 4 holes jewelled or 11 jewels. That would make it on the lower grade end of things.

If you click on the Model and Grade link in the database and enter 1857 for the model and wwco for the grade, it will give you information on the range of watches produced under this grade name.

I don't know anything about R.E. Farnam, but there are lots of private label specialists here.

[Sean Mc.]

Thanks for the lesson on using the database Tom. I must admit that I found it a bit confusing. What a useful tool this database is! I have much to learn about grading and material.
I was hoping that the piece was a higher grade but it is still a nice old watch. Thanks again!

How 'bout that expert on private labels out there? Who was this Farnam
character?

[richiec]

Found an R.E. Farnum, jewelry dealer in Flint, Mich in the 1870 census. He was born about 1839. And there was an Robt E. Farnum listed as a merchant in Flint Mich in the 1880 census. I don't know whether this is any help.