My newest Cres.St.

[perby]

Hi once again,
This is a brand new watch to me. I can see by the waltham serial dating that it is a mdl 1908 cres.st. made in 1920. What I could not find was how many were actually made, and have not seen many with the metal dial, so am wondering if this is a common one or not. Any info once again would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill

[perby]

Hi once again,
This is a brand new watch to me. I can see by the waltham serial dating that it is a mdl 1908 cres.st. made in 1920. What I could not find was how many were actually made, and have not seen many with the metal dial, so am wondering if this is a common one or not. Any info once again would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill

I guess if I included a pic it would help.

[Tom McIntyre]

23,225 1899 model
87,200 1908 model

All were 21J except for 2 runs of model 1899 19J for a total of 400 examples.

model for 19J

[perby]

23,225 1899 model
87,200 1908 model

All were 21J except for 2 runs of model 1899 19J for a total of 400 examples.


Thanks again Tom,
Was the dial a pretty common one ?

[Tom McIntyre]

The dial was an extra cost I believe. Porcelain dials were cheaper and seem more common. However, I think there may have been a hoard of NOS silver dials around somewhere that surfaced in the 70's or 80's,

Most people seem to prefer the porcelain (really enamel on copper).

[Tom Huber]

I have a dial exactly like yours that is on a common grade 15J, model 99 from the same timeframe. Might have been a option for the customer to get as Tom M said in the above post.

Tom

[perby]

I have a dial exactly like yours that is on a common grade 15J, model 99 from the same timeframe. Might have been a option for the customer to get as Tom M said in the above post.

Tom

Thanks for the info Tom & Tom.
I have seen a photo in a watch book with this Cr.St. 21j with this dial, but most had the porc. dial. So really was just wondering of the rarity, but it probably was an option for a dress watch.
Thanks again guys.

[Tom McIntyre]

I recall that the ads claimed better visibility. I think they would need to be bleached back to white to achieve that.

[Kent]

Tom:

I don't think that perby's dial is the Silver Finish Dial (http://photos14.flickr.com/15935951_18df94b3fd_o.jpg) of which Waltham claimed high legibility.

[lak611]

Tom:

I don't think that perby's dial is the Silver Finish Dial (http://photos14.flickr.com/15935951_18df94b3fd_o.jpg) of which Waltham claimed high legibility.
Were all of the dials mentioned in the advertisement single-sunk dials?

[Kent]

"Were all of the dials mentioned in the advertisement single-sunk dials?"

Laura:

I'm not really sure - and this goes for several factors.

Although many of us refer to a a metal dial, having different levels for the center, seconds bit and hour chapter, as being double-sunk (which actually means the description I've just stated), common usage of the term is to refer to a three-part enamel dial, each part a different thickness, soldered together. I think, but I'm not sure, that most silver-finished metal railroad dials only have a depressed seconds bit.

Note that a silver-finished railroad dial is different from a metal dial that is silver, or silver-colored. The silver finish of the former is designed to reflect light (except for the hour figures and minute marks), while the latter, a silver metal dial, serves an aesthetic purpose in conjunction with the case. Or, a silver metal dial may be a less expensive, third-party replacement dial. Neither of these silver metal dials may be more visible in low light.

Elgin, along with other manufacturers, also marketed Silver Finish Railroad Dials (http://photos11.flickr.com/15933797_a6fef9e2f7_b.jpg).

[lak611]

"Were all of the dials mentioned in the advertisement single-sunk dials?"

Laura:

I'm not really sure - and this goes for several factors.

Although many of us refer to a a metal dial, having different levels for the center, seconds bit and hour chapter, as being double-sunk (which actually means the description I've just stated), common usage of the term is to refer to a three-part enamel dial, each part a different thickness, soldered together. I think, but I'm not sure, that most silver-finished metal railroad dials only have a depressed seconds bit. The latter description you gave is what I had considered to be a double-sunk dial.

Note that a silver-finished railroad dial is different from a metal dial that is silver, or silver-colored. The silver finish of the former is designed to reflect light (except for the hour figures and minute marks), while the latter, a silver metal dial, serves an aesthetic purpose in conjunction with the case. Or, a silver metal dial may be a less expensive, third-party replacement dial. Neither of these silver metal dials may be more visible in low light.

Elgin, along with other manufacturers, also marketed Silver Finish Railroad Dials (http://photos11.flickr.com/15933797_a6fef9e2f7_b.jpg).Thanks. It is hard to distinguish what the silver-finished dial looks like from a printed ad, rather than from a photograph as was the case with the Waltham ad.

[PW Collector]

Here is a Cresent St. I have, Ser.#26616743, 21 J, 16 size, adj. 6 positions with a metal dial.
Dave

[PW Collector]

Movement:

[lak611]

Here is a Cresent St. I have, Ser.#26616743, 21 J, 16 size, adj. 6 positions with a metal dial.
DaveIs the second hand the same color blue as the hour and minute hands? It looks like it is black, not blue, but that could just be what I am seeing from the lighting in the picture.

[PW Collector]

It is the same as the hour/minute hands. Probably the angle & reflection of the photo.
Dave

[lak611]

It is the same as the hour/minute hands. Probably the angle & reflection of the photo.
DaveI thought so. It is a very nice looking watch! Is it easier to see in low light conditions than the porcelain dials?