Dueber Watch-Information About This Item???

[popeye]

Looked for information about this watch on site and elsewhere. Saw references to Hampton, but this has Deuber and isignia and found nothing about this. Could some one shed some information about this watch. I do like the look. Here is a picture and information about it:
The inside back of the watch itself says The Dueber Watch Co Canton Ohio Patent Pinion 713757. The case says Philadelphia Watch Case Co Silverode 284212. The back of the case that the watch sits in has numbers on the edge 0203. Would a size case Gf 16 Size fit this watch as a replacement, or should I keep this case? Advice and expertice always appreciated.

http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/4d/97/52_12_sb.JPG http://i8.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/4e/d6/16_12_sb.JPG

[popeye]

Looked for information about this watch on site and elsewhere. Saw references to Hampton, but this has Deuber and isignia and found nothing about this. Could some one shed some information about this watch. I do like the look. Here is a picture and information about it:
The inside back of the watch itself says The Dueber Watch Co Canton Ohio Patent Pinion 713757. The case says Philadelphia Watch Case Co Silverode 284212. The back of the case that the watch sits in has numbers on the edge 0203. Would a size case Gf 16 Size fit this watch as a replacement, or should I keep this case? Advice and expertice always appreciated.

http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/4d/97/52_12_sb.JPG http://i8.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/4e/d6/16_12_sb.JPG

[leghorn]

Popeye

I think that the movement is a size 18s, and was originally in a hunter case.


leghorn

[Jon Hanson]

A standard 18s full plate hunting mov't recased in OF case.

Nice item for beginner collectors.

[popeye]

Thanks, what does that mean? Isn't it a Dueber? As you guess I am a newbie.

[Jon Hanson]

pocket watch is pictured--what clock?

[popeye]

Sorry, mean't pocket watch.

[Jon Hanson]

YES

[popeye]

What does that mean. Where can I get specific information that I can read or understand about this watch? Thxs again.

[Jon Hanson]

WHAT DOES WHAT MEAN?

[RL]

Popeye,
Dueber was a watch case co. and Hampden was a watch company. They merged and it became the Dueber Hampden co. Quite a long but interesting story. Company went out of business at their location in Canton Ohio, and all of the equipment,parts etc. were shipped to Moscow and bought by a company there. Find the book "From Springfield to Moscow" and you can read the story. There have also been several articles about the company and the watches in past issues of the "Bulletin"

cheers---------------------Randy

[popeye]

Thanks for the info. Interesting stories I found. How can I find out about this watch? From what I read watches used the Hamden name. This has The Dueber name and seal. Any way to find the age of the watch? Thanks again!

[RL]

popeye,
Not sure. Most of the watches out of Canton Ohio
had Hampden on them. Perhaps Kent ,Jeff,Ed or any of the pocket watch afficionados can help you. By the way it is spelled Hampden and not Hampton. That may help you in your research.

cheers-----------------------------Randy

[Kent]

popeye:

As others have indicated, its a long story. The history of the Hamden Watch Co. goes back to the New York Watch, a successor to the Mozart Watch Co. New York <span class="ev_code_blue">“... was in business from about 1866 to 1877, during which time it made a variety of different grades of movements. Its total production is estimated to be less than 60,000.” (quote from Greg Frauenhoff)</span> A data base of New York serial numbers is available on Greg Frauenhoff’s Website (http://members.aol.com/gfrauen10/newyorkmainpage.html). After a reorganization, the firm became the Hampden Watch Co. in 1877.

Dueber-Hampden’s story is told in “From Springfield To Moscow: The Complete Dueber-Hampden Story," (Revised and enlarged successor to the 1954 Supplement to the NAWCC Bulletin) James W. Gibbs, Philadelphia, PA, 1986 (this should be available to members on loan by mail from the NAWCC Library & Research Center (http://www.nawcc.org/Library/library.htm)). Briefly, John C. Dueber (whose 1907 Obituary (http://members.aol.com/gfrauen10/celebrated.html) can be viewed on Greg Frauenhoff's website) established a watch case company in Newport, KY in the late 1870's. In the mid-to-late 1880's he purchased a controlling interest in the Hampden Watch Co. of Springfield, MA. In 1888-1890, both operations were moved to a dual, attached set of factory buildings in Canton, OH. Although they were housed in adjacent buildings, the ads used the Dueber-Hampden name and that name was (and still is) in common usage, the Dueber Watch Case Manufacturing Co. was a separate company from the Hampden Watch Co. It stayed that way until about 1925 when they formally combined. The companies continued in business, producing both watches and cases until falling sales in the mid-1920's led to receivership in 1927. The manufacturing equipment, parts on hand and work in progress were sold to Russia. Operations ceased in 1930 when the machinery was shipped to Russia. It is believed that all factory records either went with the equipment, or were destroyed, and there are no surviving records from which to match serial numbers of watches against models and grades. Nevertheless, Messrs. J. Hernick and R. Arnold, by collecting descriptions of Dueber-Hampden watches, with serial numbers, over a decade or more, were able to partially reconstruct the serial number vs. grade/description list. This was published as “The Hampden Watch Co.,” NAWCC Special Order Supplement #1, J. Hernick and R. Arnold, NAWCC, Columbia, PA, 1997 (Still available - see Heart of America Press (http://www.hoapress.com)).

In 1891, Hampden created an advertising blitz for their new line of 17-jewel watches that lasted for years, of which, a typical ad can be seen at:
<span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.org/scans/non_elgin_ads/1891/m_12_hampden_17j_are_future.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'.
At this time, most high grade watches only had 15 jewels. Although higher-jeweled watches had been available for decades, Hampden was the first to mass produce and heavily promote 17-jewel watches, such as the Anchor Grade (http://photos16.flickr.com/20381094_79776a53ee_o.jpg). The 15-jewel Railway grade was discontinured and the Special Railway and New Railway (http://photos15.flickr.com/20386597_b1d130c3e7_o.jpg) grades were added. In pushing its line of 17-jewel watches, Hampden started a jewel count escalation that, over the next ten years, resulted in 21 and 23 jewel watches becoming commonplace and even led to the production of 24, 25 and 26 jewel watches.

The watch you are asking about, serial number 713757, seems to be a lesser grade than the railroad standard watches that were heavily promoted in the very early 1890s (which is when it was built). The name "Dueber Watch Co." is actually the grade name of the watch, which was, of course, made by the Hampden Watch Co. According to Messers. Hernick & Arnold's book, this was an unadjusted watch, possibly 15 or 17 jewels, not to be confused with the Anchor Grade (http://photos16.flickr.com/20381094_79776a53ee_o.jpg) or the later 21-jewel Dueber Watch Co. grade, which were of higher quality.

From the number of questions that you've been posting, it sounds like you're reaching the point where you ought to consider getting some of the reference books that people have been mentioning.

Good luck,

[popeye]

Thanks for the information, I will try to look for some books. Help was appreciated.