E. Howard, Boston Investor/Stockholder info needed

[r3wostep]

Hi, I have been trying to find a database that contains information regarding the investors and/or stockholders in the original E. Howard watch company. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Richard

[Kent]

Richard:

I don't know of an online resource, but page 57 of The Complete History of Watch Making in America - Reprinted from the Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review 1885-1887, Charles S. Crossman, (Adams Brown Co., Exeter, NH, undated, but probably late 1980's) states that in 1861 the Howard Clock & Watch Company was organized with "... capital at $120,000. ... composed of Messrs. Edward, Albert, Henry W and W. Howard, and George Kingman."

Hope this helps,

[BILL KAPP]

FWI W,

Col Townsend on p 35 of Everything you wanted to know about American Watches.......... lists the principals of the E howard and Co in 1 857 as Edward Howard, N B Sherwood, Charles E Rice, A Howard and J W B Learned.

The Howard Davis and Dennison co in 1850 shows Aaron Dennison, edward Howard, David Davis, Samuel Curtis, David and Oliver Marsh and James Shepard.

Not sure if these are all shareholders, officers or whatever.

Happy hunting,

Bill Kapp

[Jerry Treiman]

Richard - what time frame are you looking for? The specific name of "E. Howard Watch Co" was not in use until after the watch and clock production was separated around 1902. When the E. Howard Watch Co. was incorporated in August of 1902 the shareholders were listed as J.H. Drummond, H.J. Endicott, Jr., J.C. Rice and L.A. Ford. The company was re-incorporated in New Jersey in 1903 after its purchase by Keystone.

[r3wostep]

Wow! Thank you everyone for your responses. The time period I'm looking for would be around 1874. Specifically as pretains to a Mr. John Ballard of Athens, OH. All of your help is greatly appreciated. Regards, Richard

[BILL KAPP]

FWIW,

Ritchies auction result, Sept 2006

HUNTING CASE KEYLESS POCKET WATCH, E. HOWARD & CO., BOSTON, NO. 318282, CIRCA 1874
In 18k, Three quarter plate jewelled lever movement with bimetallic compensating balance, dial with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds, engine turned case with monogram, and engraved on the gold cuvette 'John Ballard, Athens, O., 1874.'

Sold for $1884


Got that from Google, key words John Ballard athens 1874.

Happy hunting,

Bill Kapp

"

[r3wostep]

Mr. Kapp,
Yes! That is exactly the watch! A friend of mine purchased it and was told that Mr. Ballard was an investor in the Howard watch company but I have not been able to substantiate that. I understand that many of the Howard records were lost in a fire at some time is this true? Thank you for your help. I appreciate it very much. Regards, Richard

[BILL KAPP]

Richard,

I am not aware of any records lost to fire. He is obviously not one of the prominent investors. Most likely this is just a jeweler inscribed personal watch. The family was well off and localy prominent in politics.

happy hunting,

Bill Kapp

[Harold Visser]

Couldn't help but notice a couple discrepancies in the 06 Ritchie auction description... first, the 300,000 block of numbers was used on open face watches only, not a hunter case as Ritchie described the watch. Second the number 318,282 was never used, it is not a valid E. Howard serial number....310,000 was the highest number used in the 300,000 block.
Like Bill said, it is almost certainly just a jeweler inscribed personal watch.

[r3wostep]

Mr. Visser,
actually the serial number is 31,282. It is a series IV. I have added a picture of the movement. I hadn't noticed the incorrect serial number. Thank you for your help.
Regards, Richard

[r3wostep]

Hi,
I also included a picture of the case maker's mark in my previous post. Is anyone familiar with it? I haven't found this name listed as a maker for a case for a Howard watch. Has anyone ever seen a Howard case marked "D & Co"?. Again thank you to everyone who has added comments to this post.
Regards, Richard

[Jerry Treiman]

Clint Geller, in his Bulletin article on cases for E.Howard watches (April 1995), identified "D&Co" as a mark for Duhme & Co., a known maker of cases for E. Howards.

[Harold Visser]

Upon examining the factory records for #31,282, I came across some interesting information......31,282 was finished Oct. 10, 1871 with the factory records showing a price/cost of $175. It is a fully adjusted movement having been adjusted by J. A. Dawson.
The interesting part is that instead of being sent to the Howard New York office for future sale or kept at the home office to be sold, this movement was listed as being sold directly to J. H. Gerry over a year later on Nov. 7, 1872. As Howard collectors know, Gerry was the Howard factory superintendent during that time frame and also the holder of the Feb. 4 1868 stemwinding patent which was used on the stem wind Howards of the time. Howard was the first company with the stem wind and stem set feature.
Apparently Gerry didn't keep it to long, but at least there is a bit of uniqueness associated with this watch!

[Jon Hanson]

Incorrect-Fasoldt made the first SW, SS watch!

[Harold Visser]

Jon, pure conjecture on your part, the first E. Howard SW&SS can be documented by the factory records as to the exact date, Fasoldt manufactered dates can only be approximated.....:?| The few caliber/series III Fasoldts (hooked center bridge) SW/SS versions came out approximately sometime in 1871, a full year later than the SW/SS Howards.....

[Jon Hanson]

Jon, pure conjecture on your part, the first E. Howard SW&SS can be documented by the factory records as to the exact date, Fasoldt manufactered dates can only be approximated.....:?| The few caliber/series III Fasoldts (hooked center bridge) SW/SS versions came out approximately sometime in 1871, a full year later than the SW/SS Howards.....


DEAD WRONG AGAIN--YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY and, obviously NOTHING about Fasoldts.

I DON'T USE GUESS WORK, unlike you--AND I PERSONALLY OWN A STEM SET MADE IN 1869!

[Jon Hanson]

TAGLINE: the early NY Watch Co., Springfield, Mass stemwind, stem set movements also might preceed the 1871 date? I do not know the exact date.

[Harold Visser]

Jon, If you can prove your stem set(you didn't mention stemwind) Fasoldt was made in 1869, I will gladly apologize and retract my statement......
I hope this doesn't get into a "who's going to get in the last word" contest, I'm quite a bit younger than you are, time is on my side....:thumb:
ps; don't forget we're talking stem wind and stem set.....

[Jon Hanson]

Jon, If you can prove your stem set(you didn't mention stemwind) Fasoldt was made in 1869, I will gladly apologize and retract my statement......
I hope this doesn't get into a "who's going to get in the last word" contest, I'm quite a bit younger than you are, time is on my side....:thumb:
ps; don't forget we're talking stem wind and stem set.....

I don't have to prove anything--the facts are the facts and yours are WRONG!

Younger, oh really? What has age to do with anything, but maybe knowledge, experience and crecibility does!

[Harold Visser]

Well I guess we'll have to agree that we disagree, even though I have written proof to the day and your argument is to just accept your word without any proof..... Oh well:?| that's what makes this hobby interesting....Always enjoy chatting with you......
Harold

[Jon Hanson]

Incorrect-Fasoldt made the first SW, SS watch!

Could it be any clearer--SW,SS==stem wind, stem set?

[r3wostep]

Mr. Hanson,
do you have any knowledge regarding Mr. Ballard's connection to Mr. Howard's watch company? Your expertise and knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks, Richard

[Jon Hanson]

Mr. Hanson,
do you have any knowledge regarding Mr. Ballard's connection to Mr. Howard's watch company? Your expertise and knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks, Richard

Hi Richard,

I check through my records, but (from memory) I do not believe he was an officer.

Jon

[IMHO]

The final version of Adrienne Philippes winding mechanism patents over the years 1845-1861 allowed the "switch" from winding to setting to be done either by pulling out the crown or by depressing a button.

So I take it Patek Philippe & Co. chose to produce only button setting mechinisms after the patent was taken out and before Fasolts SW/SS watch was produced?

Dave

[Tom McIntyre]

Dave I think the lively discussion above was limited to American production. No one would argue that Patek Phillipe produced the first Stem Wind Pendant Set watch (without either lever or button). Of course I could be wrong. OUr capacity for argument seems pretty high. :o

[Jon Hanson]

Dave I think the lively discussion above was limited to American production. No one would argue that Patek Phillipe produced the first Stem Wind Pendant Set watch (without either lever or button). Of course I could be wrong. OUr capacity for argument seems pretty high. :o


Agreed, this was an American topic to which I was addressing.