E Howard a Railroad Watch?

[txcolt45]

I just got a E Howard Series 3 watch from an antique shop yesterday. Got it dirt cheap. I was wondering if they was actually approved for railroad service. Shugart's book has all E Howards marked adjusted on the railroad list, but I'm skeptical. The watch is 17 Jewel, Adj. 3 positions, pendent wind, pendent set. This does not define a railroad watch, but its on the list? I also notice a striking resemblance between the Howard and my 992s. Any Relation?

[Tom Huber]

To my knowledge, the series three was never approved for any RR service. Keystone Howard began producing that watch c-1906. By that time, all RR approved watches had to be lever set and adj to 5 positions.

Tom

[Tom McIntyre]

The E. Howard Watch Co. advertising said "All our lever set watches are approved for service on all American railroads."

Maybe someone can post a copy of one of these ads. I don't have one handy.

[Robert Sweet]

Tom,
Below is the ad that you are referring to.

Robert

[RON in PA]

"Lever setting" is the key. Your Howard is, by your description, pendant setting and not a RR watch.

[Kent]

While the ad says that the lever-set watches are accepted and approved, it doesn't say that the pendant-set watches weren't. It really depends upon the date.

As Tom Huber posted, it was during the 1906-1908 period that most railroads started requiring lever-setting (and adjustment to five positions - and so marked). So, if you've got an early serial number (the model was patented in 1905) it might have been accepted.

Regarding the number of positions, the non-premier version of the model 92 AT&Co was only adjusted to three positions in 1903 and it was accepted.