Revived Waltham '57

[Jonathan B]

Hi All,

I recently finished a major repairs on an 11j Home Watch co. model '57. It was a big project for me ( made a new staff and banking pin, fitted roller, plate, and balance jewels, mainspring and new hands). I hope board members can help me learn a bit more about the watch.

The serial number dates it to 1873, and it lives in a silveroid case. I know it's not a high grade watch, but beyond this I was wondering...

Does anyone know what this watch might have sold for when new? Any idea what incomes were like back then?

And technical question:
If you compare this watch to say, a similar grade keywind model '83 is there a difference in precision, quality, or ease of manufacture?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Jonathan

[richiec]

I can recommend a great book from the NAWCC bookstore called "Origins of the Waltham Model 57" by Ron Price which gives the evolution of this watch. It is one of my favorite models, I have 4 working varieties one of which is a Home model from 1870, serial #474540, which, surprisingly, keeps better time that some of the others I have, within a minute a day. I am sure someone here can come up with the selling prices and statistics for income of the period. Here is a picture of a P S Bartlett I have.

[Tom Huber]

Hi Jonathan, Great job on your Home Watch Co grade. The Home grade was AW Co's absolute lowest grade that they made. It had everything possible done to lower the price. It was such a low grade that AW Co did not put its name on it and it was sold without a warranty. I have several of the Home grades, and they are acceptable time keepers. It is amazing that a watch that was sold at rock bottom is not only still around today, but is running and keeping time.

I think that I have seen prices in the $4-5 range for the movement in that time period. Of course, the customer would also have to purchase a case for maybe another couple of dollars.

Nice job on the restoration.

Tom

[Jonathan B]

Tom and richiec!
Thanks for the information. $6 or $7 doesn't seem like much for a watch. No warranty is a bit scary though. I agree, it is amazing that they are still doing their job, but they were built to be repaired rather than thrown away. Mine had a lot done to it before I got it (good and bad!).

I wonder who could, or couldn't afford one. I know, for example, that in the British army of the time a sergeant may have had a watch, but lower ranks most likely wouldn't.

I'll have a look for the Ron Price book richiec mentioned.

In the meantime, a couple of pictures....

[Jonathan B]

Richiec,
Nice looking watch. Do you ever carry it?