Need to idtrenton watch & name of case

[gtglass]

Hi,
As you can see from pics This is a Trenton Watch Co Pocket watch from Trenton New Jersey with serial #452277. Plus it has a open face front in hunters case is there a special name for that particular case, I did a guick search and was unable to find another. I just want to know the movement grade, year made, how many Jewels, model and so on, and any info on case which is a Duber silverine, Canton O., anything you can tell me will be very useful, and would be greatley appreciated is this a special case?
Thanks &Hope You'll can Help!

[Kent]

Hi gtglass:

Your case is a hinged back and bezel open-face case (not a hunting-case). Silverine was Dueber's trade mark for a nickel case.

The history of The Dueber-Hampden Watch Co. is told in From Springfield To Moscow: The Complete Dueber-Hampden Story by James W. Gibbs, a revised and enlarged successor to the 1954 Supplement to the NAWCC Bulletin, 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 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 1888-1889, both operations were moved to a dual, attached set of factory buildings in Canton, OH (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y284/walt845/1889_Aug_Dueber_Factory_LR.jpg). The Dueber Watch Case Manufacturing Co. was a separate company from the Hampden Watch Co., although the ads used the Dueber-Hampden name and that name was (and still is) in common usage, and they were housed in adjacent buildings. It stayed that way until about 1925 when the companies were merged. Hampden movements were frequently offered factory fitted into Dueber cases, such as seen in an 1908 Ad (http://photos23.flickr.com/29600516_67d816aa49_o.jpg). 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, or cases, against models and grades.

Dueber ads from the years 1891 and 1908 can be seen online at
Wayne Schlitt's Elgin Website (http://elginwatches.org/scans/misc_ads/m_index.html).

Somebody else will have to help with the movement.

[gtglass]

Thank you kent, I was a little confused on the Case, I've owned several and always thought they were some kind of hunters model, but know I know the truth thanks to you! Now I just Need info on the TRENTON movement there are no online databases for Trentons witch makes it a little tough and my books don't say much either.
Thanks Again!

[Robert Sweet]

From your serial number, it appears your movement was made (abt.) 1890.


The Trenton Watch Co. was originally incorporated as the "New Haven Watch Co.", Oct. 13, 1883.
In the fall of 1885 exhausted capital.
Moved to Trenton, N. J., 1887, and changed name to "The Trenton Watch Co."
When into receivership, 1907
Sold to Robt. Ingersoll, 1908
Others may have details about your movement.

The movement looks (very close) to a 7 jewel, No. 70, or a 11 jewel, No. 80, in a "S. F. Myers" catalog, dated 1898.

Robert

[Don Dahlberg]

The Otto Young 1898 parts catalog refers to this as the "New Model Full Plate", which consisted of the grades 70, 71, 80 and 81 (serial numbers greater than 300,000). Robert has identified two of these by jewel count. The 71 and 81 were gilded versions of the 70 and 80. Shugart calls these the model 4 full plate.

Don

[gtglass]

Hi Don,
Do you agree that this is a 7 jewel? My book states they made a Model #4 7 jewel full, Model #4 11 Jewel Full and Model #4 15 Jewel full, and it says nothing on grade.
David