Waltham Mod 1857 - unusual case conversion

[Jerry Matthews]

I have just acquired a Model 1857 Waltham, serial no. 436923. According to the NAWCC Waltham site, the watch was made between 1 Nov 1869 and 1 Feb 1870. What is unusual about the watch is the conversion from hunter to open face. This appears to have been done quite professionally; the movement was turned to align the 12 with the stem and bow, and the original key hole skilfully plugged and a new one drilled.

The case is inscribed Warranted Coin Silver and a very tiny trade mark, which appears to be a fancy F enclosed in either a G or C.

I would be grateful if some of you Waltham experts would have a look at the watch on the eBay site, item no 250009253016. The eBay seller is known to me and we have had many satisfactory transactions in the past.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Any ideas why it would have been done?

Many thanks, Jerry

[Jerry Matthews]

I have just acquired a Model 1857 Waltham, serial no. 436923. According to the NAWCC Waltham site, the watch was made between 1 Nov 1869 and 1 Feb 1870. What is unusual about the watch is the conversion from hunter to open face. This appears to have been done quite professionally; the movement was turned to align the 12 with the stem and bow, and the original key hole skilfully plugged and a new one drilled.

The case is inscribed Warranted Coin Silver and a very tiny trade mark, which appears to be a fancy F enclosed in either a G or C.

I would be grateful if some of you Waltham experts would have a look at the watch on the eBay site, item no 250009253016. The eBay seller is known to me and we have had many satisfactory transactions in the past.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Any ideas why it would have been done?

Many thanks, Jerry

[John Pavlik]

Jerry,

I would think that the case was converted to open face as Hunter cases did lose favor, just as did key winding.. Looks like a very substantial case that maybe had a front cover hinge problem or broken lift spring and a Silversmith wanted some practice..I have seen cases that are called cut hunters, and that is, the front cover has been cut out so that you can view the time without opening the cover..everything else is left as is.. they also did this to the backs to make a display case to view the movement..

[Jerry Matthews]

John, thank you for those ideas. Seems a reasonable explanation for the conversion.

Any one have any clue as the the trademark, a fancy F enclosed within a squared-off C or G?

Jerry