Baystate Watch Case Co.

[StanJS]

I bought ($14) an 18s 3 oz silver Baystate Watch Case. I figured I might need it some day and wanted to prevent the possibility of it getting scrapped.

I haven't been able to find much about this company on the web. Can anyone give a paragraph on the history of the Baystate Watch Case Co.?

Also, I am guessing that the case is circa 1880s. What do you think?

Thanks,
Stan

[richiec]

The only information I was able to find was that they were absorbed by Keystone in the mid 1890's and then Keystone was absorbed by the new E. Howard Co. in 1903, so the case has to be pre-1890 I would guess. The company was involved in a suit by Dueber started in 1892 and I think finally resolved in 1895 or so. Dueber was not part of the TUB watch trust and filed suit for what I gather was restraint of trade against Bay State, Walthem, Crescent, etc.

[John Pavlik]

Stan,

They are listed as being from Boston Mass 1889..All the ones I have seen have been Substantial Coin cases..quite well made..

[RON in PA]

Keystone was not absorbed by E. Howard, rather the Keystone WCCo bought the rights to use the Howard name and made what are known to collectors as Keystone Howard watches in Waltham, Mass. from approx. 1903 till 1927 or 1930 (depending on source). After Keystone stopped making pocket watches Hamilton bought the rights to use the Howard name.

[Kent]

Prior to the 1904 merger that resulted in the Crescent Watch Case Co. becoming part of the Keystone Watch Case Co., Crescent had bought up Baystate (http://static.flickr.com/29/42797209_83531dd92d_o.jpg) and several other watch case companies that had made silver cases (among others), thus they Acquired A Silver Case Business (http://photos23.flickr.com/29108201_202c728410_o.jpg) and expanded their capacity.

[StanJS]

Thanks for the information. I was going to guess that they wound up as part of Keystone (most did). Great stuff, Kent.

Cheers,
Stan

Aside: While we were dating my wife and I had many an "informal meeting" at the Parker House. I'd take the subway from Cambridge and we'd go the "Last Hurrah" (the basement pub) for lunch. Once married, we'd go to the restaurant (Parker's) for our anniversary celebration. Sadly, once it was bought by the Omni chain, the restaurant declined and we had to find another place to celebrate.