Kent
12-24-2001, 01:23 PM
Rob:
You might start by telling us the serial numbers and what else is marked on the watch movements (the "works") and on the insides of the cases.
In discussing watches, the movement is most important, with the case being considered a secondary item. Because of the need to be able to identify the movement accurately so that correct replacement parts could be obtained, the movement companies put unique serial numbers on their products. From the serial number, the grade, model and other information, such as the approximate date of manufacture, can be determined. For most American watches, this information is known today.
Only a small percentage of American watches were cased at the factories prior to the mid-1920's. Most watch companies just made movements in industry standard sizes. The case companies made cases in those same sizes. The practice at that time was to go to a jeweler, select the quality of the movement and then pick out the desired style and quality of case. The jeweler would then fit the movement to the case in a matter of moments.
Or, watches were sold by mail-order. Large outfits such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, or T. Eaton, would offer the movements in a variety of cases of different design and quality in their catalogs. Smaller mail-order retailers would case the watches, typically in a 20-year gold filled case and offer it only that way, with the buyer not having a choice of cases.
The Rockford watch might be a lever-set watch. Lever-set means that you have to pull out a lever to allow the crown (winding knob) to engage the hands to set them. Starting just around 1907, it was generally required that watches used in railroad time service be lever-set. This was to prevent the inadvertent changing of the time while winding a watch. On an open-face watch, the lever is located under the bezel (the metal ring that holds the crystal). Typically, for open-face watches, the lever is at 6 minutes for a 16-size watch and 11 minutes for an 18-size watch. The bezel may screw off to expose the lever. Or, if the case has hinges, there should be a raised lip, just clockwise of the pendant, with which to pry the bezel open on its hinge.
Kent
[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 12-24-2001).]
You might start by telling us the serial numbers and what else is marked on the watch movements (the "works") and on the insides of the cases.
In discussing watches, the movement is most important, with the case being considered a secondary item. Because of the need to be able to identify the movement accurately so that correct replacement parts could be obtained, the movement companies put unique serial numbers on their products. From the serial number, the grade, model and other information, such as the approximate date of manufacture, can be determined. For most American watches, this information is known today.
Only a small percentage of American watches were cased at the factories prior to the mid-1920's. Most watch companies just made movements in industry standard sizes. The case companies made cases in those same sizes. The practice at that time was to go to a jeweler, select the quality of the movement and then pick out the desired style and quality of case. The jeweler would then fit the movement to the case in a matter of moments.
Or, watches were sold by mail-order. Large outfits such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, or T. Eaton, would offer the movements in a variety of cases of different design and quality in their catalogs. Smaller mail-order retailers would case the watches, typically in a 20-year gold filled case and offer it only that way, with the buyer not having a choice of cases.
The Rockford watch might be a lever-set watch. Lever-set means that you have to pull out a lever to allow the crown (winding knob) to engage the hands to set them. Starting just around 1907, it was generally required that watches used in railroad time service be lever-set. This was to prevent the inadvertent changing of the time while winding a watch. On an open-face watch, the lever is located under the bezel (the metal ring that holds the crystal). Typically, for open-face watches, the lever is at 6 minutes for a 16-size watch and 11 minutes for an 18-size watch. The bezel may screw off to expose the lever. Or, if the case has hinges, there should be a raised lip, just clockwise of the pendant, with which to pry the bezel open on its hinge.
Kent
[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 12-24-2001).]