American Waltham Question

[artifactguy]

I am attempting to determine where the movement of my watch came from. It is currently fitted in a wrist watch; however, the serial number of the movement, dates it to about 1903 1904.

On the upper right side of the movement close to the edge is the serial number: 12253399.

The only other writing is the Watch Comaany name: American Waltham Watch Co. The movement is about 1 1/8" wide. I am sorry, I do not know technical sizes of watch movements.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

David

[artifactguy]

I am attempting to determine where the movement of my watch came from. It is currently fitted in a wrist watch; however, the serial number of the movement, dates it to about 1903 1904.

On the upper right side of the movement close to the edge is the serial number: 12253399.

The only other writing is the Watch Comaany name: American Waltham Watch Co. The movement is about 1 1/8" wide. I am sorry, I do not know technical sizes of watch movements.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

David

[Kent]

Hi David:

The American Waltham Watch Co. (Waltham, MA) had its origins in the 1850's. It was the first successful company in America to manufacture watches in mass production using machinery to make identical (or at least, near identical) parts. Over the next hundred years or so of its existence, its output of jeweled watches (over 34 million) was only exceeded by one other company, the National Watch Co. at Elgin, IL. Commonly referred to as "Waltham," the company made a full line of watches ranging from modest, affordable watches to some of the finest watches made in this country. An 1884 article on the American Watch Co. (http://members.aol.com/gfrauen10/walthampage.html) is available on Greg Frauenhoff website.

You can find out some basic facts about your Waltham watch by entering the serial number on the movement (the "works") in the field on the NAWCC Information Storage - Waltham Serial Number Data Base (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/LookupSN.asp) (don't use any commas). There is also a Glossary (http://www.nawcc-info.org/WalthamDB/Glossary.htm) of the terms provided by the serial number lookup. Should the date not be listed there, this Waltham Production Date (http://www.oldwatch.com/walthamdate.html) chart is a means for determining the approximate production date.

I've done so and found your watch to be listed as an 0-size, 7-jewel Seaside grade, which is essentially the same as the grades Nos. 61 or 110. It was made in approximately 1904.

Catalog Information about your watch can be seen online in a scan of page 78 of the:
1903 Oy Company Catalog at:
<span class="ev_code_brown">www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1903_Oy_Company/m_index.html</span>

<span class="ev_code_blue">To view, go to the </span><span class="ev_code_brown">Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page</span> <span class="ev_code_blue">at</span> <span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.com</span>, <span class="ev_code_blue">then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on </span>'Go'.

Good luck,