Bigelow Kennard & Co

[R.Hallenbeck]

A few years back I remember a topic regarding this company..If anyone is compiling the data I have serial # 276594, looks like an 8 or 10 size swiss Vacheron movement in an 18k case marked Bigelow Kennard & Co,Boston on the rear cover with Serial # 78331 and a presentation date of April 25th, 1896 and initials ATP on the rear dust cover.. White dial marked Bigelow Kennard & co..The watch case was mounted into a leather travel case which appears original to the watch..
Ray

[R.Hallenbeck]

A few years back I remember a topic regarding this company..If anyone is compiling the data I have serial # 276594, looks like an 8 or 10 size swiss Vacheron movement in an 18k case marked Bigelow Kennard & Co,Boston on the rear cover with Serial # 78331 and a presentation date of April 25th, 1896 and initials ATP on the rear dust cover.. White dial marked Bigelow Kennard & co..The watch case was mounted into a leather travel case which appears original to the watch..
Ray

[Jerry Treiman]

Ray - thank you for the information. My principal focus has been on the movements made by Waltham for Bigelow, Kennard & Co., but in the course of collecting data I found that they bought a lot of high-grade movements from V&C also. These are gorgeous watches and I am keeping track of these numbers, also, just because you never know where research will take you. The case serial numbers are also useful, as many of the BK&Co. marked cases appear to have their own serial number sequence.

[R.Hallenbeck]

Thanks Jerry, It really is a nicely made watch. Do you have any information when Bigelow Kennard & Co was in business?
Thanks again,
Ray

[Jerry Treiman]

The Bigelow family has had a long association with watches and the jewelry trade in the Boston area. Three Bigelow brothers, John, Alanson and Abraham, started the family business (Bigelow Brothers Co.) in 1830s Boston. The Kennard name was added to the company around 1845 and it was then known as Bigelow Brothers and Kennard. In 1863 the name was changed to Bigelow, Kennard & Co. and the firm survived until around 1972.

A cousin of the jewelry family, Edward Alden Bigelow, was treasurer for the E. Howard Clock Co. around 1900 and was also associated with the E.Howard Watch Co. that split off from the clock company at that time.

[R.Hallenbeck]

Jerry,
Great information, thank you.. Seems the company had a rich history in Boston.