Dumb damaskeening

Here?s an example AMERICAN WALTHAM 18 SIZE in which the damaskeening seems to have been done with no effort to have it harmonize with the design of the plates.

Are there models of mass produced American pocket watches in which particular care appears to have been taken to make the damaskeening harmonize with and enhance the design of the plates?

Here?s an example AMERICAN WALTHAM 18 SIZE in which the damaskeening seems to have been done with no effort to have it harmonize with the design of the plates.

Are there models of mass produced American pocket watches in which particular care appears to have been taken to make the damaskeening harmonize with and enhance the design of the plates?

I think you just have to see the "frosties" in person first, then when you see a pic of one you know how really pretty it is.

Speaking as a "Frostie" owner...although it is awaiting a new jewel...or let me rephrase..the money to have a jewel replaced :frown:

Cary

I like frosties!



Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection

[Tom McIntyre]

In my humble opinion, the finisher of the original 83 model above was trying to make a skill statement by having the design be very simple, but cross a very difficult plate boundary at the corner of the balance cock and still stay perfectly in register.

This was not an easy thing to do since the tool has some size that needs to be managed when approaching the edge.

I often look at these plate decorations and think it was a little contest between the artists doing the work. Often the most difficult execution is very simple in appearance.

The winding wheels on the 88 Waltham American Grade are perhaps the best example of this. They are absolutely plain radial lines.

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapters 174 and 87
Member Chapters 8, 87, 149, 159, 161 and 174
NAWCC: Crafts Committee, Web Committee
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

What does "frosted" mean in terms of how it was made to look that way?

[Tom McIntyre]

I have not seen the process documented, but I believe that the frosting is an acid etch applied to the plates before the damaskeening. Waltham also made some very nice 1 size watches and other small watches that were only frosted with no damaskeening.

I would guess that the frosting process used a slightly warm acid bath and suspended the pieces above it for a calculated period of time.

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapters 174 and 87
Member Chapters 8, 87, 149, 159, 161 and 174
NAWCC: Crafts Committee, Web Committee
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

Im going to have to look for a "frosty" I think both those scans are very nice. I have bought several 83 and 92 walthams simply because I liked the damaskeening. Silly reason? Maybe.

Annie, frosting is as others have described,
I have seen a few walthams all 1883 models with the damaskeening and frosted plated. It reminds me of shiny acid etched glass in a way. I have yet to see a scan or pic that really does justice to compliment the frosted movements. If you should make it to the Denver regional the beginning of August I will show you one in person.

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Rick White

Oh Barry! Once again the voice of reason, endeavoring to pour oil on trouble waters!

Thanks Barry: But even though you have raised the veil a tad, the true identity of this troubled individual is still a mystery to me. Clearly, he is a very naughty boy ? an attention seeker without doubt.

Before the unwarranted intervention by 'the watch police', this topic sought to discuss 'Dumb Damaskeening'. But as usual following these pointless interruptions, the thread is high-jacked, killing the hitherto lively discussions stone-dead. Therefore, with repeated apologies to the original author of this topic, I suggest that any further discussion of 'watch police' interference should take place elsewhere. The topic here, in case anyone has forgotten, is: 'Dumb Damaskeening!'



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PS
This PS added on 07-01-2002in the hope of clearing up any confusion caused by the partisan surgery performed on this topic by an immoderate moderator.
The topic had been de-railed by two mischievous interventions from 'The Witch Police' that the moderator had chosen to ignore. Only AFTER I posted a complaint, were the offending 'WP' posts deleted by the moderator, who also arbitarily deleted other posts, of mine and at least two other contributors. This action ruined the thread's continuity rendering several of the following posts incomprehensible to new readers.
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'Rich'
#149591

[This message has been 'edited'?.... by Howard Gunderson (edited 06-30-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Rich (edited 07-01-2002).]