American Waltham Information

[Wayne C. Anderson]

I have aquired a 16S Waltham pocket watch, SN 20831441, Pendant wind/set, and the "American Pocket Watch Identification and Price Guide" by Meggers & Ehrhardt Revised 1999 EA47 lists it as a 1899 or 1908 model.
How can I determine if its a 1899 or 1908 model? Are there specific items to look for to confirm the model? Thanks for any information that you are willing to share.

[Wayne C. Anderson]

I have aquired a 16S Waltham pocket watch, SN 20831441, Pendant wind/set, and the "American Pocket Watch Identification and Price Guide" by Meggers & Ehrhardt Revised 1999 EA47 lists it as a 1899 or 1908 model.
How can I determine if its a 1899 or 1908 model? Are there specific items to look for to confirm the model? Thanks for any information that you are willing to share.

Well, the easiest way to tell is by the date of manufacture. The serial number on your watch dates it to about 1917, which means it is not likely to be a Model #1899...

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection

[Wayne C. Anderson]

Does anyone have any records about the dates of manufacture of the 1899 model? and the 1908 Model? Such as when did production start, and when did production end for these models? Would anyone have any information that they would be willing to share?

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case I'll point out that the model names are based on the first year of production. I don't know the exact month, but they started making the Model #1899 in 1899, and they made it until 1908 when they introduced the Model #1908.

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection



[This message has been edited by Barry G (edited 06-30-2002).]

From the 1940 Waltham Material Catalog page 51: "The first movement made in 16 size 1899 Model was numbered 8,368,001. The first 16 Size 1908 Model was numbered 16,188,001."

"All material used in 16 Size 1908 Model is the same as used in 16 Size 1899 Model with the follwoing exceptions: Balance Cock, P Grade using 4889A Regulator; Crown Wheel; Crown Wheel Washer; and Winding Pinion."

[Wayne C. Anderson]

Thanks Barry & Tom

[Tom McIntyre]

Just for a clarification, I don't think there is any reason to believe they stopped making the 1899 model in 1908. They could very well have continued them for another 5 years depending on stock on hand and demand.

Barry is right that a 20 million serial number is not likely to be an 1899.

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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

The last Model #1899 serial number I could find in Ehrhardt's Waltham Pocket Watch Identification and price Guide was #17,222,500; the approximate production date would have been 1908.

The last Model #1908 serial number is listed as #30,820,000; approximate production date 1941.

[Tom McIntyre]

For serial numbers below 7,555,000 there are factory records that show when the watches were sold. After that date there do not seem to be any records.

In the absence of records, the only way to definitely date watches is by presentations in original cases. This method is a bit haphazard since it represents the retail sales and the factory records represent the wholesale sale.

Within the records that do exist there is as much as a 5 year discrepancy between dates on watches in adjacent runs. I don't think there is any reason to suppose that this discrepancy disappears for watches that don't have records available.

I don't know where Roy would have gotten the actual date for a watch later than 7,555,000 but even with some dated examples, there is no coherent data. It would be wonderful if the later Waltham job records ever turn up.

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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