Help Identifie please

[Running slow]

Large heavey18 Dueber Newport coin case.
Dial reads UNW Co.Special.
Lever set top wind
Movement reads
serial number 785630
17 Jewel
adjustment made with a small key

I thought it read on movement ELGIN National Watch Co. But after looking again I can not realy make out the first word as it is fancey scrolled
Also has fancey scolled word Special on it
Tiny letters SWISS on side of movement.

Running slow but still running

[Don Dahlberg]

Swiss fake made to look like an American watch.

When American watch companies developed methods of mass producing quality watches, it nearly destroyed the Swiss watch industry. They countered by learning our techniques and producing watches that looked like American watches and usually labeled with American sounding names. Eventually the US government insisted that they put the work Swiss on the movement. They often hid the word, but then the governement insisted it be in clear locations. Still they used American sounding names. They even trademarked many of these names. There is a small chance, but only a small chance of identifying the company that made the watch, if it is listed in Kathy Pritchard's good on Swiss Watch Makers.

Don

[CZHACK]

Don is correct and I had a quick look in Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975 by Pritchard. Have another look at the first word and if it is Union then I note the following from that source - "18s Swiss imitation-American movement marked Union National Watch Company in hunting and OF case, imitation 15 jewels in settings " (others 17 imitation jewels).

Mike

[Running slow]

Originally Posted by CZHACK

Don is correct and I had a quick look in Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975 by Pritchard. Have another look at the first word and if it is Union then I note the following from that source - "18s Swiss imitation-American movement marked Union National Watch Company in hunting and OF case, imitation 15 jewels in settings " (others 17 imitation jewels).

Mike

Hi Mike
Yes it is Union National Watch Co.
Can you give me some idea as to the date of this watch?
The picture does not do it justice as what looks to be rust color is actually silver .
Thanks Ken

[CZHACK]

Ken,

Hi. The only date information is reference to a 1907 Jos. Brown & Co. Chicago catalog with many references to 3/4 plate watches but your full plate should be well before that and there is also reference to a KW # 167134.

Mike

[jakraka]

Hello,

Here is a similar looking movement No. 172654 made ca. 1900 in Switzerland by Henri Albert Didisheim in La Chaux de Fonds.
Please note that I have seen several similar movements bearing the same serial No. 172654!

Please also note that the screws of the jewel settings are non functional!

Regards

Jan


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[Kent]

Running slow:

A warning about a "Swiss Fake" watch sold by the Union Watch Co. appeared in a 1908 article. It may be seen at:
[colour=brown]elginwatches.org/scans/non_elgin_articles/m_1908_swiss_fake_warning.html[/colour]
[colour=blue]To view, go to the [/colour][colour=brown]Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page[/colour] [colour=blue]at[/colour] [colour=brown]elginwatches.org[/colour], [colour=blue]then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on [/colour]'Go'.

Good luck,
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