Hello everyone. I am about to acquire a civil war presentation watch from a civil war hero from 1862. I am going to post some photos and need help from the experts on any information there is out there on Swiss "Fakes" This watch comes from a prominent civil war collector in Ohio. This presentation watch was presented to a soldier who made captain, one day after the end of Fredericksburg battle. The presentation is to John Wesley Bean, 5th NHV co. I, December 16, 1862. This soldiers company was at the battle of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Cold Harbor to name a few.
Here's my delima. This is obviously a swiss fake that was presented to this soldier. I know a lot of these existed throughout the CW, and were imported in as an inexpensive watch that could be purchased by soldiers, as there were many Swiss and English watches carried by them, as well as the real Waltham Ellery models. This watch appears to be legit, with the case screw indention a perfect spot on the case. My only worry about this is the serial number of 232xxx, which by Waltham standards, would put the watch in at 1866. I'm not sure there was any method or order for swiss fake watch production back then, since many swiss companies produced them. If this watch was presented to this soldier in late 1862, or early 1863, it would probably have been carried through the Gettysburg and Cold Harbor battles. This gentleman was wounded at cold harbor, June 3, 1864. I have his service records. He was promoted to captain one day after the Fredericksburg battle, on December 16, 1862. His company lost many men in that battle, and at the time of battle he was a 1st LT. I have his photos, and actually, one very cool thing, is he lived to be 100 years old and in 1933 he was the very first retired officer to make the century mark.. Congratulations were bestowed to him by Douglas McArthur on March 8, 1933, his 100th birthday.
I'm needing you experts comments on tis watch and what you think about the Swiss Fakes of the civil war era. Any help would be appreciated!
Here's my delima. This is obviously a swiss fake that was presented to this soldier. I know a lot of these existed throughout the CW, and were imported in as an inexpensive watch that could be purchased by soldiers, as there were many Swiss and English watches carried by them, as well as the real Waltham Ellery models. This watch appears to be legit, with the case screw indention a perfect spot on the case. My only worry about this is the serial number of 232xxx, which by Waltham standards, would put the watch in at 1866. I'm not sure there was any method or order for swiss fake watch production back then, since many swiss companies produced them. If this watch was presented to this soldier in late 1862, or early 1863, it would probably have been carried through the Gettysburg and Cold Harbor battles. This gentleman was wounded at cold harbor, June 3, 1864. I have his service records. He was promoted to captain one day after the Fredericksburg battle, on December 16, 1862. His company lost many men in that battle, and at the time of battle he was a 1st LT. I have his photos, and actually, one very cool thing, is he lived to be 100 years old and in 1933 he was the very first retired officer to make the century mark.. Congratulations were bestowed to him by Douglas McArthur on March 8, 1933, his 100th birthday.
I'm needing you experts comments on tis watch and what you think about the Swiss Fakes of the civil war era. Any help would be appreciated!
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