I know this Columbus PL post could go into multiple existing Columbus threads
but this watch has really made me smile and has added a lot of sentimental value to my
watch collection so I created a new thread. This is only the second Columbus watch
that I have purchased and I bought this one primarily because of the NY Private Label from the
village of Sing Sing, NY. The movement(and regulator) and case are really
nice looking as well and that pushed me over the edge to buy the watch.
It's a 15j Columbus model 2? circa 1886 Private Label from Sing Sing, NY from the jeweler
and store owner E. T. James.
E. T. James the jeweler/optician was very involved with the village and boating on the Hudson River.
This is his house in Ossining(formally Sing Sing, NY).
Sing Sing, NY was a town on the Hudson river(just north of New York City) where
the famous prison is located. Sing Sing is derived from the Sintsink native American tribe from
whom the land was purchased in 1685.
At the turn of the century the town of Sing Sing decided that the confusion between the products
that the town made vs the products that the prison made created confusion and they did not want
to be associated with the prison. They changed the name to Ossining in 1901 to avoid the stigma
from the prison(I believe E.T. James was involved with the name change). Many years later in 1970
the prison changed it's name from The Sing Sing Correctional facility to the Ossining Correctional
facility which I thought was Ironic(now the town needs to change it's name again
).
My personal interest in Sing Sing, NY comes from when I was a kid and found vintage glass bottles
from the 19th century that said Sing Sing, NY on them. I don't have too many old bottles from my
collecting days as a kid but I still have these Sing Sing soda bottles.
I have only seen photographs of one other E T James PL and it was an 18s Hampden
serial number serial #409951 circa 1886 grade 60 15j. Greg Frauenhoff also let me know
about an Aurora that also was from this same jeweler but I have no photos or further
information about it, he says it's a partial movement.
I don't know if this is an original sidewinder but there are no extra case screw marks.
I assume it's a re cased hunter but you never know. The very blue morning glory hands
and double sunk dial make the dial stand out. Serial Number 76408
Rob
but this watch has really made me smile and has added a lot of sentimental value to my
watch collection so I created a new thread. This is only the second Columbus watch
that I have purchased and I bought this one primarily because of the NY Private Label from the
village of Sing Sing, NY. The movement(and regulator) and case are really
nice looking as well and that pushed me over the edge to buy the watch.
It's a 15j Columbus model 2? circa 1886 Private Label from Sing Sing, NY from the jeweler
and store owner E. T. James.
E. T. James the jeweler/optician was very involved with the village and boating on the Hudson River.
This is his house in Ossining(formally Sing Sing, NY).
Sing Sing, NY was a town on the Hudson river(just north of New York City) where
the famous prison is located. Sing Sing is derived from the Sintsink native American tribe from
whom the land was purchased in 1685.
At the turn of the century the town of Sing Sing decided that the confusion between the products
that the town made vs the products that the prison made created confusion and they did not want
to be associated with the prison. They changed the name to Ossining in 1901 to avoid the stigma
from the prison(I believe E.T. James was involved with the name change). Many years later in 1970
the prison changed it's name from The Sing Sing Correctional facility to the Ossining Correctional
facility which I thought was Ironic(now the town needs to change it's name again
).My personal interest in Sing Sing, NY comes from when I was a kid and found vintage glass bottles
from the 19th century that said Sing Sing, NY on them. I don't have too many old bottles from my
collecting days as a kid but I still have these Sing Sing soda bottles.
I have only seen photographs of one other E T James PL and it was an 18s Hampden
serial number serial #409951 circa 1886 grade 60 15j. Greg Frauenhoff also let me know
about an Aurora that also was from this same jeweler but I have no photos or further
information about it, he says it's a partial movement.
I don't know if this is an original sidewinder but there are no extra case screw marks.
I assume it's a re cased hunter but you never know. The very blue morning glory hands
and double sunk dial make the dial stand out. Serial Number 76408
Rob
