Fancy "Masonic?" Dial..Info Needed

[Woolshire]

This dial is on a 17j Hampden New Railway 18s. Any info on the dial or specific symbols appreciated.

Jim Wooldridge

 

[Don Dahlberg]

Jewelry supply houses provided special dials. Take a look at this page from the Otto Younge catalog from 1898. Notice dials 119 and 122.



Don

 

[Kent]

Very nice!

Would you please share the movement serial number and perhaps post a picture of it?

Thanks,

 

[HenryB]

Real nice picture there Don

From what I could tell, it appears that Don's Dial pic 122 matches the numerals on your watch, except for the O'Hara numerial in the second bit (at 6 o'clock) in Don's picture.

It would be a real interesting project and perhaps some fun to see if a person could actually track down the meaning of the symbols on the dial.

 

[Don Dahlberg]

I know the "all seeing eye": "A universal symbol representing spiritual sight, inner vision, higher knowledge, insight into occult mysteries." It is on the $1 bill

Perhaps our Mason members can tell us if they are even allowed to explain these symbols.

Don

 

[Woolshire]

Don, Thanks for the info so far!
Kent...I'll post the serial number when I can get it. This watch belongs to a friend and it was his grandfathers watch.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Jim,

Interesting dial. I can't help with id'ing the symbols however.

BTW, did you get my reply to your inquiry about the 17j Rockford?

Greg

 

[Woolshire]

Greg,
I didn't get your response...I'll post a new thread here on it...my email address is woolshirecoin@mchsi.com.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I believe that most (if not all) of the symbols on the dial that Jim posted relate to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

 

[Don Dahlberg]

It appears that Jerry is correct.

I found this at http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Society/Odd.Fellows.history.html:

"The symbols in use in the lodges for the purpose of imparting instruction are: the All-Seeing Eye, representing the omniscience of God;the Skull and Cross Bones, a reminder of mortality; the Three Links, representing Friendship, Love, and Truth; the Scythe, denoting man's fading character; the Bow and Arrow and Quiver, designating the feeling of mutual defense to be cultivated; the Bundle of Rods, emblem of strength in union; the Heart and Hand, incentives to love and mercy; the Globe, man's earthly home; the Ark of the Covenant, the repository of God's grace and His goodness to man; the Serpent, teaching the wisdom of prudence; the Scales and Sword, emblematic of justice; the Bible, the source of truth; the Hour-glass, the flight of time; and the Coffin, emblematic of death."

That covers most of them. I think we only missed the snake.

Don

 

[HenryB]

I tried unsuccessfully on the symbols to find something.

Great link Don and good work, as I know that was quite a challenge.

 

[Woolshire]

Thanks again for all the replies.
Kent asked for the serial number. Attached is a photo of the movt. The serial number is 882384.

Also, from the document that Don posted, the dial does look just like #122, with the exception of this one has a tent in the seconds bit, like the one at 9:00 on #116...interesting.

 

[Kent]

Thanks Jim!

I appreciate your taking the time to post the movement picture.