From the bottom of the Havana Harbor

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Inside back cover of watch case marked "The Maine" along with date when this battleship exploded in Havana Harbor. Supposedly made (by W. F. Doll of New York) from metal recovered from the wreck.

And a view of the high grade mvt found inside the case.

 

[doug sinclair]

Remarkably not showing signs of rust. High grade? Thou jest, of course! Unless I miss my guess, that looks like a 7-jewel, 18-size Trenton movement! A treasure, none the less, for what it represents.

 

[Kevin W.]

Yeah looks in great shape for being in salt water.

 

[Squite]

Why would you guys think it actually came from the wreck if the date on the case commemorates its' sinking?

 

[Kent]

Yeah, the case is the real thing! Although, I'm, not sure of about the movement.

W. F. Doll bought, from the U.S. government, scrap steel remnants recovered from the USS Maine in Havana harbor and made them into cases which were then marketed as souvenirs.

 

[richiec]

Shame they don't tell you what "special" movements they put in them. Based on what he was selling he was really trying to capitalize on the sinking of the Maine, real ambulance chaser.

 

[Kent]

W. F. Doll was quite a character, but you're really not being fair to him.

The Spanish-American war was a major event at the time and there were endless promotions and product tie-ins, such as these Fahys' cases.

Besides, the attitudes that we hold today are not all like those in vogue over a hundred years ago. Although William Randolph Hearst didn't actually say, "You supply the pictures I'll supply the war." (it's a quote from the movie "Citizen Kane"), it reflects the attitude of the times.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Shame they don't tell you what "special" movements they put in them.

A short news story in the Sept 28, 1898, Jewelers' Circular states that they used 16s Waltham mvts, but I really doubt this given how cheap the complete watches were selling for. The third ad in Kent's post above shows the type of dial that has been seen on New England made mvts in Maine cases. The 18s Trenton mvt occupying my case has a dial marked "Dewey" etc. with Flag similar to the 2nd ad in Kent's post (I will upload a picture of it soon). There is a variant of the Trenton dial with some extra verbiage below the flag that is also known. Since Kent's 3rd ad notes that cases were being sold separately, I suppose any make could possibly be in them. However, from what little I've been able to find, the early complete watches came with New England mvts and later (after Oct. 1899) some were made with Trenton mvts.


It is interesting to note that the early watch cases were claimed to be made from metal recovered from the Maine (there are testimonials from various Navy officials who sold Doll this scrap) but that Kent's 3rd ad notes that Doll had been buying real guns (for gun metal) of Navy origin but not necessarily from the Maine. Perhaps he ran out of the earlier Maine metal.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Front view of dial on my Trenton. Dates of May 1 98 refers to Admr. Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet at Manilla.

BTW, the case on my Trenton is serial numbered whereas the one I came across with a New England mvt isn't. Also, the other Trenton that I've seen with a similar dial has a McKinley quote underneath on it as well (if you go to Jones-Horan.com and search their old auctions you will find the watch).

Although they were really cheap (even being used to sell magazine subscriptions) these "Dewey" watches are rather interesting. Especially the one with the flag on the dial.

 

[Joseph Short]

Shame they don't tell you what "special" movements they put in them. Based on what he was selling he was really trying to capitalize on the sinking of the Maine, real ambulance chaser.

We have the same sort of "ambulance chaser" today. Ever seen those info mercials for 911 commemorative items? 24 karat gold clad garbage worth a small fortune but available for an unlimited limited tme only for only a few pennies plus shipping and handling?
In my mind after more than 100 years, this watch has much more validity.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

FWIW, some navy bigwigs were given Dewey watches and wrote glowing testimonials about them that were used in ads. I think that Kent has it right: attitudes 100 years ago were different than today. I don't know what TR thought about these watches, but it wouldn't surprise me if he approved of them.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Just to be clear, I'm not offering my own opinion as to whether the Dewey watches are "tacky" or inappropriate (they are, however, very collectible today). However, it is worth reminding us what the people of time thought of them. So here are some quotes from a short news story that appear in JC&HR of 1898.

"The steel in the case...procured through the courtesy of Rear Admiral Bunce, U. S. N...."

"The watch is a beautiful and valuable souvenir of the "Maine"...C. D. Sigsbee, Captain U. S. Navy"

So, the navy sold Doll the steel and Sigsbee (Capt. of the Maine!!!) approved of the watch. Thus, the navy had no problem with these souvenirs.

 

[Clint Geller]

Speaking of Admiral Sigsbee, watches, and the USS Maine:

Amusingly, this ad from the E. Howard Watch Co. shamelessly tauts the reputed reliability of an E. Howard & Co. watch made 35 years before the E. Howard Watch Co. was founded. Ah well, details, minor details.

 

[Harold Visser]

Here is a picture of Sigsbee with presumably the Howard on the end of the chain. The Howard, number 12722. I've been looking for that number on and off for over twenty years.

 

[musicguy]

made 35 years before the E. Howard Watch Co. was founded. Ah well, details, minor details.

Funny.


Rob

 

[Clint Geller]

Funny.


Rob

Oh, and just to blur the issue even further, the ad states: "E. Howard Watch Works, Boston," using only the part of the two names that is common to both companies, and not bothering to mention that the new company that placed the ad was located in Waltham, not Boston.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Another 18 size Trenton Dewey recently passed through the famous internet auction site. Movement #205545, case #669. Dial signed "Dewey May 1-98, I Hope It Will Flay There Forever" with US flag. Dial has damage but still a rather scarce and interesting watch.

 

[PatH]

I saw that one, Greg, but didn't get back to bid on it. Hope someone here acquired it and will share in this thread.

Here's a link to another thread that discusses these watches. Post #7 includes clips of some articles that show how they were marketed.

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/the-maine-18-size-pocket-watch-case.187192/#post-1529538