H. Z. Culver

[Old rookie]

And "Thus spake Zarathustra."

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Are we watch collectors the Übermensch?

 

[musicguy]

no not superman, but keepers of the time machines


Rob

 

[Clint Geller]

It would be interesting to know how Mr. Culver came by that middle name. Zoroastrianism is thought to be the oldest organized religion still practiced, and probably the first monotheistic religion. Perhaps Mr. Culver's parents admired Zoroaster for one of those reasons.

Update: I just learned that Howard Z. Culver's father was named Zoroaster Culver. So one mystery is solved and a bigger one is uncovered.

 

[Clint Geller]

Are we watch collectors the Übermensch?

I believe the ubermenschen all carried Howards, Greg.

 

[Lee Passarella]

Clint, you know that 19th-century Americans just named their kids funny. My favorite has a Civil War connection, William Rhadamanthus Montgomery. In his case, maybe the middle name was appropriate though.

 

[Clint Geller]

Clint, you know that 19th-century Americans just named their kids funny. My favorite has a Civil War connection, William Rhadamanthus Montgomery. In his case, maybe the middle name was appropriate though.

Did Mr. Montgomery have "stern and inflexible judgment," Lee?

 

[musicguy]

lets get back on topic


Rob

 

[diveboy]

Zoroaster was his fathers first name.

 

[Clint Geller]

Zoroaster was his fathers first name.

I wonder if his friends called him Zorro.

 

[Bernhard J.]

 

[musicguy]

From the Elgin 1871 Almanac (recent purchase of mine)


Page 31





Rob

 

[GeneJockey]

Do we know how many of the first run (1001 - 1800) were "Culver" rather than "HZ Culver"?

The Culver I mentioned above - 15j, solid balance, inline lever thus probably quick train - is #1155, so assuming Elgin started with Culvers at 1001, at least 155.

What's the LOWEST HZ Culver known, and/or the HIGHEST Culver?

 

[musicguy]

I know this does not answer your whole question but I am adding this chart
to this thread for general information.

101-1000 B.W. Raymond (first run) Total Production of this Named Grade 29,154
1001-1800 H.Z. Culver (first run) Total Production of this Named Grade 16,146
1801-2200 B.W. Raymond
2201-4000 H.Z. Culver
4001-5000 B.W. Raymond
5001-6000 J.T Ryerson (first run)
6001-7000 G.M. Wheeler (first run)
7001-8000 J.T. Ryerson
8001-9000 G.M. Wheeler
9001-10,000 Mat Laflin (first run) Total Production of this Named Grade 15,584

check this out

H.Z. Culver Pocket Watch Info by

Serial lookups, info, specs, and value for American antique pocket watches covering manufacturers like Elgin, Illinois, Waltham, and Hamilton

pocketwatchdatabase.com

Elgin National Watch Co. Research: Elgin H Z Culver Grades | Pocket Watch Database

Serial lookups, info, specs, and value for American antique pocket watches covering manufacturers like Elgin, Illinois, Waltham, and Hamilton

pocketwatchdatabase.com

Rob

 

[Nathan Moore]

Do we know how many of the first run (1001 - 1800) were "Culver" rather than "HZ Culver"?

The Culver I mentioned above - 15j, solid balance, inline lever thus probably quick train - is #1155, so assuming Elgin started with Culvers at 1001, at least 155.

What's the LOWEST HZ Culver known, and/or the HIGHEST Culver?

Just a quick note - not all the "Culver" movements are fitted with a solid balance. #1237 has been verified as marked "Culver" with an expansion balance (matching serial number on the balance wheel). While the "Culver" movements dominate the earlier serial numbers, the run is mixed [#1154 is marked "H.Z. Culver" while #1155 is marked "Culver"]. It appears the "Culver" grade was discontinued around this point and later movements in the run are marked with the familiar "H.Z. Culver" moniker.

See the research notes for the run on this page:

Elgin Pocket Watch: Serial Number 1001 (Grade 62)

Serial lookups, info, specs, and value for American antique pocket watches covering manufacturers like Elgin, Illinois, Waltham, and Hamilton

pocketwatchdatabase.com