Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) clock

[Kutenai]

Hello All...

I need help in determining the date of manufacture of my Waltham 8 Days (automobile) clock. Serial number is 385850. The face is approx. 3-1/4" in dia., black with white hands and numerals... and has a small seperate, "second" hand dial between the 12 and the hands center pin.

Is there a site that would have the correct serial number/date information? I would like to replace the glass, and get some work done to it... but would like to know the age and if it would be worth the costs involved in repairs. Thank you!! Kutenai

 

[Andy Dervan]

Re: Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) cloc

Hello Kutenai,

Welcome to NAWCC message board - I am big fan of Waltham and its clocks, and I will try and answer your questions....

1st - You to look at serial number again - the number is to high. There is no Waltham serial number larger than 35,000,000.

2nd - Waltham made 2 versions of its car clock movement - 1911 model and 1926 model and they used different escapement and some other minor differences. Waltham made 1.8 million of these car clocks, so junk movements are available on ebay at NAWCC marts etc. for spare parts. I had some parts, but I gave them to a friend a few years ago.

3rd - Getting it repaired is another issue. We can not discuss pricing or costs on message board. These clocks use 2 mainsprings that are becoming both difficult and expensive to acquire and both should be replaced at the same time to maintain proper power. These clocks are basically massive a 8 day pocket watch, and a competent watch repair person could do the necessary work, if he or she had the necessary parts.

4th - Unless this was an especially rare variation car clock - it will frankly cost more to properly repair it than it is actually worth.

5th - Please email me (private message) and we can discuss further.

Good Luck..... Andy Dervan

 

[Dave B]

Re: Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) cloc

I have three - ser No 18833515 which I bought on eBay with no case, and a broken balance staff, so I could rob the mainsprings, and the two in the accompanying photograph. The black-faced one with the radium numerals and hands has a slipping mainspring. I have not gotten inside it to see just where it is broken. It was from my grandfather's 1931 Franklin. The other, with the white face and the black bezel was one he had in his first car, a 1919 Saxon Runabout.

The lowest serial number (see second photo) also has a seconds hand, but the dial is silvered, with black numerals. In the photo with two, the one on the left in the photo is serial 23388698, (with no seconds hand) and the one on the right is ser 25880131. So apparently there were two versions of the same serial number range?

What is the serial number breakpoint between the two models that Waltham produced?

 

[Andy Dervan]

Re: Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) cloc

Hello Dave,

According to Waltham catalog

does not distinguish any serial numbers differences between the 1910 and 1926 models

8 day Size 37 movement
serial numbers begin 17,405,001
serial numbers end 30,690,000

Approximate date: 1910 is sn 18,000,000
1926 is sn 25,000,000

Hope this helps.

Catalog has parts list with line drawings, but few details.

These movements were used in a variety of shelf/boudoir/wall clocks during the 1920's.

Andy

 

[Kutenai]

Re: Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) cloc

Hi Andy,

Thanks for all the good information on these clocks, it will definately give me something to think about. You mentioned my serial number is too high? But it is not above the 35 million mark... it's in the 385 thousands ~ 385,850.

Thanks again! Tim

 

[Dave B]

Re: Help needed - Determining Date of Manufacture of Waltham 8 Days (automobile) cloc

Thanks, Andy. I guess that ties my three down a little further.