Help With Unsigned Ebauche Movement

[andrewshane]

Good evening members. I have recently purchased this private labeled watch. Although the jeweler is an American maker, I think the movement may be Swiss which is why I posted it here. C.L. Byrd of Memphis, Tennessee was known to retail Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet pocket watches with his name on them. This one appears to have a Patek regulator, but the movement is only signed with Byrd's name and a serial number. I cannot find anything else on it. I'm also confused as to why it would be in such a cheap case. It is a Philadelphia Silverode case. Can anyone help me ID the maker of the works? Could it just be a Patek "style" regulator and be an American maker? Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I have a strong hunch this is an Agassiz movement. Have you had the dial off to look for the Agassiz logo on the pillar plate?

Noting that it is a hunting-case movement I would guess that the nickel case is a recase.

 

[MartyR]

I'm also confused as to why it would be in such a cheap case.

That's easy - the original case would almost certainly have been 18K gold, and it has been scrapped

I see nothing "Patek-like" in the regulator - I've never seen one like yours, and I have seen very many Pateks. The same applies to the movement pattern - I would never have thought about Patek for that.

I suspect that Jerry's hunch is right , but only because I know that Jerry has very well-founded hunches It's a super looking movement.

 

[andrewshane]

Thanks guys. I'll take the dial off this evening and look for the Agassiz logo. The reason I mentioned Patek is in the watch guide by Engle, Gilbert and Shugart I see in the regulator section one that looks very close labeled as a Patek Philippe regulator. I'll be sure to update with what I find tonight.

Thanks again.

 

[andrewshane]

No logo. Any other thoughts?

 

[Watchfixer]

This is bane of generic swiss movement in that old days. I see LOTs of those on ebay and in what I had seen on repairs and have in my hands.

Cheers, Wizard

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I am sticking with Agassiz. The under-dial works, including setting lever, are just like my marked Agassiz.
Mine is private-labeled on the dial and movement for J.E. Caldwell in Philadelphia.

 

[andrewshane]

Thank you Jerry (and others). I just wish it still had that 18k case with it. I'm sure it would be very difficult to find one to fit it. As always I appreciate all of the good info.