newbie.. American Waltham fancy dial info

[mc8]

I have recently inherited this Waltham pocket watch and I'm trying to learn more about it I looked up the serial number and it appears to be from 1900, model 1890... Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Kent]

Hi mc8:

Welcome to the NAWCC American Pocket Watch Message Board!

Please excuse me if I repeat some of what you already know, it's easier for me this way. Checking the references listed in the Waltham Watches Encyclopedia article (and looking at your pictures), Waltham movement serial number 9764447 can be seen to be
a ladies 6-size,
model 1890,
Seaside, or the very similar "Y"grade,
unadjusted,
open-face movement,
having 7 jewels,
and a Plain Regulator.
It was built in about 1901, give or take a year or so. This was a popular movement of which well over 124,000 of this variation were made from about 1897 to 1912. However, the fancy dial would have been an optional extra.

You can see a catalog description of the "Y" grade, along with a picture and where it fits in Waltham's line of 6-size movements, in the lower right-hand corner page 77 of the [main="Otto Young & Co."]Otto Young & Co. 1903 OY Company Jewelry Catalog[/main]
.
If you tell us the markings stamped inside the back of the watch case (or post a picture of them), we may be able to tell you something about it. You can ignore any "hand-scratched" characters, they're probably watch repairers' marks.

Unless you know that it has been properly cleaned and oiled within the last few years, you should have the watch serviced before running it very much. It may be helpful for you to read the Encyclopedia article on Watch Service and its related links, especially the one to the message board thread on the subject. The Encyclopedia article on Choosing a Pocket Watch Repair Person may be useful as well.

Having gathered and printed out information about a family watch, it is a wise idea to write out as much as you know about the family member to whom the watch originally belonged - or as far back as you can go, including (and clearly identifying) what you can guess. Then, add the names and relationships of the family members who passed it down to the current holder. Make up a booklet with this and all of the watch information and try to keep it with the watch. You might even include a CD or, better yet, a USB thumb drive with copies of the pictures or information, in addition to the printouts. Even though they may not be readable 100 years from now, some more recent descendent may transfer the files to the then current format and media. This way, the watch has real family heritage instead of it just being an old family watch, the identity and relationship of the original owner having been lost in the distant past.

Please feel free to ask about anything that isn't clear to you.

Good luck,

 

[mc8]

thanks! very interesting! Here is a pic of the inside of the back of the case. It only has markings on the one side.

 

[Kent]

Your [main="Watch Case"]watch case[/main] is gold-filled and was made by the [main="Crescent Watch Case Co."]Crescent Watch Case Co.[/main]