Philadelphia, PA private labels

[Jerry Treiman]

Some lovely private-label watches have shown up recently, in various threads, that are from Philadelphia jewelers. I thought it would be fun to focus on private-label watches from the various Philly jewelers such as Bailey, Banks & Biddle, J.E. Caldwell, John Wanamaker or others.

Here is a high-grade (Am’n Watch Co.) from Waltham for Bailey, Banks & Biddle. It is a 1-size 1882 model.


Here is an 8-size 1873-model Am’n Watch Co. grade.


Most of the private-label watches I have seen for Wanamaker have been Elgins. Here is my 12-size 19-jewel grade 193.


For Caldwell I am going to cheat on the scope of this forum since the only examples I have (or had) are Swiss -- a couple by Agassiz and one from Vacheron & Constantin.




Does anyone have Caldwell watches by American manufacturers?

 

[Lee Passarella]

Great watches, Jerry! I hope others will share many more.

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

I'll start with some Illinois...



And a Fredonia...



And a couple of Walthams...



And, finally, one that I'm not quite sure about. I cannot find this person in our geneology.



As long as I'm going, I'll add a pedometer from my collection.

 

[Joe Blossic]

Bailey Banks & Biddle (BB&B - 1832-2009) was the largest in Philadelphia, on par with Tiffany's in NY and Shreve, Crump & Low in Boston. Detailed history on BB&B here --> Hagley Museum and Library: Bailey, Banks & Biddle records (2453) -- Hagley Museum and Library: Manuscripts and Archives Department Department

I have a couple BB&B watches, although I could have more if I didn't limit myself to size 16 & 18 American.

J. E. Caldwell (1839-2009) was another high end jeweler, lasting about the same time as BB&B.

H.M. Jacobson & Son, Philadelphia, who was the retailer that carried the line of Pennsylvania Special Illinois watches

C.R. Smith is one I can find advertisements of but have not yet found much on the history of the company..

 

[Joe Blossic]

Does anyone have Caldwell watches by American manufacturers?

Jerry, my two are - how appropriate - Philadelphia Watch Co., albeit technically still Swiss

 

[new2clocks]

various Philly jewelers such as Bailey, Banks & Biddle, J.E. Caldwell, John Wanamaker or others.

Not to nitpick, but Wanamakers were not jewelers, per se, but a department store.

Regards.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

Here is one I previously posted in the Hamilton Private labels thread, a 16s, 17J, grade 974, made for C.R. Smith & Son, Philadelphia (marked on dial and movement). SN 859629. It went to finishing Dec. 12, 1911.



I found a bit about Smith & Son In the Feb. 5, 1919, Jewelers Circular, beginning at the bottom of the second column on page 311.

Jewelers' Circular

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

Since Jerry T. has shown non-U.S. Philadelphia PLs, I will too, but I suggest that the moderator move this thread to "Horological Misc." so that it will cover both U.S. and non-U.S. watches.

I have Philadelphia PLs only from J.E. Caldwell and Bailey, Banks & Biddle. All of these watches have Swiss movements. In this post, I will show my J.E. Caldwell PLs. In my next post, I will show my BB&B PLs.

18k H.R. Ekegren (Pre-Koehn Takeover)



18k H.R. Ekegren (Post-Koehn takeover)



18k H.R. Ekegren Chronograph (Pre-Koehn Takeover)



18k Ekegren Minute Repeater (Post-Koehn Takeover)



18k and Enamel Cress Arrow-cased IWC Caliber 73B



14k Knapp-Cased Ed. Koehn



Ultra-Thin Platinum V&C, Based on LeCoultre Ebauche

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

Here are my Bailey, Banks & Biddle PLs.

18k 12-size C.H. Meylan (Type I in my own classification system)


14k Jeannot & Shiebler-Cased C.H. Meylan (Type I in my own classification system)



18k & Enamel Patek Philippe "Special", 28mm in diameter cased



It would be sweet if "special" were a Patek Philippe quality demarcation, like "Extra", but I think it just is a Bailey, Banks & Biddle marketing ploy.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

6s Elgin

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

One of my favorite Philly jewelers to look out for is S&T Child, who retailed many great Elgins in their day.

Higher grade, convertibles, 10s, lots of goodies.

 

[Christopher Burris]

Dial marked for Wm. G. Earle, Philadelphia. Illinois, Bunn Special. 1763891. Mr. Earle's watch runs are witnessed as both mark and unmarked movements with a run, so it's thought to be original. "EARLE WILLIAM G. DIAMONDS, WATCHES & JEWELRY, 13 N 9th"

 

[Jim M.]

Z. J. Péquignot, 806 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
Swiss ~6S lady size Agassiz Watch Co. movement, 14K multicolor Jeannot & Shiebler watchcase.

 

[luvsthetick]

Seth Thomas model 2 for William G. Earle.

 

[luvsthetick]

Seth Thomas model 2 for William G. Earle.

View attachment 618096 View attachment 618097

I forgot to post a picture of the back of the Earle dial.

 

[Lee Passarella]

This Patek Philippe from the 1880s is the flagship of my little flotilla. It includes a leather-bound box in pretty good condition, given the age.

By the way, does anybody know who the casemaker was? An interesting logo.

 

[musicguy]

This Patek Philippe from the 1880s is the flagship of my little flotilla.

Wow, very nice Lee! Triple signed.

That leather case with the sea creatures is fantastic too.

Rob

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

Beautiful watch, Lee. The case was made by Jeannot & Shiebler, one of the very best American watch case makers.

 

[Joe Blossic]

Beautiful watch, Lee. The case was made by Jeannot & Shiebler, one of the very best American watch case makers.

Ethan did a post on J&S cases in 2006 that has a lot of beautiful examples. Jeannot & Shiebler Cases

 

[Joe Blossic]

Z. J. Péquignot, 806 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
Swiss ~6S lady size Agassiz Watch Co. movement, 14K multicolor Jeannot & Shiebler watchcase.