Fabulous watches, Ethan. The axial damaskeening pattern on Model 1872 movement SN 3,349,065 (not sure of the last digit) reminds me of the damaskeening pattern I have seen on several double zero size AWCo Grade OM Model movements. Your watch is the only example of that interesting pattern I have ever seen in 16 Size. That final run of AWCo Grade Model 1872's seems to have included several unusual damaskeening patterns. For comparison, here is a typical OM Model example, but one with a private label dial, which unfortunately is not my watch.
I love those two-tone finishes, Joe. And of course the AWCo Grade Model 72 and 88 are always joys to behold.
Jerry, I've never seen that pattern in the center of your watch before. It looks really unique.
Sorry all, this post for the Rockfords was intended for a different thread (on Rockford's). I guess it was way past by bedtime and completely mixed them up.
I’ve always been amazed and wondered why, on various models with beautiful damaskeen patterns, Waltham would leave the winding wheel and barrel bare without any embellishments.
Hi Richard, the winding wheels are not actually "bare," though my photography of them may be deficient. They actually have a somewhat subtle radial line pattern that looks simple, but which I understand was surprisingly difficult to execute. One can see the same radial line pattern combined with other decorative elements on the winding wheels of many later AWCo Grade Model 1872's, including some of the examples shown on this thread. However, the design aesthetic was shifting in the 1890's away from one that gloried in the intricate craft work of earlier generations towards a clean, more austere look suggesting the precision of scientific instruments. This transition was being molded by an industry from which many craft skills were rapidly disappearing, and which was touting machine-made excellence above all else. The shift you noted in winding wheel decoration was a step along this road. By the time the Model 1899 bridge models had come out the door a decade or so later, apart from one short run of 20 movements with fishscale damaskeening, this transformation in decorative styles had more or less arrived at very simple Geneva stripes.
Yes, indeed, John. Here are a couple I used to own:
Clint, not only is this a great thread for the dazzle, I have just learned that Howards came in something besides the plain nickel I have only seen to date. Thanks for new knowledge.
M83's had a wide array of designs, some absolutely on par with this topic.
While Seth Thomas certainly had some eye-popping complexity, I have always been fascinated with the simple elegance of their 7-jewel Eagle series.
Nice damaskeening on the dial plate of that Model 1888, and the Elgin convertible is gorgeous too.
Here is an N Size hunter with a variation on the same theme. It has a signed, double sunk Moorhouse dial as well. The only one I've ever seen.
