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Rockford Private Label Watches
- Thread starter Dave Coatsworth
- Start date
Just picked up a G 101s Prince of Wales SN 593341 to partner with my King Edward watches. Picked it up tonight on the J&H auction, Lot #67. I have approval to post photos of watches I've purchased from J&H, but it's been so long since I posted anything on this site I've forgotten how to move photos to a post. The Prince of Wales is a recase, but the movement looks clean. I'll post photos once I figure out how to do so. And I'll check my records to find and post the SN's for the King Edwards that I have. If I remember correctly, one the KE is a G845. Could the other be a G910? The Bulletin #269 doesn't appear to indicate a King Edward as a G910. I'll search my records and post photos.
When you are starting a thread or replying to a post, there are two buttons just below the edit window with pictures of a camera on them. One says FROM PC and the other says VIA URL. If you click on the one you need depending on where the image is, you can upload the image(s).
When they are uploaded, they appear in a list below your work. Each of them has an insert and delete button associated with it. If you put the cursor where you want the thumbnail to appear in your post and click insert it will appear there. You may also click the button at the top of that list that says insert all and they will all be inserted wherever the cursor is in your post.
If you want to delete an image, you use its delete button and if you have already inserted its thumbnail in your post, you need to delete the thumbnail also.
"missed" this one some years ago as i just did not bid enough, new owner let me take pics...
Another example.. but mine 
I believe the Rockford salesman made a BIG pass through the south.... have 'southern' private labels that turn out to be Rockford (see my earlier post for Washington NC)
I believe the Rockford salesman made a BIG pass through the south.... have 'southern' private labels that turn out to be Rockford (see my earlier post for Washington NC)
Andrew, Here are your photos for the Prince of Wales, Plymouth Watch Co, pocket watch.
Here is my Rockford grade #94,model#7 serial #335861 private label , Dial says "N.R.J.A" National Retail Jewelers Association " The movement is marked "Nat Jewelers Watch Co U.S.A.
Here is my 18s Rockford Grade 83, model 8, 15 jewel private label "Joslin & Park" they were a jewelers in Salt Lake
As I stated above, I don't intentionally collect PLs however I got this one due to the dial. It is a model 7 grade 87 15j in a silverode recase inscribed R.D. C. and Co. The dial is double sunk fancy Arabic with a train and R.D. Currier and Co. written below in script. The dial is special as the Rockford Watch Company initials are disguised within the smoke trail as shown in the enlarged train pic. The only other one I have seen over the past few years is Greg F's who has shown it a few times in various threads. I haven't found anything about R.D. Currier or his company.
Jewelers' Circular & Horological Review November 15 1893 p35
R.D. Currier comes up as buyers in town in Boston last week
Mining and Engineering world October 16 1909
R.D. Currier of San Francisco listed as secretary of board of directors of Monjar Gold Mining Co.
Found a picture online of another R.D. Currier dial on a Rockford, but it doesn't have the great Rockford train. Thanks for sharing, Darrah!!
I have this one by Milton Baer in Washington D.C. I know nothing about them with me being from the UK!
Most of these PL's were Jewelers/Opticians that went out of business 20-40(or more) years before I was
born. I have seen a few PL Jewelers that are still in business but it's
very few. So unless we look them up we don't know them either.
I did a google search for Milton Baer in Washington D.C and got quite a few hits
including other watches(with his name) and jewelry.
Enjoy your watch
Rob
I just picked up this private label Rockford Grade 838 on eBay... 18S 17j, SN 778584. It is labeled both on the dial and the movement as, "Ed. W. Hicks", with "Auburn Ind." included on the movement. The dial has some condition issues, but the movement is awesome! Winds and runs like a champion! Cased in a Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Silverode screw on back and bezel case.
I did a simple google search on "Ed. W. Hicks, Auburn Ind." and found a reference to him (I assume) in the June 9, 1898 "Albion Democrat" newspaper, that said he is a jeweler in that area. He must have ordered a private run of these Rockfords?
Photos attached.
I did a simple google search on "Ed. W. Hicks, Auburn Ind." and found a reference to him (I assume) in the June 9, 1898 "Albion Democrat" newspaper, that said he is a jeweler in that area. He must have ordered a private run of these Rockfords?
Photos attached.
I found this Rockford online during an auction. Scarce early 21J, "Otto Wettstein, Rochelle, Ill." private label marked mvt and dial, Grade 88, Model 7 18S, rolled gold-plate OF display case made in the 1970s for the collector market using original Star Watch Case Co die. A very scarce early 21 jewel movement, the Grade 88 was typically finished as a 16 jewel movement and only a small fraction were factory up jeweled to 21 such as this example. From Dean Olson's Rockford collection.
Yes, one of Jones & Horan's
We've been handling a lot of Rockfords this year, with many private labels examples! If you go to our sales archive (on our website), simply type in "Rockford" and hit search, you can scan for other past sold private labels.
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I have a near relative, Serial # 779478, c. 1908. It's one of my favorite Rockies, very reliable.
I purchased this 16s m2 21j g645 Adjusted to Heat & Cold about 20yrs ago and forgot about it until doing a little research. It is housed in a nice open face Rockford case with stamped cuvette. J. Le Roy New York is on the double sunk Arabic dial.
Hooper Bros. was a jewelers in Aspen, Colorado. The Lechenger dial is one of several new-old-stock ones that were found by the late Gene Fuller.
I didn't list a few PLs earlier since they are only signed on the dial and not movement and photos are not very good, but, decided to add a few anyhow. I hope no one minds.
18s m9 g910 21J Adj RG; PL dial Geo. G Worstall, Toms River, N.J.
18s m9 g910 21J Adj RG; PL dial Geo. G Worstall, Toms River, N.J.
Here is another dial only signed. I bought it for the damascening on the 18s m4 11j and its case.
C.P. Eldred Honesdale, PA on ss roman
Last pic is open face case stamp.
C.P. Eldred Honesdale, PA on ss roman
Last pic is open face case stamp.
I picked up a model two. Poor thing had this on it barely held in place. Must be from a newer model rocky, it doesn't have pinned feet like a dial for my watch should, and shows signs of dial screws being used on the feet, so they weren't cut.
It says EG Blake Farmington mo.
It says EG Blake Farmington mo.
A PL runic dial (Hazene Soule) attached to an 18s nickel m3 15j.
I was gathering a bit of info on these very very scare (if not rare) model 6 two-tone mvts and below is tabulated the little bit that I've found. Most is from either ebay or Jones-Horan auctions. It includes Darrahg's watch above.
249113-"L. F. Hussander", DS dial signed "L. F. Hussander"
249114-"L. F. Hussander", no dial
249142-"L. F. Hussander", DS dial signed "Rockford"
249144-"L. F. Hussander", DS dial signed "L. F. Hussander"
249193-"J. P. Wathier", SS dial signed "Rockford Watch Co. Illinois"
249195-"J. P. Wathier", DS dial signed "Wathier"
I would guess that correct dials should be signed the same as the mvts, but one never knows.
Anyone have others to add to the list?
Just did a quick Google search. Might this be Hazen E. Soule? Timing could be right as he was a Civil War soldier and there seems to be a period after the E.A PL runic dial (Hazene Soule) attached to an 18s nickel m3 15j.
Thanks for taking the time to compile this, Greg. Interesting to see the consolidated list.
There were quite a number of interesting Rockford PLs from the Dean Olson collection that were recently sold by Jones-Horan. Did anyone gather the info for them?
All the J&H completed sales are available on their web site.
Of course, quite a few of the Olsen Rockfords were sold in lots of multiples and those have fewer pictures and less description.
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Grade 560, 16s, 17j, SN 580028, circa 1902. Label: Cosmos. By the way, anybody know what Cosmos was? Kind of like Sears' Prince of Wales-branded watches?
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I asked Fred Hansen just now what he knows about the Cosmos marking, and he said this book lists the Rockford Cosmos as having been sold by Benjamin Allen & Co.
Here's a Rockford private label I recently picked up...A Grade 586, 16s, 15j watch, with private label "Leysons" on both the dial and the movement. It's in a Keystone Watch Co. (J. Boss) gold-filled, 25 year half hunter (?) swing-out (not sure what the technical term is for this type of case?) case. Serial No. 617009.
I haven't been able to find out much of anything on that company...anyone know anything about "Leysons"?
I haven't been able to find out much of anything on that company...anyone know anything about "Leysons"?
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Here's another of my Rockford Private label watches, if you want to call it one...a Grade 162, size 0s, 15j watch in a 25 year gold filled Crescent Watch Case Co. Hunter case with nice decoration. The private label (?) is "Plymouth" on the dial and "Plymouth Watch Co." on the movement.
Serial # 640253.
Serial # 640253.
The case type is called a "clam shell" by many collectors. It is a subset of the swing out type cases. I do not think there is anything "hunter" about it. All hunter cases have the dial covered. The subset of demi-hunters or half hunters have a window in the front cover so the hands can be seen and most (all?) of those have numbers on the front cover for the hours.
Thanks Tom... being a novice, I wasn't sure what to call that case. I haven't seen to many of that type, although I do have a couple of them in my collection.
Pilfering around I found one to add here. A.C. Hanger, Des Moines Iowa.
I also have a question about my Rockford. Is it uncommon as I think it is to have the plates polished like chrome? I've never seen one with that finish.
Looks like someone polished that sucker up. It doesn't take much to completely erase the damaskeen.
Could be wrong, but that's what I thought when you posted it. You can sort of see the remnants of the damaskeen by your regulator.
Could be wrong, but that's what I thought when you posted it. You can sort of see the remnants of the damaskeen by your regulator.
That's where the q tip ran out of jewelry cleaner I think. I need to clean it up better. I can't see evidence of anything being on it, but it sure is polished to a high gloss.
I need to clean it up better. I can't see evidence of anything being on it, but it sure is polished to a high gloss.Rick is correct, has been polished (on a buff in my opinion), never a great idea
Just on a side note, have you had the dial off it as yet to see if 11 or 15 Jewel, should be 15?"I also have a question about my Rockford. Is it uncommon as I think it is to have the plates polished like chrome? I've never seen one with that finish. " 4mula1fan
I have encountered one Rockford with frosted plates so there are probably more. I am not saying that yours is frosted though as it does appear to be polished. I would need a closer look to confirm that. Mine is a 16s model 2 but won't post here since it is not a PL.
I have encountered one Rockford with frosted plates so there are probably more. I am not saying that yours is frosted though as it does appear to be polished. I would need a closer look to confirm that. Mine is a 16s model 2 but won't post here since it is not a PL.
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I have not had the dial off yet.Rick is correct, has been polished (on a buff in my opinion), never a great idea
They are shiny as chrome, and slick as a whistle. No trace of any damaskeening at all. I'll have to check my parts for an adjusting nut. EDIT! It seems other watches like this one don't have any kind of adjusting nut either...
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If or when you do can you reported back if 15 Jewel please?
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