Rockford serial number query

[Dave Coatsworth]

Can someone out there with a Rockford serial number list tell me if #896669 is a Grade 930? (Or, if it isn't, what grade is it?) Thanks!

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

Can someone out there with a Rockford serial number list tell me if #896669 is a Grade 930? (Or, if it isn't, what grade is it?) Thanks!

 

[Danwatch]

Dave:
My list says Grade 935.

 

[John F]

Dave - can you post a pic of your Rockford? The company's published SN lists stopped at 824,000, meaning that listings higher than that are "reconstructed" and based on observations.

(Also, trying to figure Rockford grades is sure fire way to get a quick ticket to the funny farm. :biggrin: )

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

Hi John,
It's eBay item #320041975225. (Unfortunately the photos are not that good...) It's actually not mine. I'm just trying to help this charity with a couple of pocket watch listings but my knowledge of Rockfords is VERY limited.

 

[John F]

Grades 930 and 935 are virtually identical in appearance and I personally don't know of a way to easily distinguish one from another based on viewing the movement (e.g., adjustment markings, etc.).

A 1906 catalog description of each is almost exactly the same, except the 930 is described as "adjusted to heat and cold" and the dial has "red marginal figures," while the 935 is not listed as adjusted and the dial has only "marginal figures" (not red ones). If the dial on the one on ebay is original, then the red minutes would suggest that it's grade 930. But without more I would hesitate to make that conclusion.

Dan - what's your source for this as a grade 935?

 

[Kent]

I thought that the No. 930 was marked "Adjusted" while the No. 935 was not.

 

[John F]

Yes, they were - I just don't know if they were always marked.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Dave,

A Jan. 1913 price list describes the grade 930 as "Adjusted to Temperature, Sunk Second Dial". As such, I would expect there to be an adjustment marking of some kind on the plates if it is a 930.

 

[John F]

Greg - how confident are you that Rockford was conbsistent in its movement markings in its final years in operation? That's where I'm hesitating on concluding the grade for this watch. (I agree that it's more likely a 935 than a 930 in the absence of a marking, but I'm just reluctant to be firm on that.)

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

John,

Anything's possible, but as I see it, if #896669 is not marked "Adjusted", there are 2 reasonable possibilites:

It's a 935
It's a 930 "error" (somebody forgot the adjustment marking...it happens)

The former one is by far the most likely (in my opinion).