Outstanding! Beautiful piece of art!
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Important Executive Director Announcement from the NAWCC The NAWCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mr. Rory McEvoy has been named Executive Director of the NAWCC. Rory is an internationally renowned horological scholar and comes to the NAWCC with strong credentials that solidly align with our education, fundraising, and membership growth objectives. He has a postgraduate degree in the conservation and restoration of antique clocks from West Dean College, and throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to handle some of the world’s most important horological artifacts, including longitude timekeepers by Harrison, Kendall, and Mudge.
Rory formerly worked as Curator of Horology at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, where his role included day-to-day management of research and digitization projects, writing, public speaking, conservation, convening conferences, exhibition work, and development of acquisition/disposal and collection care policies. In addition, he has worked as a horological specialist at Bonhams in London, where he cataloged and handled many rare timepieces and built important relationships with collectors, buyers, and sellers. Most recently, Rory has used his talents to share his love of horology at the university level by teaching horological theory, history, and the practical repair and making of clocks and watches at Birmingham City University.
Rory is a British citizen and currently resides in the UK. Pre-COVID-19, Rory and his wife, Kaai, visited HQ in Columbia, Pennsylvania, where they met with staff, spent time in the Museum and Library & Research Center, and toured the area. Rory and Kaai will be relocating to the area as soon as the immigration challenges and travel restrictions due to COVID-19 permit.
Some of you may already be familiar with Rory as he is also a well-known author and lecturer. His recent publications include the book Harrison Decoded: Towards a Perfect Pendulum Clock, which he edited with Jonathan Betts, and the article “George Graham and the Orrery” in the journal Nuncius.
Until Rory’s relocation to the United States is complete, he will be working closely with an on-boarding team assembled by the NAWCC Board of Directors to introduce him to the opportunities and challenges before us and to ensure a smooth transition. Rory will be participating in strategic and financial planning immediately, which will allow him to hit the ground running when he arrives in Columbia
You can read more about Rory McEvoy and this exciting announcement in the upcoming March/April issue of the Watch & Clock Bulletin.
Please join the entire Board and staff in welcoming Rory to the NAWCC community.
Sunday Hunting
- Thread starter musicguy
- Start date
Since so many of you liked my Dueber-cased Model 72, I just wound up my other Model 72, which is in a 14k Pforzheimer, Keller & Co. case.
Today a recent addition while running errands. This is its maiden voyage to see how it runs.
Thanks to Henry Burgell's list on Ch.149 site, circa 1890 Hampden M2, Gr 43, 18S, 17J, lever set, one of estimated 3600.
PL Montgomery Ward in a Premier case with cool steam engine up on a stone bridge.
Happy hunting!
Thanks to Henry Burgell's list on Ch.149 site, circa 1890 Hampden M2, Gr 43, 18S, 17J, lever set, one of estimated 3600.
PL Montgomery Ward in a Premier case with cool steam engine up on a stone bridge.
Happy hunting!
Getting ready for Sunday Hunting.........
18s (Marked 925/1000 fine Leader by Keystone) case 1887 PL grade 33 Elgin
I think this will also be my daily carry for a while too.
Rob
18s (Marked 925/1000 fine Leader by Keystone) case 1887 PL grade 33 Elgin
I think this will also be my daily carry for a while too.
Rob
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I stopped carrying my watches quite a few years ago, but I did just wind up this uncommon circa 1865 18k & enamel Browne & Spaulding-cased Model 1860 Appleton Tracy "Vibrator". Waltham used the vibrating hairspring, also known as the Fogg's Stud, on up to about 700 watches:
- Perhaps up to 90 20-size AWCOs.
- Perhaps up to 100 16-size AWCOs.
- Perhaps up to 250 20-size Appleton Tracys.
- Perhaps up to 250 16-size Appleton Tracys.
I just put this one in my pocket today and realized "Hey, ... it's Sunday!"
The movement is a Waltham 14-size 7-jewel Bond St. from 1887. The front cover is the same but with initials and date (1888) in the shield.
The movement is a Waltham 14-size 7-jewel Bond St. from 1887. The front cover is the same but with initials and date (1888) in the shield.
Took this one out for a ride in the vest today ...
Circa July 1872, American Watch model 1870, grade Crescent St., 18S, 15J, HC, SW, LS, in a G. W. Ladd case.
Happy hunting!
Circa July 1872, American Watch model 1870, grade Crescent St., 18S, 15J, HC, SW, LS, in a G. W. Ladd case.
Happy hunting!
Although I've posted this hunter in two other threads in recent months, I'm re-posting it here since it's Sunday and I have a question relating to this movement. The S.N. shows that it has 16 jewels. I saw another thread where Jerry Treiman had replied with a similar watch, but I can't find that thread. (I may PM him) At any rate, does anyone know why this would have 16 jewels? Does it have a capstone on the center wheel? A mistake in the ledgers?
Thanks and happy hunting!
Kenny
P.S. I promise I'll post something new next Sunday,
Thanks and happy hunting!
Kenny
P.S. I promise I'll post something new next Sunday,
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I am going to join in as I have one in my jeans coin pocket now.
Circa 1897 Waltham Riverside 6s 17J total production 3080 Pendant set Model 1890.
Rob
Circa 1897 Waltham Riverside 6s 17J total production 3080 Pendant set Model 1890.
Rob
I am cheating a bit, because I don't really carry my pocket watches any more, but I just wound up this 19-jewel Model 1888 American Watch Co. grade hunter. This watch was made around 1891. It is in a heavy 18k Waltham-signed case that weighs about 68 grams without the movement. The movement is #5,000,143. Model 1888 AWCOs are fairly uncommon, especially the 17-jewel and 21-jewel versions. I don't know how many 19-jewel versions were made. If you know, I'd be grateful if you posted the open-face and hunter production numbers.
The NAWCC serial number lookup says the watch came from a 17-jewel run. That this watch was up-jeweled is not its only quirk. I consulted with Jerry about this watch's more significant quirk, that the serial number on the pillar plate X,X00,030 does not match the number on the bridge. Normally, this would mean that the watch was a post-manufacture conglomeration of parts from different watches. In this case, Jerry told me that he thinks it is either an original combination or the result of a factory repair. He told me that the pillar plate most likely came from the 5,500,001-5,502,000 run of 15-jewel Riversides. The modifications needed to make that plate suitable for a 19-jewel AWCO are so substantial, including refinishing the visible side of the pillar plate up to AWCO standards, that he thought that only the factory would have made them.
Doing a fast search in the database that Kent Singer & I maintain I found the following marked American Watch Co. grade, there might be more that I missed:
5,000,110, 157, 225 and 570; 19 J, H/C
7,000,567, 585; 19 J O/F
There were different jewel counts in between, and all numbers are subject to errors, either in the original listing or by us.
5,000,110, 157, 225 and 570; 19 J, H/C
7,000,567, 585; 19 J O/F
There were different jewel counts in between, and all numbers are subject to errors, either in the original listing or by us.
I tend to wear pocket watches daily in the Fall and Winter, today I wore this 16 size Elgin, with a very nice personalized dial. The original owner, Glenn D. Holmes, was born in 1873, and eventually became a city engineer for Syracuse NY. Perhaps Glenn received it from his dad Joseph for his 25th birthday - his father was a noted inventor, and the civil engineer for Batavia NY.
Today I drove about southern New Hampshire, visiting antique stores. It was nice to get out and see some new scenery. Found a very nice 18 size Elgin movement with decorated dial, now I just need a SW, LS hunter case to go with it. The search should be fun.
Today I drove about southern New Hampshire, visiting antique stores. It was nice to get out and see some new scenery. Found a very nice 18 size Elgin movement with decorated dial, now I just need a SW, LS hunter case to go with it. The search should be fun.
I was hoping someone would reply to my message #62 giving production numbers for the different versions of the AWCO Model 1888. I tried to find that information on the NAWCC Waltham serial number database, but couldn't find it (perhaps because I didn't look for it properly). In going through my notes I see that some years ago I read or was told that total hunter and open face production was 500 19js, up to 100 21js. and less than 100 17js. If any of you have more detailed or better information, I hope you will post it.
I found a 20-year old printout of a database query that (I believe) Tom McIntyre may have pulled together. It showed about 2,000 OF 19j movements and about 600 Htg 19j movements. The records were not entirely correct and there were some 21j movements produced which were listed as 19j and hunting movements listed as OF. Listings for 17j were apparently actually 19 jewel models. Totals for 21 jewel models were approximately 109 OF and 170 Htg, but in my glance at the records I see these are often alternating with 21j Riverside Maximus movements.
I have also seen Am'n W.Co grade movements listed as American grade.
This week's Sunday carry is one of my older watches, a Waltham SN 50806. It has a simple shield decorating it's diminutive 2 ounce silver case. Along the way, someone replaced the glass crystal with a plastic one, which has yellowed with age. I figure it's part of its history, so am leaving it in place.
As promised, here is my offering this week, I wore it to mass this morning. Waltham 1908 P.S. Bartlett 16s, GF case.
I just wound up my circa 1901 Elgin Grade 243.
It's in a 14k DuBois Watch Case Co. hunter case, #135,838, also stamped B.A. & Co., for Benjamin Allen & Co., a wholesaler. The cuvette is inscribed From your wife, To your 37[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, May 10[SUP]th[/SUP], 1904. Movement, # 9,723,970.
Grade 243 is one of I believe four grades often referred to as lace doilies because of their exuberant dasmascening. Grade 243 was among the highest grade watches Elgin then was making. Grade 243s aren't plentiful. Elgin only made 4,000.
I'd be interested in your views on two oddities relating to this watch.
One is the wording of the inscription To your 37th birthday. For not to is how I would have expect this inscription to have been written. Do you think the For is (a) an engraver's mistake, (b) an inscription ordered by someone for whom English was a second language, (c) a one-time multi-year birthday present intended to cover a period of years up to the recipient's 37th birthday, or (d) the result of something else?
The other oddities are the bracketed words Ruralness and Rurality in the ad copy below. Did Elgin use them or were they inserted by someone, e.g., Meggers, who reprinted the ad. What do they mean?
It's in a 14k DuBois Watch Case Co. hunter case, #135,838, also stamped B.A. & Co., for Benjamin Allen & Co., a wholesaler. The cuvette is inscribed From your wife, To your 37[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, May 10[SUP]th[/SUP], 1904. Movement, # 9,723,970.
Grade 243 is one of I believe four grades often referred to as lace doilies because of their exuberant dasmascening. Grade 243 was among the highest grade watches Elgin then was making. Grade 243s aren't plentiful. Elgin only made 4,000.
I'd be interested in your views on two oddities relating to this watch.
One is the wording of the inscription To your 37th birthday. For not to is how I would have expect this inscription to have been written. Do you think the For is (a) an engraver's mistake, (b) an inscription ordered by someone for whom English was a second language, (c) a one-time multi-year birthday present intended to cover a period of years up to the recipient's 37th birthday, or (d) the result of something else?
The other oddities are the bracketed words Ruralness and Rurality in the ad copy below. Did Elgin use them or were they inserted by someone, e.g., Meggers, who reprinted the ad. What do they mean?
I'm guessing a scrivener's error. From: and To: are standard conventions for a gift label . . .
Don't have a clue about this, but note that the font is "Small Caps" which is different than the rest of the ad.
These were "telegraphic codes", unique to each model, for the jobber (or maybe the retailer?) to use in ordering movements from the factory or sales agent.
Ethan, I too believe that this is an oversight. My grandfather hand engraved jewelry and trophies for the University of Iowa athletics back in the 40's- 60's. Watching him work, he would engrave for a while and take a break to rest his hands and so forth. My guess is this engraver had done the same, and simply forgot where he was. By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late. My guess is that this wife didn't have to pay for the engraving or she got a deep discount.
Thanks for sharing yet another stunning piece from your collection. That is a beautiful watch!
View attachment 636529
Hard not to show off this one. Weekend watch. Elgin Overland gr. 278, Dueber 20 yr case.
Happy Sunday. Snow again.... Looks like I'll be at work early.
Here's this Sunday's hunter, a 1905 Elgin Grade 190 Lord Elgin in a 14k Keystone case.
I wound up this massive coin silver Waltham hunter for today -
-- oh wait, here it is next to an 18-size Waltham.
My hunter for today is actually a 1-size --
... nicely proportioned, though, isn't it?
I very rarely carry a watch, but this Bunn just came back from the cleaner‘s, so I am letting it run a bit.... and it‘s Sunday 
Today's carry is a private label Elgin, 18 size KWKS, SN: 897182. The dial and movement note the selling jeweler, S&T Child, Philadelphia. The dial is a particularly nice double-sunk example. The front of the case is unfortunately well-worn, I'm guessing it originally represented two ducks (one floating, one flapping its wings) in a marsh, anyone else have a guess?
I am new to the watch and clock sight, have inherited several items from a relative and admire the workmanship and craftmanship of watches and clocks. I have to get up to speed on each of them so your comments and recommendations are greatly encouraged and appreciated from the perspective of a novice searching for any/all information. The hunter is a Hampden serial # 1954801 and the wadsworth pilot case # 1198627. Many thanks - Chas
I look at it as a toast, "From your Wife, To your 37th birthday"
"For your 37th birthday" is a reward or gift. From me for this.
"To your 37th birthday" is a celebration of the achievement. From me to this.
I am not an English major, so I could be off the mark, but the inscription seems normal to me.
I'm putting this 0s Elgin in my pocket today and it will be there till Sunday so this
is a pre Sunday hunting post, but it is my Sunday hunting watch for this week.
I normally carry the same 16s(g. 478) everyday so it's a nice change up..
Rob
is a pre Sunday hunting post, but it is my Sunday hunting watch for this week.
I normally carry the same 16s(g. 478) everyday so it's a nice change up..
Rob
I just happened to notice this old post of yours, Lee. Perhaps you know this already, but your movement SN 30,070 is one of the first hundred stemwind watches made by the Howard company, which makes it one of the earliest American stemwind and pendant set American watches of any kind.
I love the damaskeening on that bridge model, Ethan. You must have a case factory in your basement. All these terrific cases you seem to be able to come up with are incredible. By the way, your case is not an "AWWCo" product, it is an "AWC Co" product, which stands for American Watch Case Company. Apparently there were two case manufacturers who used that name, one a US firm and the other Canadian, whose periods of activity overlapped:
American Watch Case Co. | NAWCC Forums
Today's Sunday carry is a watch that just arrived from Rob Carter, who did his usual amazing repair work to get it going again. It is an early Waltham private label, SN: 555018. JF Sargent, a Mt Pleasant, Iowa jeweler. Housed in a worn 5 oz silver case, manufacturer unknown. Anyone have information on this particular jeweler, curious if his old shop building is still standing.
Mr. Fargo today. It needed a day out of the box.
I grabbed it a while back because it's an earlier one with solid balance in pretty good shape. The case is still a bit of a mystery.
I grabbed it a while back because it's an earlier one with solid balance in pretty good shape. The case is still a bit of a mystery.
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