The first American pocket watches

[Glyn Meredith]

Does anyone here own either a Goddard or a Pitkin pocket watch?

Between 1809 and 1817, Luther Goddard, of Shrewsbury, Mass., made about 500 verge watches. He went out of business because of cheap foreign competition.

From 1838 to about 1841, the brothers James and Henry Pitkin at Hartford, Conn. (and later New York) manufactured and marketed the first American machine-made watches - three-quarter plate, slow train. They too suffered from foreign competition (Swiss, I believe) and manufactured only about 800 movements before going out of business.

 

[kirxklox]

I will speak to my friend to see if he knows Who is Whom and if they will talk to you.

 

[4thdimension]

That about says it all, don't it?
-Cort
<(';')>

 

[kirxklox]

You could try the Smithsonian at Washington, DC, USA. I have heard they have a sample or two. To far to drive for me!

 

[Glyn Meredith]

Thank you, so far, folks.

"Does anyone here own either a Goddard or a Pitkin pocket watch?"

 

[Don Dahlberg]

The NAWCC Special Exhibit last year on American watches had at least a Pitkin. It was on loan.

Also take a look at http://www.oldwatch.com/pitkin.html

Don

 

[Fred Hansen]

Don - Is that link of an American made watch and not an import marked with the Pitkin name?

Glyn - There is a photo of an American made Pitkin watch with a 2 digit serial number in the 1976 NAWCC Exhibit catalog. If I can find my copy of this catalog I will send you a photo. To my knowledge this is the only known example of this earliest Pitkin model and this is a tremendously important early American watch.

Fred

 

[Don Dahlberg]

Fred,

Hmmm I did not even look at the pictures on that link.

OK try this http://www.sil.si.edu/imagegalaxy/imageGalaxy_enlarge.cfm?id_image=7948

I held the Pitkin at the exhibit at the NAWCC museum. They must have a photo of it somewhere.

Don

 

[kirxklox]

Glyn Meredith: You can try ***********, Chapter 174, or all the other Chapter Web sites.

Or you can JOIN Chapter 149 and READ ALL About these companies on Web Horology MB.

I really am trying to quit carrying matches with me.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Here is a scan of the Pitkin watch photo from the 1976 NAWCC National Convention exhibit catalog. The catalog also included a picture of the dial and the pillar plate.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Here is a picture of a Goddard (#387) from the same catalog.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I believe that different examples of each are also included in the 2002 NAWCC Seminar exhibit, but the on-line images from that exhibit seem to be temporarily unavailable. Presumably all examples shown are (or were) owned by members.

 

[Dave Chaplain]

If I remember correctly, there was also a full plate Pitkin at the NAWCC national display in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. And I also believe that Mr. Hanson was the organizer of both the 1976 and Ft. Wayne exhibits!

You go Jon!

 

[kirxklox]

2002 was the Chapter 149 Seminar and Watch Exhibit at the Ft Wayne Regional. Some members missed a GREAT SHOW.

Inc Pitkins, Goddard, Custer. Warren, Von derHeydt, Nashua, Reed, Fasoldt, Tracy Baker, Adams and Perry, Palmer, Flint, Freeport, San Jose, Otay, Jeunet, Auburndale Rotary, Osaka, early Walthams and Howards!

ETAL

There was not enough space for the dollar watches.

 

[Glyn Meredith]

Thanks to everyone who contributed. I am looking for someone who owns one of these, not photos/watch information/etc., although those are interesting, of course.

"Does anyone here own either a Goddard or a Pitkin pocket watch?"

 

[kirxklox]

I will give you a One Word answer. NO

But, you were told who does.

 

[Glyn Meredith]

Thanks for the photos, Jerry. Any chance that you can put an owner's name to either of those watches? (by e-mail if you think it would invade privacy).

 

[kirxklox]

Oh, well, This is what the NAWCC gets for having an IGNOR button. The truth is hard to swallow at times.

I am out of here.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

The 1976 exhibit included many spectacular clocks and watches. The only credits are for the photography (not ownership), and the photos of the American watches are credited to Jon Hanson. Unless I missed it, no one has yet specifically stated who currently owns the Pitkin and Goddard watches.

The catalog was a limited printing of 2500 copies but they still turn up every now and then.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

The on-line pictures from the 2002 seminar are back up. You can find some excellent digital images of a couple of Goddards and a Pitkin at >> THIS LINK <<. Clicking on the image of the watch you want to see takes you to a separate page dedicated to that movement. Each image on that page is then linked to a high-resolution image.

 

[Fred Hansen]

Glyn-

Here is a link to superb information about Pitkin and the discovery of the #46 ...

http://www.americanhorologe.com/Pitkin.htm

If you have any interest in other important early American watches I definitely recommend checking out the other links on the page.

Fred

 

[Glyn Meredith]

Thank you, Jerry and Fred. I'd like to see these watches in clearer photos. With recent digital cameras and macro lenses, this is relatively easy.

I've had some private e-mails on this topic, so I'll tackle my agenda another way. Now I would like to consider this thread closed.

Thanks to all who contributed useful information in answer to my question.

 

[kirxklox]

Glyn: Receive this email as a referral;

Glyndwr Meredith wrote: From: "Glyndwr Meredith"
To: "'Mike Kenley'"
Subject: RE: Goddard and Pitkin
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:44:15 +0900

Mike,

Thanks for your reply.

My question on the board was very simple and the motivation for it equally simple. If I look around the Internet, I can find various pictures of these watches but I’m disappointed by the quality of the photos. I doubt I will ever get to hold one of these watches so the next best thing is to see them displayed through good photos on a site dedicated to Horological education. Now, there are plenty of those around, but the owners often have inflated egos, do not post quality photos, and I don’t feel like asking them to put up pictures of THEIR watches on the NAWCC message board. But that is exactly what I would like to see – good photos on the NAWCC board.

Now that the Internet is here to stay (I assume) … I think the NAWCC has to rise to the challenge and be a repository for such quality photos on the Internet. Sadly, I feel the board lacks some focus and leadership in this area. That is why I would like to ask an owner of a Goddard or Pitkin (for example) to consider working on a simple project to photograph their watch(es). It doesn’t take a multi-thousand dollar camera to get really good photos these days. I’m thinking of some close-up macro shots too – all the tiny details that you would see with the watch in hand and a loupe.

If you can understand and work with me on this, we could put up a really good show and get the NAWCC message board some worthwhile attention.

That’s about it.

Best regards, and thanks again for responding.

Glyn

P.S. Sam Kirk responded with a firm NO, when I asked if anyone “here” owned one of these watches. Some people think they know it all … LOL.

Sorry the information is unavailable!

 

[kirxklox]

When I first received this eMail, I was really angry. I have been working to this end for over 5 years now to make the NAWCC MB a better place and the NAWCC ORG Web Sites a 22nd century system.

I agree that Pictures and Decent write-ups about them would do wonders for the NAWCC MB. We can not force members to do so. We sure can not allude to them being Egotistical and Pompous, that is just simply not true. The members of Web Horology that are working on the American Pocket Watch Histories and those that are helping to write Editorials on Kirx Klox Special Projects are a credit to the Horological Community. They know that I am providing one of a kind programming that does not exist anywhere else on the Internet.

You can write your own ticket, but do not use me.

 

[Dave Chaplain]

If any members own a Patek Caliber 89, tourbillion, pre-1870 center and independent jump seconds, any Graves or Packard special made, spring detent, deck watch, 24-hour, or 1st year pendant wind and set - or a Fasoldt double escapement detent chronometer - or a Reed chronometer - or a Waltham 8-day - or a Potter tourbillion - or a Breguet tourbillion - a Mudge chronometer - or any number of other treasures:

then please put a screw driver to them, take them down, photograph at least the under dial pillar plate, esapement, escapement recess, banking method, case markings, etc., using macro photography and present them here in full color digital photos of at least 1600 x 1200 pixels, at 350 dpi, so I can satisfy my curiosity.

If you have one or more treasures, I wish to see them all here, pronto!

I'm waiting ...

Oh - I almost forgot - and thank you!

 

[dweiss17]

Other photos also exist of later serial numbers, looks like watch posted.

 

[Kevin W.]

Wow over 4 years since a last posting on this thread.