The Jaccard Companies

[Jim Haney]

Mermod & Jaccard & Co. "Railroad"

A grade 937 sold to them on 8-25-1900

 

[Jim Haney]

Jaccard's a grade 924 sold to them 7-18-1903

 

[jboger]

Illinois, Elgin, Hampden, Hamilton--these are the makers from which the various Jaccard firms acquired their movements. I did not see any Walthams.

I just bought two St. Louis Jaccards, a Hampden and an Elgin. Working on them now.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Illinois, Elgin, Hampden, Hamilton--these are the makers from which the various Jaccard firms acquired their movements. I did not see any Walthams.

I just bought two St. Louis Jaccards, a Hampden and an Elgin. Working on them now.

They also purchased mvts from Aurora, Rockford and a Swiss company or two.

Can you post pictures of yours?

 

[jboger]

I'll post pictures later. I may clean them up first.

Yes, I did see the Aurora and a Swiss movement, but missed the Rockford.

Where's Waldo?

 

[PatH]

Here are some Mermod, Jaccard & Co. trade cards - reverse first, then matching obverse in the same order. Note that the first reverse talks about their "Standard" and "Railroad" watches, both of which were available in key or stem wind models. The other two tout diamonds and opera glasses. Unfortunately these cards lost some of their verbiage when removed from a vintage album, so we can't see all of the details for the watches. Having said that, perhaps it would be reasonable to assume that the case weight for the Standard watches would be the same as for the Railroad?

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Hamilton 924 #166521 Made "Expressly for Jaccards Kansas City" on the movement and "Jaccard's" on the dial.

Finished 10/5/1901 and sold to Jaccard's 10/16/1901. Purchased as movement with dial and hands only. The sterling Dueber case was bought separately to house the movement. A bio of Walter Jaccard is attached.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

I did not see any Walthams.

Apparently there were some Waltham's sold by Mermod, Jaccard & Co., as evidenced by this earlier post - https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/the-jaccard-companies.149287/#post-1177480

 

[jboger]

I saw that. Only the dial. Would like to see a signed movement.

 

[jboger]

As per the request, here is one of two Jaccard St. Louis movements that I now have. This one is by Hampden. The other one is by Elgin and is currently being re-assembled. But I did find some interesting marks on the underside of the Elgin balance cock and top plate, which see. photo.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Hey Jboger

I'm dying to know if that is actually 13 jewels. Can you confirm? Hampden didn't have a regular 13 jewel grade.

 

[jboger]

Rick:

It is indeed 13 jewels. I thought the plate was engraved for 15 and did not do a jewel count until I read your post. Thirteen it is; neither the 3rd nor the 4th wheel has a lower jewel. The escape wheel and lever are both jeweled top and bottom. Center wheel not jeweled at all.

I will take a photo sans dial later.

John

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

Thanks John! Great to finally get some insight into these.

 

[jboger]

More photos. Here's the Elgin. Wasn't running when I got it, just gummied works.

And a photo of the Hampden with the dial removed. No bottom-plate jeweling on the 3rd and 4th wheels, as shown.

John

 

[4thdimension]

I’ve had this a while. Too much wrong to be worthy of repairs at this point. #2382502 is an 11j 12size signed Mermod, Jaccard& King.-Cort

 

[4thdimension]

And a trade card.-Cort

 

[G. Shepherd]

Just wondering if someone could give me any information about this movement, it's been handed down for quite a few years through my wifes family, it's not marked how many jewels, I haven't been able to find anything about a Standard watch co. In St Louis, so did Mermod, Jaccard & Co have a standard movement and a railroad movement

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

The movement was made by Hampden. Back in those days, the word 'Standard' had a high connotation. In reality, this is a mid-range movement with, I believe, 11 jewels.

 

[Rick Hufnagel]

so did Mermod, Jaccard & Co have a standard movement and a railroad movement

Mermod Jaccard made up their own grade names. They purchased movements from Hampden (and other companies) and had them engraved with their own marketing scheme. At the time your watch was made (1882ish) these made up their grading scale.

18s mens
"Standard" - 11 jewel gilt finish

"Goodman King" - 13 jewel, gilt finish

"MJ&Co Railroad Watch". - 15 jewel nickel finish

"D.C. Jaccard" - 15 jewels nickel and adjusted to temperature

"Mermod Jaccard & Co." 15 jewels nickel adjusted to temperature and position

There were also grades made up for the ladies watches. The grades evolved over time, example is the "Goodman King" was upgraded to 15 jewels and nickel sometime in the mid 1880s.

Great watch, thanks for sharing it!

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

A new sighting:

Aurora, 18s, 11j, gilt, htg, "Jaccard Standard, Kansas City, Mo.", SS/"Jaccard Watch Co., Kansas City, Mo."

 

[mikeh]

Here's one from a Royal grade run, but it looks to have a little nicer finish.

 

[Jim Haney]

The Jaccard Companies were a Major Factor in the US watch industry. As can be see in some of the examples posted in this thread, they were jobbers for most of the watch companies and also European watches. The main purpose of this was self promotion and and that resulted with increase sales and they were good at it .

This Thread is on Hamilton 11 jewels watches.Now because of the scarcity of them they are very expensive watches, however when Mermod & Jaccard were ordering them it was because they got a good Quality watch at a discounted price..
They were a Major retailer very big in Flatware, Silver and all the accessories They owned the largest retail building in St. Louis,

I think it has been mentioned that Constant was Jaccard's middle name.....

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/hamilton-11-jewel-info-and-examples.109767/

 

[Jerry Treiman]

Here's one from a Royal grade run, but it looks to have a little nicer finish.

I agree, Mike. The gold jewel settings, gold balance screws and damaskeening all look like Riverside grade finish to me. The Royal just had brass or composition settings. Does yours have a double-roller escapement? That is another feature that started appearing on the Riverside grade, but not lower grades.

Neat watch!

 

[mikeh]

Does yours have a double-roller escapement?

Thanks Jerry, it sure does.

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

15135 - Hamilton 939 for Mermod, Jaccard & Co.

 

[4thdimension]

Rockford #388835 has seen much better days. Grade 89, ca. 1881 once had fifteen jewels (3rd wheel jewel on top plate replaced with a bushing). -Cort

 

[tdoyle]

This watch was purchased by my great-great grandfather, Emanuel Schottlaender of St. Louis. Case: Mermod Jaccard & Co., No 68716. Movement: C. F. Mathey, St. Louis Mo, SN No 7532. I believe the watch must date from 1873 to 1883, as Mermod Jaccard dropped the “& Co” in 1883. As Emanuel arrived in St. Louis in 1883, he must have purchased the watch about 1883-1885. Does anyone have any other comments or details about this watch? As I am unaware of any maintenance ever having been performed, I am trying to find a reputable location to have this serviced, or potentially learning to do it myself. It does not currently run, and there is no glass covering.

 

[John Cote]

15135 - Hamilton 939 for Mermod, Jaccard & Co.

My mouth is so wide open at this watch that it's interfering with with my brain's ability to form the words I need to tell you how much I like it. I guess WOW will have to be enough.

 

[Kent]

Here's one that I don't think I've posted before

 

[John Cote]

Very nice Kent and good to see you posting it. Is this an Agassiz?

 

[Bryan Eyring]

My mouth is so wide open at this watch that it's interfering with with my brain's ability to form the words I need to tell you how much I like it. I guess WOW will have to be enough.

Guess you shouldn't have missed the National!

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

There are rumors of an 18s "15 Ruby Jewels" Aurora for Mermod, Jaccard & Co., but I've never seen one. Has any here seen such?

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Here's an Elgin variant that I can't recall having seen before:

 

[PatH]

Here's an Elgin variant that I can't recall having seen before:

View attachment 720530

Very interesting, Greg. There was a key wind watch marked M.J & Co's Railroad Watch in post #41.

I have another one to add here. It is a Mermod Jaccard & Co. it says that on the dial but on the movement, it says M J & Co's Railroad. This one is actually in the catalog I have because it is a keywind. I had the stem wind version already.

Steve

I wonder how these play into the 1882 Mermod grade names that Rick Hufnagel mentions in post #69, quoted below.

Mermod Jaccard made up their own grade names. They purchased movements from Hampden (and other companies) and had them engraved with their own marketing scheme. At the time your watch was made (1882ish) these made up their grading scale.

18s mens
"Standard" - 11 jewel gilt finish

"Goodman King" - 13 jewel, gilt finish

"MJ&Co Railroad Watch". - 15 jewel nickel finish

"D.C. Jaccard" - 15 jewels nickel and adjusted to temperature

"Mermod Jaccard & Co." 15 jewels nickel adjusted to temperature and position

There were also grades made up for the ladies watches. The grades evolved over time, example is the "Goodman King" was upgraded to 15 jewels and nickel sometime in the mid 1880s.

Great watch, thanks for sharing it!

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Pat,

FWIW, I've seen a number of Hampdens with the M. J. & Co. Railroad Watch marking but this is the only such Elgin (for me).

Anyway, it was a neat find.

Greg

 

[PatH]

I think it's neat, too!! Does it have a marked dial?

 

[Jim Haney]

This is a early Hampden Serial # 192080. That serial number is Listed in the Blue Hampden Watch Co. book notated Mermod & Jaccard 15 Jewels. It is Hunter Movement in an OF case.

The dial says Mermod,Jaccard & Co. The nice nickel movement is marked D.C. Jaccard,
St. Louis, Mo..

It has a damaskeen pattern in the plate of a spiral and when moved in the light it appears to unwind. Too cool.

 

[Greg Frauenhoff]

I think it's neat, too!! Does it have a marked dial?

Yes, the dial is signed Mermod Jaccard & Co., St. Louis.

 

[PatH]

It has a damaskeen pattern in the plate of a spiral and when moved in the light it appears to unwind. Too cool.

Definitely cool! Have you seen that damaskeen pattern on any other movements, or could it be specific to M & J?

 

[Jim Haney]

Pat,
I believe that I have seen several similar to that when moved in the light that it appears that the circle moves outwards but I can not recall exactly the watches involved.....

 

[John Hinkey]

I was told this this movement I just picked up might be of interest to this thread:

It appears to be an Agassiz movement - I'm pretty fond of Swiss movements and Agassiz in particular due to their plate designs. Just need to find a stem for it . . .

- John

 

[Kent]

I just came across these two items:

 

[John Cote]

Here is an MJ&K Bankers St Louis 16s A. Lincoln grade.

 

[musicguy]

Here is an Elgin 12-size 23-jewel grade 190. The movement and dial are marked "Mermod, Jaccard & Co. / Superior / St. Louis". The case is stamped "Mermod, Jaccard & King Jewelry Co. / St. Louis -- New York"

View attachment 459156 View attachment 459158 View attachment 459159

can you repost these photos.

Rob

 

[Jerry Treiman]

The pictures are still there in my attachments but I don't know how to re-link them, so here they are, re-posted -

 

[Rhett Lucke]

Recently picked up a Hamilton 927 with the Paragon TimeKeeper markings on the dial and movement.

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

Illinois 18-size, model 2, grade 100 for G. O. Jaccard of Kansas City.

 

[4thdimension]

An Elgin/Jaccard from this morning’s mart (also posted in the Elgin PL section).-Cort