Two "Patrician" watches

Here are two beautiful Waltham watches that I recently added to my collection. Both of these were cased and distributed by H.W. Matalene, an obscure casemaker who worked exclusively for Waltham (and who is my primary research focus). Both have Waltham movements marked "Patrician". This private label name belonged to Matalene and these movements were made for him in several grades and sizes.


The pendant watch was probably made around 1911 while Matalene was still in New York. It has a mid-grade 6/0 movement with a gilt train and composition settings. The hinged bezel of this watch must be opened to release the crown/pendant for setting (one of Matalene's many patents).





The wristwatch was made in 1922, during Matalene's tenure in Newark, NJ. It has a 9-ligne top-grade movement with a gold train and gold settings. Note the attention to detail on the solid case lugs.

 

Thanks for bringing up that issue, Kent. Matalene claimed a trademark for the "Patrician" name in his unique font and layout but as far as I could tell he never actually registered the trademark for protection purposes. In this photo you can see his trademark (from company letterhead) and how it appeared on his movements. He used this mark as early as 1911 and all through the 'teens.



As you have observed, Forsinger's mark used a different font. My sources show his trademark was issued in February 1923 (perhaps not in any conflict with your registration date of 1922). Forsinger is listed as late as 1927 (The Jewelers' Index, 4th edition) as a wholesaler. I infer that he was the distributor of Patrician-marked watches made by the Illinois Watch Co. Perhaps due to the font difference, or perhaps because Matalene was lax, the trademark usage does not appear to have been contested.