Woerd's Patent What???

[Barry G]

I was shown a picture of a 14 size Waltham, Model #1874, that had the words "Woerd's Patent" engraved beneath the balance wheel. I'm assuming that this does NOT refer to the rare Woerd's Sawtooth Compensating Balance, but I don't know what other patent it could refer to.

Any ideas?

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection

 

[Barry G]

I was shown a picture of a 14 size Waltham, Model #1874, that had the words "Woerd's Patent" engraved beneath the balance wheel. I'm assuming that this does NOT refer to the rare Woerd's Sawtooth Compensating Balance, but I don't know what other patent it could refer to.

Any ideas?

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection

 

[doug sinclair]

Barry,

In Michael Harrold's book American Watchmaking, a Technical History, (p 88), he describes how (Vander) Woerd introduced improvements in the tempering of steel hairsprings. Could that be the patent you refer to?

Regards,
Doug S.

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[Tom McIntyre]

The patent marked under the balance is the escapement patent. Vander Woerd patented a square roller jewel and claw shaped impulse slot in the fork. I am not at home, so I can't look up the claims for that configuration. It was his personal patent, not assigned to Waltham and he continued to use it, when he left for the U. S. Watch Co. of Waltham, on their "dome" model.

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

 

[Rick White]

Barry,It could be patent #101,398 "Mainspring Letdown Pawl" patent date March 29,1870

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Rick White

 

[Barry G]

Thanks for the responses. I don't have a copy of the picture I was shown, but the patent marking looked like the one on this high grade example from Tom's collection:

http://www.awco.org/AWCo/American/CVW72HC/MvtClose.jpg

Of course, Tom's watch is also marked "Woerd's Compensating Balance" on the balance bridge...

Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection



[This message has been edited by Barry G (edited 02-27-2002).]

 

[Tom McIntyre]

Far be it from me to claim authority with the Maven so near by, :biggrin: but you can take it to the bank that the marking is for the escapement as I said above.

Tom

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

 

[Barry G]

Thank you again, Tom. The person who sent me the picture was told by a jeweler that the watch originally had Woerd's famous "sawtooth" compensating balance [thereby making it a rare and valuable watch], but that the balance must have been replaced at some time [thereby reducing the value of the watch]. I told him that the GOOD news was that the balance likely wasn't replaced after all...



Barry

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My Online Pocket Watch Collection



[This message has been edited by Barry G (edited 02-27-2002).]

 

[Rick White]

What!!??, You don't think my obscure patent is the one being referred to. If the JOAT man says take it to the bank I wouldn't believe me either. LOL There is a picture of the Woerd's let down pawl patent watch in M&E's American Price Guide tho

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Rick White

 

[Tom McIntyre]

Rick, I think the 1870 patent pawl is the one found on the barrel bridge of the full plate watches like this one.

View attachment 3297

You can click on the picture for a larger view.

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web