Rockford Watch Co.

The Rockford Watch Co. brought its first movements to the market in 1876. It lasted through reorganization and sale, closing up in 1915. Over that period, not quite a million movements were built.

Organization of the Rockford Watch Co. occurred in 1874. The factory, in Rockford, IL, was completed in 1876 with the first watches getting to the market later that year. At first, production was about ten watches per day. Selling directly to retailers, who had an exclusive in their locale, the company advertised heavily to railroaders and consequently enjoyed a large sale in that market.

Although successful at first, Rockford suffered difficulties starting at the beginning of the gay-nineties. In 1891 Rockford was forced to reduce wages in order to stay competitive with the larger watch companies. They were cutting wages and then reducing prices, although some companies held the line. The company had also been having problems with a new model, designed to fit a new standard case design that was coming on the market. By the end of the decade, reports of the problems appeared in the trade press.

Two of the principles of the Illinois Watch Case Co., J. Franks and M.C. Eppenstein, purchased the Rockford Watch Co. in 1901. The connection was discussed in the trade press:

"The Rockford Watch and the Illinois Watch Case factories will be operated jointly with respect to the output, but will remain separate plants so far as mechanical workings are concerned. ... The general offices of the Rockford Watch Co. in Chicago will be located at the Illinois Watch Case Co.'s salesrooms, ninth floor Silversmiths' building, and joint branch offices of the two companies established at all points where the case company now have representatives."
Jewelers' Circular - Weekly and Horological Review, May 22, 1901, page 24.

Click to expand...

Rockford watches had always been marketed to railroad men. In fact, an 1882 Rockford catalog was entitled Railroad Time Keepers (see References, below). In the early 1890s, the 18-size, 15-jewel, open-face grade No. 87 (and its hunting-case twin, grade No. 84) were being offered by a mail order retailer specifically for railroad service.

In its last years, 1913-1915, Rockford built wind indicator watches in both 16-size and 18-size. The lever-set, 21-jewel versions, grade No. 655 and No. 950 were built as a railroad watch, widely accepted for railroad time service. The 16-size, 17-jewel version, grade No. 665, being pendant-set and only adjusted to temperature, would not have passed railroad inspection. The 16-size Rockford Indicators were built first, followed by the 18-size.


By 1915 Rockford was out of business.

Online

Henry Burgell's Interactive Rockford Serial Number Lookup Table provides basic information about Rockford watches. Since some of these serial numbers are based upon a "recreated serial number list, there may be occasional errors.

A Review of the Rockford Watch Company And It’s Watches With Emphasis On Model Identification is a fine online article by Darrah G. Artzner.

NAWCC Message Board Encycopedia article entitled: "[main="Rockford's early high grade movements"]Rockford's early high grade movements[/main]"

An explanation of early 18-size Rockford models is contained in a Message Board Thread of that name, started by Greg Frauenhoff.

A comprehensive list of private label Rockford watches is available, thanks to John Fogarty.

D. Artzner's May 2010 presentation History of the Rockford Watch Company is available, thanks to NAWCC Chapter 139's Chapter Presentations And Educational Topics.

A brief history of the Rockford Watch Co. is available from oldwatch.com.

Movement descriptions, cuts and prices are shown on pages 5 and 6 of the 1896 A.C. Becken Jewelers' Wholesale Price List.

1906 Catalog The Name Rockford Designates A High Grade Watch, Rockford Watch Co., Rockford, IL.
The following scans are of photocopies made from a library copy of this booklet. Apologies are extended for the library's name not having been recorded.



1909-1910 Rockford Material Catalog entitled: Fully Illustrated, Serial Number Descriptive Guide of Movements, Grades and Parts, Identification Catalog (1909 - 1910 Edition), courtesy NAWCC Chapter 149.


Books
Books and back issues of the NAWCC Bulletin are available to members on loan by mail from the NAWCC Lending Library, using the Lending Library Form.

Rockford Watch Company Grade and Serial Numbers with Production Figures, Roy Ehrhardt, Heart of America Press, Kansas City, MO, 1976

American Pocket Watches Serial Number Grade Book, 1993 Prices, Roy Ehrhardt & William Meggers, Jr., Heart of America Press, Kansas City, MO, 1993, Pp 293-314 & 324.

Railroad Timekeepers (catalog), Rockford Watch Company, IL, 1892, reprinted by the American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol, CT

The Complete History of Watch Making in America - Reprinted from the Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review 1885-1887, Charles S. Crossman, Adams Brown Co., Exeter, NH, undated, but probably late 1980's, Pp 144-147.

The Watch Factories of America, Henry G. Abbott, Hazlitt & Co., Chicago, IL, 1888 (reprinted by Adams Brown Co. 1981), Pp 83-84.


Articles
Back issues of the NAWCC Bulletin are available online to NAWCC members who are currently logged in.

"Railroaders' Corner - The Marking of Rockford’s 18-Size Watches," Ed Ueberall and Kent Singer, NAWCC Bulletin No. 308 (June, 1997), Pp 347-350.

"Railroaders' Corner - Markings on Rockford 16-Size Watches," Ed Ueberall and Kent Singer, NAWCC Bulletin No. 315 (August, 1998), Pp 476-479.

"Railroaders' Corner - Wind Indicators, Part 3: Ball & Rockford," Ed Ueberall and Kent Singer, NAWCC Bulletin No. 373, April, 2008, Pp 181-188.