I purchased the wristwatch from a thirft store. The watch is a square face mens watch with leather straps that states Waltham on the front. I removed the back of the case, and it says the following: France, unadjusted, 7 jewels, Waltham Watch co. (There are no serial numbers.) Back casing states 'base metal bezel, steel back. Brief history of the American Waltham Watch Company including serial number look-up tables for production dates. Describes the evolution of the American Waltham Watch Company from its founding in 1851 until its closure in 1957. Don’t touch the movement with your fingers. At or near the edge of the movement will be a serial number. Digits in the serial number will range from two to eight depending on the year of production. For example, 1856-1857 Waltham pocket watches will have a serial number between 4000 and 6000. So to determine when your watch was manufactured, you will need to find where your serial number fits within the range of numbers. Serial number look-up example: Let's say you have a Waltham watch with serial number 21,607,210 as shown in the photo below. Introduction to Waltham Serial Numbers The Find Serial tab requests a serial number and displays the detailed information about that number on the same page. The Search tab provides a general search based on the value or values you enter in the fields. When you submit the query, the results are displayed on the Production tab. Some years ago I inherited my great grandmothers lady double hunter pocket watch and I am now trying to get some kind of Idea of its value before I sell it. 17139468 lady Waltham movement serial number with Arabic numeral face in crescent watch co 25 year warranty case.watch is very clean, runs and keeps time perfectly.
Including Waltham Watch Serial Numbers and Production DatesWaltham, Massachusetts1850 - 1957
The American Waltham watch factory on the banks of the Charles River
The American Waltham Watch Company had its beginnings in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The company was founded by David Davis, Aaron Dennison, and Edward Howard. Their vision was to form a watch company that could produce high-quality watches at a lower cost using interchangeable parts. With financial backing from Samuel Curtis, of small-arms manufacturing fame, the watch production began in 1851, and the first small group of watches were finished in late 1852. The first watches produced went to officials of the company, and it was not until 1853 that the first watches were offered for sale to the public.
Problems were encountered with the new production methods. The company was exploring innovative new ideas in watch manufacturing, such as using jewels, making enamel dials, and producing plates with a high-level of finish which required extensive tooling and resulted in a great financial burden. They also found that even though they were using interchangeable parts, each watch was still unique and had its own set of errors to be corrected. It took months to adjust the watches to the point where they were any better than other widely available timepieces.
In 1853, the factory building was completed and the company began doing business under the name 'American Horologe Company.' The name was changed to 'Boston Watch Company' in September 1853, and the factory in Waltham, Massachusetts was built in October 1854. The movements produced here (serial numbers 1001 - 5000) were signed 'Dennison, Howard,& Davis,' 'C. T. Parker,' and 'P. S. Bartlett.'
The company went through a series of financial reorganizations and renamings over the next decades. The Boston Watch Company failed in 1857 and was sold at auction to Royal E. Robbins. It was reorganized as 'Tracy, Baker & Co.' and later that same year the name was again changed to 'Appleton, Tracy & Co' and watches 5001 - 14,000 were produced. The first movements carried the Appleton, Tracy & Co. marking. The C. T. Parker movement was reintroduced as the model 1857 and sold for $12, no small amount in those days!
Waltham During the Civil War Years
In January, 1859 the Waltham Improvement Co. and the Appleton, Tracy & Co. merged to form the 'American Watch Company.'
The dial department of the Waltham Watch factory.
In 1860, as Abraham Lincoln was elected President and the country found itself in the throes of the Civil War, the American Watch Company was faced with serious financial problems. By 1861, business had come to a standstill and bankruptcy seemed inevitable. The factory was kept in operation through these years by cutting expenses to the lowest possible level.. a strategy that proved successful.
According to the biography by Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln owned and carried a Waltham 'Wm. Ellery' watch. The watch was an 11-jewel, 18 size, key-wind in a silver hunter case, and was produced in January of 1863.
In 1885, the company became the 'American Waltham Watch Company'. In 1865 prices for movements only (no case) were: William Ellery $13, P. S. Bartlett $16, Bartlett-Ladies $30, Appleton Tracy $38, A. T. & Co Ladies $40, and American Watch Grade $175!
In 1906 the company was renamed the 'Waltham Watch Company'. In 1923, they became the 'Waltham Watch and Clock Company' reflecting the new importance of clock manufacturing, but then in 1925 the name was changed back to 'Waltham Watch Company'.
American Horology owes much to the brilliant visionaries of the Waltham Watch Company. Bacon, Church, Dennison, Fogg, Howard, Marsh, Webster, and Woerd all contributed greatly to American watchmaking.
Waltham continued to manufacture watches (and clocks) until 1957, when they ceased production and became the Waltham Precision Instrument Company. The rights to the name 'Waltham Watch Company' were sold to the Hallmark Watch Company of Chicago, Illinois who continued to sell imported watches using the Waltham name. Several of the original Waltham factory buildings are still standing, and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Waltham Named Grades
In addition to using grade numbers, Waltham also used many grade names on their watches, often choosing the names of Board members, company investors, or other prominent individuals. The grade name basically designates the model and/or level of finish of the watch. Some of the more popular Waltham named grades were:
P. S. Bartlett, Appleton Tracy & Co., William Ellery, Crescent Street, Colonial, Riverside, Central Park, Broadway, Royal E. Robbins, Vanguard, Bond Street, Sterling, Premier, Royal, and Maximus.
Modern Waltham Watches
It is still possible to purchase modern quartz watches that bear the Waltham name, but these watches are unrelated to the 'genuine' American Waltham Watch Company. In fact, a 1961 ruling by the Federal Trade Commission prohibited any inference that a relationship to the original Waltham Watch Company exists.
The bustling traffic outside the Waltham Watch factory at noon
American Waltham Watch Company
Total Production: Approx. 35 Million Watches
Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch. Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Can’t find your serial number in the table? Click here for an explanation and example of how to use our serial number tables.
Need help finding the serial number on your watch? Click here for instructions on how to identify and open most common case types.
At Renaissance Watch Repair, we are experts in the repair and restoration of antique watches made by the American Waltham Watch Company. Portrait professional studio 10 download free crack & key. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair of your vintage Waltham watch.
The Waltham Watch Company, which was based in Waltham, Mass., produced pocket and wrist watches between 1850 and 1957. Today, Waltham watches remain highly desirable collectible timepieces. Dating a Waltham is an easy task. The watchmaker kept thorough records of its products. Waltham etched a serial number on every watch movement along with its name and trademark. Unlike other watchmakers, Waltham went the extra step by usually identifying the model of the watch on the movement as well. This information can be used to find the year that the watch was made.
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Use a flat blunt blade to pry open the snap case back of a Waltham wrist watch. A lip or notch on the case back can be found at the 6 or 12 o’clock position. If there is no lip, carefully wedge the blade into the seam and lift. The case should pop open.
Carefully examine the case back of a Waltham pocket watch. Pocket watch case backs vary in design and require different methods to open. For hinge back and bezel cases, examine the case back with a jeweler’s loupe or the naked eye for two small hinges on the case back. The hinges are usually at the 6 o’clock position. Pry the case at the opposite end of the case back first with a fingernail. If that doesn’t work use the flat blunt blade. The case should snap open. Hunting cases feature front and back covers. Press down on the crown and a tiny hatch will release the cover.
Use a jeweler’s loupe to examine the movement. Don’t touch the movement with your fingers. At or near the edge of the movement will be a serial number. Digits in the serial number will range from two to eight depending on the year of production. For example, 1856-1857 Waltham pocket watches will have a serial number between 4000 and 6000. A 1957 Waltham watch will have a serial number of 35,000,000 or greater, according to oldwatch.com. Record the serial number from the movement.
Use the jeweler’s loupe to note the “American Watch Co. Waltham”, “AWCO Waltham” or similar trademark. Note the number of jewels etched on the movement. Note and record the model name, such as “Riverside” or another model name on the movement.
Waltham Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup
Obtain a Waltham serial number list from the numerous online pocket watch sources or from an experienced watchmaker with an expertise in vintage watch identification and repair. The list will provide the year of production, but not the exact date.
TipPocket Watch Serial Number Lookup
Ignore the inside case back serial number. It provides no information. The inside case back should have the gold content embossed, such as 18k or lesser grade.
WarningAmerican Waltham Pocket Watch Identifica…
Never force open anything on a vintage pocket or wrist watch. If the case back doesn’t open, have a professional watchmaker open it for you.
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