The waltham pocket watch is equally celebrated and is part of the companys history from its very beginning. This is an 18 size waltham movement and it is a stem wind and stem set model 1883. New listing vintage antique american waltham watch co coin silver railroad pocket watch 33. Check out kevin zavians appraisal of a 1926 waltham railroad pocket watch from roadshows 2007 visit to spokane. The company was founded by david davis, aaron dennison, and edward howard. Waltham ladys multi color vintage pocket watch sold out.
Welcome to the nawcc american pocket watch message board. This had the combined effects of increasing productivity and lowering the prices of waltham s. Was made in 1927, just before hamilton bought illinois. In my opinion, from the late 1850s until just after wwii, the american watch industry produced more and probably better portable timekeeping machines than the rest of the world combined.
Excellent waltham 23 jewel vangard railroad grade 16 size pocket watch. In 1857 the american watch company in waltham, massachusetts. How to identify a waltham pocket watch our pastimes. How to value a pocket watch 7 simple rules to follow medium. Waltham ball official rr standard sn b 263497 in its stirrup bow case is also highly recognizable as a railroad watch. American waltham pocket watches ashtonblakey vintage. The great north american railroad watch became an institution after a fatal crash in 1891, which was. Although there are exceptions, most american pocket watches, and swiss pocket watches made for the north american market, are sized to even numbers with the most common being 0, 6, 12, 16 and 18.
How to determine value of waltham watches lovetoknow. You may have a rare early lecoultre, longines, waltham or omega military pocket watch, which are much. Nov 16, 2015 antique elaborate 1890 american waltham watch co. The first american pocket watches with machine made parts were manufactured. A westclox pocket ben from prob sometime in the 50s or60s. The american waltham watch company had its beginnings in 1850 in roxbury, massachusetts. Waltham pocket watch or railroad watch with serial. These materials can vary, and that will affect the waltham pocket watch value. What is the value of a 1908 waltham railroad pocket watch.
The american waltham pocket watch is noted among collectors for their intrinsic beauty, high quality, unique designs, and for being made in america from 1850 to 1957 when they moved to switzerland. Organized by three associates in the mid19th century, the waltham watch company experienced a cloaked early history, as its founders did not want their design innovations to. The watch has a stemwinding movement, grade 642, which is working nicely. This illinois hunter case pocket watch was special for a railroad company. Raymond sn k 696370 is in a classic teardrop model 3055 case. The railroad industry produced a set of operating specifications for the watchmakers to follow. Do you often wonder what the actual value of antique pocket watches is. Diamond luxurman watches bring you the best value for your money. Get the best deals on waltham antique pocket watches when you shop. American watch manufacturers would offer only their highest grade watches for railroad service, but it is more than just accuracy that has made the american railroad watch so desirable today.
Antique 16 size 21 jewel railroad pocket watch waltham 645. Depending on the condition of the watch, an american waltham pocket watch from 1877 can bring anywhere from 300 dollars to over 2,000. They had the then revolutionary idea of producing large quantities of waltham pocket watches by using machinery set up to mass produce parts in order to make watches more easily affordable than they. Some of the technical specifications for railroad watches mandated that each watch have. Waltham open face pocket watch, model 1891, grade no. Railroad watches such as this are renowned for their accuracy, as standardized and precise timekeeping was integral to the smooth operation of the railroad system. Printable wall art, vintage map old americas instant download. In the beginning of 2003, a few waltham collectors, including tom mcintyre and myself began development of the waltham database. Finding the value of a waltham or any collectible watch needs to take into account many factors.
The perfected american watch, american waltham watch company, waltham mass. Waltham in 1849 aaron lufkin dennison, edward howard and david davis formed a company with a plan to develop machinery that could mass produce. Like any other collectors items, the oldest and rarest pieces are the most valuable, so it is important to know as much information as you can about a watch before buying or selling it. Checking the references listed in the waltham watches encyclopedia article and to be confirmed upon seeing pictures, waltham movement serial number 8465514 can be seen to be as richiec posted an 18size, model 1883, grade no. You can find many waltham pocket watches for sale on ebay. It was marked by the store as being a railroad watch, and the case did have a copper, or brass, inlay of an early steam engine on the back.
Greetings, listmates, recently, while in a small antique store, i saw a waltham pocket watch. Shop our extensive collection of unique and original waltham vintage pocket watches. Waltham pocket watches have been around for more than 150 years and are a collectors item. American watch company american waltham watch company waltham watch company waltham, massachusetts. Heres an up to date reference of pocket watch prices taken from sales on ebay that will help you to research real time prices this page will eventually grow to be quite long, so rather than rearange everything into pocket watch makes, heres a handy search tool for this page only. Waltham watch company was the first watchmaker to massproduce watch movements on an assembly line.
Bringing together precision timekeeping with stunning artistry, this pocket watch by the american waltham watch company is a remarkable work of horological craftsmanship. Remember, the serial number being referred to is the serial number on the movement i. What should a wristwatch nerd know about american pocket watches and the industry that made them. What is value of chicago railroad pocket watch serial. Discover fantastic waltham pocket watches on chrono24 the worldwide marketplace for luxury watches. The movement is fully signed and the serial number 22,098,427 dates it back to 1918. Of course, the only way to know the true value is to take your waltham watch to a professional watch valuer or a waltham pocket watch expert. These account for the vast majority of american made watches.
How to value a pocket watch is not hard you just follow some. Many of the major pocket watchmakers, including elgin, waltham, illinois and hamilton, began making railroad pocket watches that met the railroad specs. The american economy is imploding and america is, too. With financial backing from samuel curtis, of smallarms. To add to the good information that richiec posted. Pocket watch information custom engraved swiss pocket. The story of the waltham watch, with retail selling prices, waltham watch coompany, waltham mass. Novice collectors typically think of all large pocket watches as railroad watches but in truth, only the best of the american production conformed to the continually evolving railroad. They were made between 1851 and 1957 in waltham, massachusetts. Find great deals on ebay for american waltham pocket watch and american waltham pocket watch 14k.
Following the great train disaster in america in 1891 the tragedy occurred due to a faulty timepiece, waltham and a. Celebrate immigrant traditions woven into american culture. Their vision was to form a watch company that could produce highquality watches at a lower cost using interchangeable parts. Railroad grade vintage mens waltham pocket watches in this section, you will find a nice selection of vintage railroad grade waltham or the earlier american waltham watch co. My other gem is an 1885 american waltham, much larger than the illinois. How to value your waltham pocket watch flux magazine. Railroad pocket watches o gauge railroading on line forum. The american railroad pocket watch renaissance watch repair. Make offer model 1908 cresent 16s waltham 21j railroad pocket watch 14k wadsworth gf case. Waltham pocket watches are popular with antique collectors and retailers who specialize in watches. Get the best deals on waltham antique pocket watches when you shop the largest online selection at.
Here you will find our selection of vintage and antique mechanical pocketwatches for sale, including exceptional manufacturers such as waltham, hamilton, elgin, illinois, and more. Waltham open face antique pocket watches for sale ebay. In fact this grade was produced in low numbers with just 3000 being produced in total, and all during 1918. See todays waltham pocket watches for sale, best offer and auction. I want to give good service to a client who brought this in, but dont have any background in vintage pocket watches. What is the value of your waltham pocket watch answers. A pocket watch or pocketwatch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed. Model 1908 cresent 16s waltham 21j railroad pocket watch 14k wadsworth gf case.
Railroad grade vintage mens waltham pocket watches. The waltham watch company, also known as the american watch company, made over 40 million watches, clocks and other precision implements between the years of 1850 and 1957. Thus, the american railroad pocket watch was born, and each watch was a masterpiece of precision engineering, durability, and accuracy. Info, specs, and value american antique pocket watches, with serial number lookups for manufacturers such as elgin, illinois, waltham, and hamilton.
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