We get more Elgin pocket watches than almost any other company's production, due to our proximity to the Elgin area (a suburb of Chicago) and we are delighted that this is so because, Elgin was a wonderful company that made a really nice watch. The plus side for you, today, is that we have also purchased a large stock of Elgin parts, over the years we have been in business (over 45!) and we can fix anything they made, with all original parts. This watch contains a 15 jewel, three-quarter plate, nickel movement housed in a yellow gold-filled 16 size hunting case measuring 47mm in diameter, by 41mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow, by 8mm thick. The watch has been lovingly cared for since 1910 and our head watchmaker tells me that he thinks it is good for another 100 years, if you take good care of it. The porcelain dial is very nice and it sports black Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Notice the seconds bit at the six o'clock position and how nice the engraving is on the case lid and back. The cartouche has the original owner's initials engraved in a very fancy script that appears as an integral design of the watch. It is a very nice hunter that can be yours. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to enjoy it worry-free!
Waltham was a wonderful and prolific watch manufacturer located in Waltham, Ma. and they were in business from 1851 to 1957, in various iterations. Their earlier efforts, circa 1850, in Roxbury, MA, resulted in the Howard, Dennison & Davis moniker later changed to Boston Watch Company, then Appleton, Tracey, & Co., the American Watch Co., and finally the Waltham Watch Company. They were one of the giants of the industry and second largest only to Elgin. This Waltham is a 21 Jewel, "Crescent Street", adjusted to temperature and 5 positions. It is a lever-set, yellow gold-filled case, double sunk porcelain dial (with bold Arabic numerals), railroad watch that measures 51mm in diameter, by 62mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow, by 18mm thick (including the crystal). It is a screw back, screw bezel case and the hands are bold blued steel. There is a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position that also has a blued steel hand. It sports strong shoulders surrounding the crown and a non-pull-out bow. What a nice 16 size railroad pocket watch! It is running well within railroad standards, just as it should, and the engraved bezels (front and back) give it a handsome look. There is minor brassing on the case back high points but it does not detract. This may be the one for you. If so, give us a call. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
The Rockford Watch company held forth from 1873 until 1915, a fairly short time in the history of watch factories, but they really made their mark due to their quality pocket watches. They only made 1,000,000 watches over that time period. So, there are not many about, today. The factory started with machinery that they purchased from the Cornell Watch Company and, at their zenith, employed about 400 workers. There is a contemporary account of production being about 70 watches a day with a sidebar saying that they were behind in their orders. By 1888, they had increased production to 150 per day and by 1901 they were re-organized with plans for increased production, but there were many impediments in the way. On September 26th, 1903, their 100 foot tall brick chimney was struck by lightening damaging a 40 foot section and causing a ton of bricks to fall and break out the windows on the north side of the building, were light was admitted for the benefit of those workers who were assembling watches. A Miss Carrie Hensel, who was an employee of the train department, "was taken home in serious condition on the verge of nervous prostration." A machinist by the name of Mr. Braconian said "his apron was torn off during the excitement" and that "he was stunned for a short time." By 1915, it was all over. The downturn in the watch market contributed to their demise, as did many other factors, but while they were in business they were a well-respected company who made great watches.
This particular Rockford is an 18 size, circa 1880, 11 jewel, coin silver, sidewinder, which is in a 59mm diameter case that is 23mm thick (including the crystal) and is 84mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow. It is massive... what one of the old-timers would call a real "turnip." Our master watchmaker has it performing just as it did way back when... a testament to their engineering. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
Novelty watches were in great favor because they only cost a few dollars and they were quite reliable for the price point. We here at Father Time Antiques have seen hundreds of them over the years but, this is the first one we have had with such an interesting dial. The entire dial is a golf ball that is branded "U.S. Royal". The nickel plated case measures 48mm in diameter by 58mm with the crown and bow, by 15mm thick (including the crystal). It was made in Bristol, CT by the Ingraham Company who made their fortune by producing reliable and inexpensive wristwatches, pocket watches, and clocks. It is running, winding, and setting great. The only thing you can fault is that someone in its past life tried to polish the case back and, in the photo you can see, they took off the nickel plating (down to the brass) by doing so. Everything else is fine. For the price point, you can't beat it. Fully restored and warrantied, for one year, for parts and labor!
Gruen watches are top quality and this one is a cut above many of their other watches. Its unusual appearance is due to two factors. The slender profile and rose-colored dial combine to give a unique, Art Deco look to an easy-to-carry timepiece. It is also very thin for its era and, because of this, is classified as an "Opera Watch". This designation signified that it was easy to carry in a tuxedo vest while in attendance at the opera. It is a 15 jewel, Caliber 381 thoroughbred movement in a yellow gold-filled case with stylized gold hands and a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position. The case measures 39mm in diameter by 51mm from the bottom of the case to the top of the bow by 8.5mm thick. It also sports an oblong bow and a great, original dial with gold applied numerals, circa 1939. This Gruen is very unusual and scarce and it can be yours. Fully restored and warrantied. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
This is one of the "Art Deco" 17 jewel, open face Howards that was made circa 1924. It has an original box and papers that are from the era but, do not exactly match the serial number. My guess is that there were two watches purchased and the boxes got switched at some time in the past because the serial numbers are so close. Nevertheless, it is an original box with original papers. It is a 12 size (measuring 46mm in width by 59mm from the case bottom to the top of the bow), white gold filled, "Extra" case (the thickest gold filled case made) and the case condition is wonderful. Our head watchmaker has it winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did 100 years ago!
What really makes it sing, however, is the "Art Deco" silvered dial. It is just a thing of beauty that is doubly accented by the pierced, blued steel hands, the engraved pendant, the stylized numerals, and the unusual bow shape. This fabulous case contains a Series Seven that is in pristine condition. Howard has a sterling reputation for quality and this watch is no exception. We warranty all of our timepieces for one year, for parts and labor, so that you may buy with confidence. It can be yours.
Howard was the Rolls Royce of American pocket watches at the end of the 1800s and they were the standard by which all other companies were measured. The Boston based E. Howard & Co. introduced the first "quick beat" train to American watchmaking and were also the first company to produce, and market, a stem winding watch in the U.S. as well as the first to adjust timing to all 6 positions. Yes, they were an amazing company who led the American pocket watch onslaught with great panache. By 1902, Howard was purchased by the Keystone Watch Case Company and they carried on the great Howard tradition. Their watches were marked "E. Howard Watch Co. Boston U.S.A." All their watches were cased and timed at the factory and came as complete watches only, unlike the earlier Howard company who contracted with as many as 23 different companies to fabricate cases for them. The production was terminated in 1930 after having made only about 650,000 complete watches. If you compare this total with Elgin, who made roughly 55,000,000 over 100 years of production time, you can see why the Howard watch is scarce today. This particular Howard is as nice as they get for a twelve size, open face Series Seven, 17 jewel. It sports Breguet style, blued steel, "Lunette" hands (including the second hand), Roman numerals, a porcelain dial, and a wonderfully simple, plain polish case that was the thickest gold-filled case made. The "Extra" designation that you can see on the interior of the case back lets the user know that it is guaranteed to wear permanently. Gold filled cases were rated in terms of years of wear provided. This is a yellow gold filled case that is real classic. Normally, one can see the year designations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years inscribed on the case but, rarely the term "Extra" which meant it was the thickest amount of gold that could be used while still having the more rigid base metal on the interior of the case. Very, very few of these cases were made, since it was a very costly proposition to produce one. Add to all of this the fact that the case is a "book style, swing-out" case in fantastic condition. We think that this watch was rarely used over its lifetime and you only have to look at the tiny, beaded rim on the case covers to see what we mean. The beading is still beautiful in its simplicity. This may be your chance to own a Howard that is easy to carry in modern clothing, stunning in its appearance, and in fantastic running condition. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
There were many Swiss pocket watches made but very few that had the good looks of this Coventry Sterling Silver, open face, key-wind and key-set gentleman's watch. It was made circa 1887 and it is still in fantastic condition. Maybe it was only used for special occasions or it was simply lovingly cared for. What ever the reason, it is all the better for us today. The sterling silver case measures 50mm in diameter, by 18mm thick and it looks great. The hinges for the front bezel and rear lid are solid rose gold and the case band (middle) is what we call a coin edge design so that you can grip it quite easily. The back lid opens effortlessly with the push of the button on the pendant revealing the winding hole and the original owner's name, John Carver. This watch was made for the English market and it bears all the correct hallmarks for purity, maker's mark, and date. The watch was made in Coventry by Adam Burdess and it is a high quality, fusee, tip-out, movement which displays the most spectacular silver dial that is adorned with multi-color gold embellishments. Make sure you zoom in on the photos to see how intricate the dial design is. Roman numerals surround the textured dial center where you can see a foliate arrangement in multi-color gold. This is a nice size, gentleman's, key-wind pocket watch that you will be proud to wear and show off. We have only one...don't miss it!
Hamilton was, without a doubt, the best maker of pocket watches in America and many of their wonderful timepieces are still being used everyday. This particular Hamilton is a scarce configuration in that it is an asymmetrical shaped case that contains a round movement. The case is white gold-filled measuring 44mm tall, by 41mm wide (at its widest), by 21mm (at its narrowest). It is 10mm in thickness. This is a twelve size, open face, 17 jewel, adjusted, nickel movement with a double roller. Now, if you don't know what any of that refers to, just harken to the fact that it is a bit above the average pocket watch in looks, quality, and performance. It has a rigid bow that is very nice, as is the case decoration. The back sports an engraved cartouche ("JC") and the hands are stylized blued steel that complete the Art Deco theme. Made circa 1926, this watch was very much in vogue. It is an elegant gentleman's dress watch that could also be employed for everyday use. Our one-year warranty will allow you to purchase without the worry of restoration.
This is not your ordinary open face pocket watch. It is an American Waltham "Chronometer" rated, fine timepiece. The "Chronometer" designation is reserved for only the top quality watches that are able to pass a stringent set of parameters. Waltham gave it the name "Victoria". The 18 size, yellow gold filled case measures 53mm in diameter (not including the stem and bow) by 18mm thick and was made made circa 1894. It is a 17 jewel, highly precise, nickel plated movement with a safety pinion, a micrometric regulator, marked "adjusted", and with a handsome damascening pattern on the movement plates. The double sunk, porcelain dial exhibits elongated Roman numerals and a red five minute track just on the perimeter of the minute track. There is a seconds bit at the six o'clock position and the original hands are gold, Louis XIV style. The case shows some signs of loving use over the years, but is still very handsome. The case back has an un-engraved shield that awaits your family initials. This is truly a fine timepiece from one of America's finest manufacturers that really deserves the "Chronometer" designation. If you are searching for a really great pocket watch in a large man's size, then this may be the one for you!
This is a large (18 size) Hampden, 15 jewel, in a 4 oz. coin silver hunting case. The case is in great shape and the engraving is still pretty crisp while the cartouche is unengraved! We love to find them when they have not been personalized! That means that the cartouche can be engraved with your initials and become your family heirloom!
Hampden was an American watch company that held forth in Springfield, Massachusetts, starting in 1877 and later in Canton, Ohio by 1889. This watch, a Series I, 15 jewel, was key wind and key set. It was made circa 1879... a very early piece. Additionally, it bears the name H. Weidemann of Chicago which makes it a "jeweler's contract" watch. If you were a jeweler in Victorian times and you wanted to market your own brand of watch, you could "contract" with Hampden and many other watch manufacturers to have your name put on the movement (and sometimes the dial), provided that you met the minimum purchase requirement. That way you could be assured that your customers were getting a quality watch for which there was good engineering and an ample supply of parts.
This particular watch is in great shape and is a strong runner. It winds, sets, and runs with great accuracy. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one-year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
We don't see a lot of these Mathey enamel ladies pockets, especially in this condition, but when we do we acquire them. This one is a 13 jewel key wind, key set beauty in 14K solid gold hunting case that has enamel on both sides in a lovely portrait and reverse pattern. The enamel work is not only beautiful, but in wonderful condition. This watch was undoubtedly made for someone of high station in life. A real jewel-in-the-crown of your collection. Fully restored and warrantied for one year so that you may buy with confidence. We have only one. So, don't miss it!