The top lot in Christie’s sale of Important Watches, held on June 15, was this Vacheron Constantin clockwatch from the J. W. Ward Packard Collection, which brought $1.5 million, blowing past the pre-estimate was of $250,000-$500,000.

Christie’s sale of Important Watches, held on June 15, was like a tornado blowing through a hapless mid-western town. The collectible watch world will never be the same, as 416 wrist and pocket watches—many highly important and downright fabulous watches, including two unique, one-of-a-kind pocket watches from the famous James Ward Packard Collection—sold for prices ranging from as little as $1,000 and for as much as $1.5 million.

This sale, held at the acclaimed Christie’s auction house located at New York’s Rockefeller Center, was an event that will not be eclipsed for many a year to come. Nearly all the well-known and celebrated watch houses—past and present—were well represented in this sale.

The relationship between man and his machine was gloriously displayed, pictured and sold to the highest bidder—one watch at a time—in a fast-paced but well-organized high class auction. Christie’s team of auctioneers had their work cut out for them, and they ran through an enormous conglomeration of wrist and pocket watches dating from the 16th to the 21st century with nary a hitch!

The sale commenced with a stainless steel gent’s Cartier wristwatch with a pre-estimate of $1,500-$2,000, realizing $1,750, and ended with a gent’s 18-karat-gold Patek Philippe Wrist Chronograph hammering down at $175,000. Prices realized throughout the sale were high, with several upset bids on the more desirable and rare watches, both wrist and pocket. Rolex seems to have leveled off from a high of a few years ago, but is still very strong in the steel Sport Model area. Patek and V&C are as strong as ever, with many upset bids.

Nearly every watch in the sale brought the minimum pre-estimate set by Christie’s, and nearly 80 percent went well over the high estimate.

The top sale in the auction was the J. W. Ward Packard Vacheron Constantin clockwatch, which brought $1.5 million, blowing past the pre-estimate was of $250,000-$500,000. This watch was cheap at twice the price!

Four notable watch collections were sold in this fine sale:

• Racing enthusiast G. Garvin Brown III (1943-2010), lots 198-244, of modern and vintage sport model wrist chronographs, tourboulions and complicated watches, including Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, Breguet, V&C, Hublot, IWC, Longines, A. Lange, Paneri, Frank Muller, and several Porche design watches.

• Buck A. Mickel, collector of fine art, photography, rare timepieces and fast cars. Lots 283-306. Buck was an enthusiastic collector of modern and vintage Sport Model wrist watches including Rolex, Bell and Ross, Paneri and Patek Philippe. His Rolex Paul Newman 6239 wrist chrono brought a record-breaking $100,000. His Patek Philippe ref. 5970 realized $110,000.

• The Kronos Collection, lots 128-197; including a rare and early Oval Verge watch constructed in ivory (circa 1650), several early and rare Champlevé Dial pocket watches (circa 1680-1790), a few French Verge Oignons, several early complicated watches, repeaters, Automatons, early enamels, a Breguet Souscription, a Breguet enamel Montre a Tact, several fabulous chatelaine-watch combinations, culminating with a fantastic and rare musical gold, enamel and pearl set Automaton for the Chinese market, estimated at $50,000-$70,000, realizing $290,500.

• The James Ward Packard Collection, including a rare, one-of-a-kind Patek Philippe minute repeater with power reserve indicator (pre-sale estimated at $200,000-$400,000) realizing a whopping $820,000. A one-of-a-kind V&C 20-karat minute repeating clockwatch with chronograph emblazoned with J. W. Packard’s monogram pre-estimated at $250,000-$500,000, realizing a paltry $1.5 million.

A rare minute repeating Patek Philippe day-date moon phase with split chrono ref. 862 pocket watch ca. 1967 brought $220,000 (est. $100,000-$150,000).

This author had the distinct and honorable pleasure of handling and closely examining many of these fine watches, including the Packard watches. This was an incredible experience . . . a once in a lifetime experience! The Packard watches were all in incredible nearly unused condition; their intricate and highly complex mechanisms are finished to the nth degree. High-grade sweeping nickel bridges with gold jewel settings, polished and camphered chronograph mechanisms, all designed per J. Ward’s specific instructions and details. These watches are truly the epitome of the watchmaker’s art!

These fabulous collections were a just part of this unbelievable sale of high-grade, rare and complicated watches, which included myriad assortment of Sport Model wristwatches, built by the masters of timekeeping, the Swiss. But I shall not omit the wonderful and complicated timepieces produced by the French, German, Swedish and even the American makers represented in this once-in-a-lifetime sale. There were several chronometers by English makers Arnold, Frodsham and Dent, including a rare minute repeating perpetual chronograph pocket watch by Frodsham, sold for $28,000.

The French were represented by Breguet, Verger Frères and many wrist and pocket watches by the celebrated Louis Cartier of Paris.

The Germans were represented by A. Lange and Shone, with several antique and complicated pocket watches and modern wristwatches in gold platinum and stainless steel.

The Swedes were represented by Jules Jurgensen, including several rare and complicated pocket watches such as a split-second minute repeating 18K pocket watch that gaveled for $26,250 (pre-sale est. of $8,000-$12,000).

The American makers included several rare Walthams, and many scored upset prices. A Premier Maximus, boxed, with a pre-sale estimated of $1,500-$2,000 realized $12,500. A Riverside Maximus with power reserve, ($500-$700) sold for $6,875. An Edward Howard ($1,000-$1,500) brought $10,625. A Gruen 50th Anniversary ($1,500-$2,000), sold for $5,250. And finally, a Fasoldt ($15,000-$20,000) picked up a tidy $52,500.

A rare 18k pink gold Jules Jüregnsen hunter case minute repeating split-seconds chronograph keyless lever pocket watch with original box and certificate sold for $26,250.

Cartier watches—both wrist and pocket, including several of their famous and fabulous desk clocks—were well represented in this sale and brought very good prices for both
modern and antique timepieces. A Cartier 18K gold, diamond and nephrite petite Sonnerie astronomical alarm desk clock with day, date and moon phase (which held a pre-sale estimate of $150,000-$250,000) realized $290,500, while a Cartier 14K gold, diamond and turquoise Grand and Petit Sonnierie Minute repeating alarm desk clock, (est. at $60,000-$80,000) nailed down $110,500. A fabulous Cartier ladies’ 18K white gold, diamonds and rubies wristwatch (est. at $80,000-$120,000) sold for $98,500 and a gent’s 18K gold rectangular tank (est. at $1,500-$2,000), realized $3,250.

Paneri was well represented at this sale with several offerings: A black ceramic cusion shape driver’s watch realized $8,500. A stainless steel Ferrari auto with chrono realized $4,000. A limited-edition stainless steel auto with date with concealed dial realized $18,750, well past the pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$12,000

Rolex was as strong as ever with many sport models offered: Paul Newman 6239 in stainless steel realized $100,000 (est. $40,000-$60,000). A fine stainless steel Explorer 1655 ca. 1970 brought $14,375 (est. $7,000-$9,000). A stainless steel early GMT ref. 6542 (est. $20,000-$30,000) brought $43,750. A stainless steel Submariner ref. 6536 ca. 1951 (est. $10,000-$15,000) brought $13,750. A stainless steel Submariner ref. 5512 ca. 1965 (est. $2,500-$3,500) brought $6,250

Patek Philippe was also well represented in this fine sale, and proved to be the best investment in a vintage or antique watch, as there were many more than 50 wristwatches and nearly the same number in pockets, at 37 pieces, along with eight rare P.P. Clocks. A rare stainless steel Antimagnetic wristwatch (est. $10,000-$15,000) brought $24,000. A 2003 ref. 5125 18K white gold wristwatch brought $50,000 (pre-sale est. of $40,000-$60,000). A rare 18K white gold perpetual wristwatch ref. 5970 brought $110,000 (est. $80,000-$120,000). A rare minute repeating day-date moon phase with split chrono ref. 862 pocket watch ca. 1967 brought $220,000 (est. $100,000-$150,000). An extremely fine and rare P.P., ref. 773 pocket watch with cloisonné dial and enamel case in 18K gold, brought $962,500 (est. $40,000-$60,000). A very fine and late P.P. enamel pocket watch in 18K gold brought $110,500 (est. $50,000-$80,000). An 18K day-date moon phase minute repeating pocket watch ca. 1947, ref. 844 brought $105,000 (est. $60,000-$80,000). A star of the P.P offerings was ref. 2499, an 18K day-date moon phase wrist watch with chromo brought $902,500 (est. $600,000-$1,000,000).

This Waltham 18k gold openface keyless lever pocket watch with up-and-down and original box gaveled for $12,500.

American watches at this sale numbered less than a dozen, but were well represented with a Gruen 50th Anniversary hammering down at $5,250, two Edward Howards sold in the $10,600 range, a Premiere Maximus brought $12,500 and a Fasoldt Chronometer hammered at $52,500. Included were two Walthams from the Packard estate. These heirloom Walthams brought $2,750 for the silver and gold model ’72 and $2,200 for the model ’59 key wind key set pocket watch in 18K gold. These prices were in line with what the watches would bring without the provenance of Packard.

I could write a separate article on three dozen of the watches listed for sale in this auction. The Kronos Collection is nothing short of fabulous; a collection of museum-quality watches rarely seen anywhere, let alone for sale to the highest bidder! Prices realized on these unique, one-of-a-kind museum-quality watches were high. Collector interest was strong, bidding was fast and frenetic, in the sale room, on the telephone and on the Internet bidding system. Christie’s auction team was polite, professional, fast and even had moments of comedy as the auctioneer made quips about the bid numbers and confusion among the phone and Internet bidders. But all went well, and nary a neither bid nor bidder was lost.

Information about this sale is readily available online here.

Christie’s has a wonderful surfer-friendly website with lots of detailed pictures and full descriptions of the watches offered for sale at this auction, with prices realized. It makes me wonder why I had to go to New York and spend $60 for a catalog. Maybe because this was a perfect excuse to traipse all over midtown Manhattan, through the Jeweler’s Row on 47th Street, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, the Theater District and on to the West Side for dinner at any one of more ethnic restaurants that I can possibly choose from in one place, like no other! New York, New York, what a wonderful place!

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

The Art Nouveau styling of these timepieces is impressive, even down to the stylized James Ward Packard monograms stamped on the case backs.

Christie’s upcoming Sale of Important Watches, featuring exceedingly rare watches from the collection of automobile pioneer James Ward Packard—including two very fine and unusual watches, custom-designed by Packer himself and executed by the world’s foremost watch manufacturers, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.

The auction, slated for June 15 at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza location, will include 416 lots of fine, unusual and intricate modern and antique wrist and pocket watches representing all of the finest and most well-known watch houses. It is clearly a sale not to be missed by any serious watch aficionado or investor.

Packard was an accomplished engineer, innovator and businessman who founded two very successful companies, the Packard Electric Co. and the Packard Motor Car Co., which produced the premier luxury car of the early 1900s. He was among the first watch collectors to design and work directly with Patek and VC. The automotive entrepreneur was directly involved in the design of the case and mechanical functions of these two very fine watches.

“In watch collecting circles, this is a true fairy tale collection. J.W. Packard is the original icon who inspired generations of collectors that followed him,” said Sam Hines, head of Christie’s watch department. “As a mechanical engineer by training, he had a deep knowledge and passion for the craft of watch making that made him uniquely qualified to work directly the best Swiss manufacturers and create completely unique, one-of-a-kind watches that do not exist anywhere else in the world.”

“Beyond this,” Hines added, Packard “had a refined sense of style that was heavily inspired by the design motifs of the day, and it is a true delight to see Packard’s personal taste reflected in the elegant Art Nouveau styling of these fine timepieces, even down to the stylized monograms configured on the case back covers. These re-discovered watches are most likely the last of an extensive collection of watches. They come directly from the estate of JWP’s descendants, and there will most certainly be extensive interest from collectors from around the world.”

The James Ward Packard Vacheron Constantin
No.375551
Estimate: $250,000-$500,000

An exceptional, monumental and historically important Vacheron Constantin 20k-gold open-face, two-train trip 7 ½ minute repeating grande and petite sonnerie chronograph clockwatch, once belong to James Ward Packard.

This watch will include documented proof that J.W. Packard partnered with VC—the oldest watch manufacturer in Geneva—on the design. In 1918, the firm created this quite unique 20-karat-gold open-face chronograph clockwatch for Packard, according to his specific instructions, incorporating a customized combination of complications, including a trip minute repeating, petit and grand sonnerie, chronograph, and half-quarter repeating functions. High resolution repose-style floral designs decorate the case body in the Art Nouveau style, emblazoned with Packard’s monogram in blue enamel. This fine timepiece is in impeccable, nearly unused condition. The watch is accompanied with a detailed and neatly hand-drawn and labeled diagram, most likely in Packard’s own hand, detailing all the watches function settings.

This watch is most certainly the most significant VC to come to the marketplace in many years. Packard paid 3,320 Swiss francs for the watch in 1919, the year of delivery.

The James Ward Packard Patek Philippe
No. 174907
Estimate $200,000-$400,000

An extremely fine and unique Patek Philippe of 18k gold, open-face minute repeating keyless lever dress watch with up-and-down indicator, original box and certificate.

This second major discovery of the collection is a previously unrecorded and completely unique watch that Packard commissioned from Patek Philippe in 1919. Prior to this discovery, the records reflect the commissioning of 16 watches the firm produced specifically for Packard, each incorporating his own specifications. This is the only known minute-repeating watch by Patek Philippe to feature both power reserve and an unusual Murat-style case.

In nearly unused condition and still wrapped in its original wrapping paper the watch is stored in its original presentation box, with original certificate, spare crystal and mainsprings. Patek’s records indicate the watch was delivered on April 22nd of 1920. The majority of Packard’s watches were willed to the American Horological Institute upon his death in 1928, only two other Packard-owned Patek Philippe watches have ever appeared at auction. This is most certainly one of the most historically important Patek’s watches to come to market since the Antiquorum auction of Patek Philippe watches some years ago.

Other Packard Family Heirloom Watches

The first is a model ’59 Appleton, Tracy & Co. grade key wind key set an 18k gold hunter case that belonged to Packard’s father, Warren Packard. While not of the caliber of the P.P. or the V&C, it none the less a fine watch in its own right, and historically important.

An American Watch co. A silver and pink gold half hunter case keyless lever pocket watch, inscribed to Packard.

The last watch is a later 19th-century example, probably a gift to Warren Packard from James Packard and his brother William Doud Packard. The silver and pink gold half hunter, keyless lever pocket watch, with blue enameling, is estimated to bring $2,000-$3,000. Replete with a picture of a boy in a sailor suit, it is engraved with “Wm. Packard FROM THE BOYS – Mar. 1874.”

This author will travel to New York to preview these and all the other fine watches that Christie’s will be offering for sale to the highest bidder on June 15 and report in detail the results and prices realized at this historic sale. Stay tuned!

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This high-quality, 18k gold pocket, made by little-known watchmaker H.L. Matile in a small town in Switzerland, is a fine example of a “technical watch.” But its day may be numbered, simply because it contains about $4,300 worth of gold. More and more gold watches are getting sold for scrap, melted down and disappearing from the collectibles market forever.

The gold and silver markets have been doing a steady rise for the last year or more, bringing on the demise of literally thousands of gold and silver collectibles and antiques of all nature. But watches have been hit particularly hard. I just returned from a National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors‘ Regional Show in Daytona Beach, Fla., and witnessed a scene that would sicken any serious collector.

A gentleman I had never seen before at any of these shows was buying gold, silver and even gold-filled watch cases for scrap. He was rapidly up filling a showcase with his purchases for all to see. His obvious aim was to buy as many cases as he could and take them to a smelter to have them melted down into an ingot, assay it and sell it to one of the many gold buying organizations that deal in precious metals for a profit. With the price of gold on the date of this publication is $1,434, you can see why he was busy for three days as collectors and dealers alike lined up to sell their watches.

The process is quite simple, if not brutal. Many of the watches had already had their movements and crystals removed, but there is almost always a non-gold part that needs to be removed, via a pair of pliers or a hammer. Watches—a complex compilation of different metals and parts—are in some cases, of dubious karat. The process involves chopping and filing into the covers and applying aqua regia acid to ascertain the actual gold content. This is almost always a callous and brutal process, but it doesn’t really matter, because you’ve already made the decision to destroy and melted down the watch in the end. The only thing that really matters here is the almighty dollar—how much you can get for the gold or silver content.

Now, I have been a professional watch dealer for more than 35 years, and I have scrapped my share of watch cases, jewelry and silver objects, so I’m no saint and I really don’t mean to sound sanctimonious, but God Almighty, there’s got to be a limit! At this rate, there won’t be any watches left to trade, and that will be the demise of the watch collector’s hobby!

The dial of this watch is made of three pieces of high-quality porcelain enamel work of art, precision-fitted to each other perfectly, and the beautifully detailed second and minute track, topped off with Breguet-style blued-steel hands.

As a watchmaker and watch dealer, I have put together an extensive collection of watch movements and parts (sorry, not for sale!). Now, I’m talking about a huge pile of watch movements here, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg; there’re many more folks out there just like me. It is true, all these now-defunct watch companies like Waltham and Elgin made millions of watches, but there is an end. Mr. Jon Hansen, Esq., founder of NAWCC Chapter 149, has been exposing for years on the evil of dismembering watches for parts and profit. He is RIGHT! There has to be an end to this practice of destroying these mechanical works of art simply for an immediate profit.

I have pictured in this article a fine, high-quality but very heavy 18k gold pocket watch as an example. While it is a great watch, it is a “technical watch.” In other words, it is more of a complicated mechanical wonder than an artistic diamond-studded beautiful work of art. Its beauty is intrinsic and lies in its mechanical achievement and high quality. Its maker was a little-known watchmaker located in a small town in Switzerland devoted to the watchmaker’s art, Locle. His name was H.L.Matile, and he made very fine watches—his devotion and passion is evident in this very fine example bearing his name. Every part is quality and finished to near perfection. No expense was spared in the production of this watch: solid pink gold jewel settings; pink gold gears; beautiful and detailed damascene pattern on the bridges; mirror polish on the steel parts; beautiful ruby jewels. The chronograph mechanism is located under the dial and is a mechanical wonder! Even the steel parts under the dial are polished and finished perfectly. The dial is a high-quality porcelain enamel work of art comprised of three parts, precision-fitted to each other perfectly, and the beautifully detailed second and minute track, topped off with Breguet-style blued-steel hands.

The chronograph mechanism is located under the dial and is a mechanical wonder! Even the steel parts under the dial are polished and finished perfectly.

The crowning achievement to this fine watch is the case, although Matile probably didn’t make it, (few watchmakers made their own cases or dials), but there was no expense spared here. In total, it has a very-high gold content of nearly 3 ounces of 18K-gold! That translates to almost $4,300 of scrap gold in today’s market! The value of the raw material will most certainly ring a death knell to this very fine watch. Watch collectors will only pay so much for a simple gold chronograph pocket watch, and $4,300 is nearly three times what the collector market will bear, especially with a little known maker like Matile.

I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and purchased this fine watch before a scrap dealer could put his pliers and hammer to work. But I am a dealer, and my investment can only sit for so long. I will try my very best to place this watch with a watch collector or investor, but I have bills to pay and limited capital to work with. How long can I tie my money up in a watch that simply won’t sell for more that it’s gold content? To add insult to injury, this fine watch has provenance: it was presented to its first lucky owner in 1882 from his father, then passed on to his son in 1910. This very fine family heirloom has been in the family for three or possibly four generations, and was a treasured for decades until just recently, when it was sold for scrap metal to pay the bills. What a shame, and a sad, sad, sad state of affairs.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

The back of a watch made for the original Chinese market. These watches usually featured enamel colorful designs of flowers and other sights of nature.

The Chinese have their own taste in things, from dress to food and just about everything in between. This includes watches and jewelry, and since I don’t know too much about jewelry, I better write about watches. Fortunately, I know a little about Chinese watches.

Nowadays, the Chinese make everything, including watches. But there aren’t any antique Chinese-made watches.

At the turn of the 19th century, the Chinese became aware of the rest of the world had to offer. One of the things the West discovered about China is that they didn’t have watches. Oh, there were watches, but they came in the pockets of foreigners; silly little contraptions constantly being fiddled with by their owners. They were a Western contrivance, and wealthy Chinese didn’t see the need in them.

Eventually, though, a fad took hold and many Chinese decided that they had to have watches. And not these plain, ordinary contraptions Westerners were carrying around in their pockets, but special watches, suited to the Oriental style. They had to do certain things, have just the right appearance, and there had to be two, in case one got broken—there were no watchmakers or repairmen capable of repairing such a delicate instrument until much later in the mid 1800s. Besides, the little woman might also want one, too.

I can find no information on when the first watches turned up in China, and since there were no watch manufacturers in China, there are no records. The first Chinese watches were imported from Switzerland, and here again, no one can tell me when the first Chinese watch came about (could it be that no one cares?). Anyway, the exact dates are almost inconsequential. My best guess is the late 1700s to early 1800s, but more like 1820-1830.

Now, on to the watches! They were some of the most fabulous watches ever produced for any one country. They were singularly unique—made of precious metals, both gold and silver, featured certain unique complications, and sported enamel—lots of enamel—with plenty of colors.

The face of an original Chinese market watch, with every minute marked in the chapter ring.

These watches are highly sought after today, especially by the Chinese. Watches produced for the original Chinese market featured:

• Bright, vibrant colors, like wildflowers in a field. And flowers turned out to be the most favored design on Chinese watches. Occasionally, a portrait of a Chinese noble or madam would grace a watch, but flowers were the order of the day, and finding anything else will be extremely rare.

• The watches need to be big and impressive, so size was very important. Small watches do exist, but are infinitely more scarce. They would boats a nice, big white porcelain dial with every minute marked in the chapter ring. Oddly, Roman Numerals were used, as opposed to Chinese numbers. Additionally, the watches must have had a seconds hand, and the biggest and best was a sweep seconds hand. This was the formula for the case and dial.

These watches were not only beautiful on the outside, but also beautiful to look at on the inside. Movements were almost always intricately engraved and embellished with functional jewels.

• As for the mechanism, the seconds hand had to jump, literally, from one second mark to the next. The invention of the Crab Duplex escapement was perfect! The Crab Duplex had a delay in the oscillation of the balance wheel, which gave pause to the seconds hand and giving it a “jump” in its rotation around the dial. Nearly all Chinese watches are Crab Duplexes, or English-style straight line levers, which also had a slight pause between ticks.

• Pocket watches of the day were not only beautiful on the outside, but also beautiful to look at on the inside. Movements were almost always intricately engraved, embellished with functional jewels, and quite often with precious metals like gold and silver. The Chinese wanted more. The LePine style plate layout suited the look, and nearly all Chinese watches have this very distinctive mechanism layout. The LePine style plate layout also made the Chinese watch thinner, as compared to “fat” European and English watches were considered ungainly, chunky contrivances. The Chinese wanted them slim and stylish. They also wanted them extravagantly and elaborately engraved and gilded, a nice, pretty gold color.

• The case had to have a button for a spring-activated back cover and a glazed-over bezel, to quickly and conveniently display the marvel under the back cover. Quite often the balance wheel had blued-steel winged bats mounted on the wheel itself. This was to ward off evil spirits.

Under the back cover, quite often, the balance wheel had blued-steel winged bats mounted on the wheel itself. This was to ward off evil spirits.

• Later, Chinese watches took on more sophisticated and outer worldly and technical aspects, but gold and enamel would remain a high choice for the Chinese. Makers for the Chinese market would be largely, if not exclusively, Swiss and the French. The watches are rarely signed by the makers, as this was almost typical for many Swiss makers anyway.

The size of the fragile dial makes it difficult to find a perfect example, and gold is always elusive and expensive, so Chinese watches were also produced in silver. Oddly enough, the silver watches are rarely enameled, but the movements are almost always elaborately engraved, making for a lovely surprise when the pendant button is activated, displaying all that engraving.

Top-flight examples like the watch pictured in this article will bring a handsome sum; anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000, and up. Plain, silver watches can be purchased on eBay for as little $200 to $300, or less.

No watch collection is complete without at least one example.

My sincere thanks and credits to Howard Gitman, The Movement King, the Swiss, and Janet Wencel, who makes me write.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

A Babe Ruth watch, 1940s era, mint in box with a baseball $500-$800-plus. Without the box, $200-$300.

Sports collectibles is a hugely popular item for collectors of today and yesterday, and there is no sign that their popularity is waning. Competitive sports probably date back to the day when a caveman tried to outdo the hunting abilities of his neighbor. He may have kept a few souvenirs from those hunts, like a saber-tooth tiger fang or an antler, but unlike the like the skin or the meat—which was consumed—those were his trophies; the first sports collectible, if you will. Hanging around his neck, it gave him bragging rights for as long as his neighbor couldn’t out do him.

Sports collectibles obviously fall into several different categories and sub-categories, both new and old. Since I know watches, this is where I will concentrate with this article and stay with two categories: commemorative issue; and presentation (and I’ll stick with vintage items).

Commemorative issue watches are commercially produced watches with a star athlete’s name and, quite often, his (or hers) picture emblazoned on the dial. They are usually cheaply made, low-end watches housed in base-metal cases. Packaged in colorful, stylish and eye catching advertising, the boxes that these watches came in are quite scarce, compared to the watches themselves, and in some instances are worth more than the watches themselves.

Golf ledged Sam Snead's 1930's gold-filled Gruen would bring $500-plus.

The engraved back of the Snead watch.

Presentation watches are much better quality watches, quite often housed in gold, silver or at least gold-filled, produced by companies such as Waltham, Hamilton or Girrard Peregaux. These will be engraved with the player’s name in presentation fashion, usually with a date, place or an event. Sometimes there will be several, all the same, presented to the whole team. However, the usual sports presentation watch was given to an individual commemorating his induction to the Hall of Fame or for a championship victory. These watches are unique and will usually be one of a kind. The fame of the player will obviously dictate the ultimate value, and intrinsic value of the watch itself will be of secondary consideration.

An Elgin white gold-filled watch, presented to members of the University of Miami team after winning the 1952 Gator Bowl. Miami beat Clemson, 14-0. Its value is in the $75-$150-plus range.

1960s Willie Mays watch, in mint condition and in the original box: $300-$500-plus; without the box, $75-$150,

1960s Football All Pro watch ($75-$125).

Barbara Ann Scott's 1950's Timex, in mint condition and in the original box. Its value is strictly a matter of speculation. What would someone pay for a watch commemorating a little known (by today's standards) ice skater?

A short trip down eBay’s sports collectibles categories will boggle the mind with myriad choices in every field of the sports world. But vintage watches are scarce in any of the categories of sports, and they do not come cheap. Presentation watches are very hard to find and almost always unique. Couple that fact with a famous name, and the price could go through the roof.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

The 1953 Timex Ben Hogan folding watch features a simple touch to a button on the side of the watch would activate a spring-loaded lid, exposing the dial—facing upward—making the reading of time quick and convenient. Worn clipped to the belt, it left the wrist unfettered to comfortably swing a golf club.

Ben Hogan is a very big name in golf, preceding such iconic players as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nickolas, and just as famous. Ben Hogan lent his name to all sorts of golf equipment, clothing, and accessories, but most especially golf clubs. One interesting item with the Hogan moniker is this watch, which was worn clipped to the belt, leaving the wrist unfettered to swing a club. Anne S. from Sacramento has such as watch, and requested a valuation for it through WothPoint’s “Ask A Worthologist” program. I received the request and this is what is was able to tell her:

A simple touch to a button on the side of the watch would activate a spring-loaded lid, exposing the dial—facing upward—making the reading of time quick and convenient. The lid snaps shut with an easy motion, leaving the view of alligator skin, perfectly matching the belt it is clipped to… very stylish!

The watch was made by Timex, which was and still is a very successful producer of cheap but functional and stylish sport watches, touted for their toughness. I can still hear those old TV commercials with Curt Gowdy espousing that Timex watches “take a licking and keep on ticking!”

The cases of these watches were inevitably made from low-cost material, like aluminum or stainless steel. This one is covered with faux alligator—possibly leather or even vinyl—to give the appearance of a more expensive watch. Golf watches have been produced since the 1930s by several different makers, the most proliferate being Movado, but some even sport the name Cartier and are made of Sterling silver and gold. Golf, until the 1950s was basically a rich man’s game. The Ben Hogan line of golf products was one of first to open the game to the working man. The mechanism of this watch will be a cheap but robust pin-lever movement with a 30-hour run time. The watch was sold along with a whole line of golfing accessories bearing the Hogan name, all very affordable and reasonably priced to appeal to a wide range of golfers. Stylish enough for the wealthy and cheap enough for the working sportsman, this watch is also a veritable boon to the collector of today.

The 1953 Timex Ben Hogan folding watch side view.

The belt clip, which allowed the wearer to know the time and keep the wrist unfettered.

The cover is faux alligator to give the appearance of a more expensive watch.

Most of the Hogan line—especially the clubs—have survived to be fairly common today, but the more fragile piece, like this watch, are a good bit more difficult to locate. Unfortunately, there’s not enough demand or quality for it to command a high price, but it’s a piece of Ben Hogan golf accessories that would make a whole lot of collectors happy.

This watch would have an insurance replacement value at $200-$300, mainly because of the difficulty in locating another with condition. Realistic value is $75 to $150, and without the Ben Hogan moniker, it would be had for $25. A Movado version would fetch in the $350-$500 range in silver, and quite a bit more in gold.

Author’s Note: Repairing a Timex golf watch—like for all Timex watches—is almost impossible short of an overhaul or complete replacement of the watch mechanism. Timex watches were never designed to be repaired and Timex used to supply watchmakers with a line of different watch mechanisms in a kit, complete and ready to replace the former broken mechanism. Quick, easy and cheap. The Timex watch was one of the original and most successful of the “use and toss” products of the “disposable Society.” Collecting Timex watches can be interesting and fun. Putting together an interesting collection can be challenging but very reasonable and easy on the pocket.

Remember, they take a licking and keep on ticking!

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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Abraham Lincoln’s watch is considered a “hands down” Civil War relic.

It may seem you’d need to be very gullible to believe what many sellers put in their descriptions, namely that every other key-wound pocket watch on eBay is a “Civil War Watch.” Sounds a little too-far fetched to be true, but in many instances, they are 100-percent correct, if the watch in question pre-dates the spring of 1865.

Truth be known, many thousands of pocket watches were manufactured, both in America and Europe, during this tumultuous time, and imported to the USA. So, just what is a “Civil War watch?” A definition is probably in order.

There are several differing schools of thought, and I will attempt to relate them to you and bring some clarity as to what a Civil War watch actually is. To start, we’ll need to clarify the difference between a Civil War watch and a “Civil War relic.”

The Civil War was an American War, so Civil War enthusiasts claim the only real Civil War watch is a Waltham, made by the only American watch company in existence prior to and during the Civil War. If we are to fall in line with this line of thinking, life would be simpler, but it just isn’t so. There were many other watchmakers doing business and making watches right here in the good ’ol U.S. of A., back to Colonial times, in fact. Waltham is considered to be the first American watch company to successfully produce watches using Eli Whitney’s method of mass production, but that’s another story. Still, there is much credence to this school of thought, and any Waltham watch with a serial number under 180,000 is considered a Civil War watch.

An example of a Waltham issued to a telegrapher for the Union Army’s Military Telegraph Corps.

The rifle most favored by Civil War enthusiasts and consider the “Civil War gun” is the Springfield Percusion Rifle, the first successful product ever mass-produced under Eli Whitney’s patented method production with interchangeable parts. This rifle was carried almost exclusively by Union soldiers, and Confederate soldiers would carry a Springfield when they could capture one. While all Springfields produced before 1864 are considered “Civil War,” not all were carried by soldiers, and these should not be considered Civil War relics, even though they sometimes are. They are all guns—weapons of war—and hold a distinction that a watch simply cannot. However, a watch can be a Civil War relic; all we need is a little thing called “provenance.” Simply put: a documented history or obvious evidence of the history of the particular item.

About a year ago, I wrote an article on the inscription hidden in Abraham Lincoln’s watch. This famous watch is considered a “hands down” Civil War relic. Having been carried by the Supreme Commander of the Union Forces, we can even say it “saw action.” This watch is not only documented, it contains a hidden inscription pertaining to the war. This very, very “Civil War” watch was actually made in England, cased and sold in the U.S. to Lincoln before the war. Another more recent article is on a Waltham issued to a telegrapher for the Union Army’s Military Telegraph Corps, made in this country by an American company during the Civil War and issued to a members of a branch of the Union military service, which makes it another a genuine Civil War relic (if one is to believe the engraving!).

So, examples like these aforementioned watches must be considered are genuine, documented Civil War relics, and hold a place in American History. Therefore, they will command a greater price from a collector or at auction.

Below you will find photos of four Civil War watches, only one of which has the provenance to make it a Civil War relic:

This watch (above) belonged to Lt. Charles White, who commanded a Confederate Army volunteer unit—the Auburn Guards. I was presented this watch by his men on Oct. of 1860 (if the engraving is to be believed!). This watch has seen much use and most certainly was carried by Lt. White during the war. The first Volunteer Regiment of Alabama Militia was formed in Mobile in 1845 and commanded by Col. John B. Todd from 1845 to the outbreak of the war. The regiment consisted of the Mobile Rifles, the State Artillery Company, the Mobile Cadets, the German fusiliers, the Washington Light Infantry, the City Troop, the Independent Rifles, the Gardes Lafayette and Gulf City Guard. The 2nd Independent Volunteer Regiment of the State of Alabama was formed in Montgomery on July 25, 1860, under Col. Tennant Lomax, and included the Montgomery True Blues, the Tuskegee Light Infantry, the Auburn Guards and The Metropolitan Guards. The Auburn Guards, from Montgomery, which also formed in 1860, became part of the 2nd Alabama Volunteer Regiment. More information and some photographs about 2nd Alabama Volunteer Regiment, click here.

Next is an English-made Joseph Johnson watch (above) housed in an American-made gold hunter case. There is no documentation, Civil War or otherwise, be it engravings or etchings, on this watch, but it most definitely of the Civil War period. Its estimated value is $2,000, mainly for the gold content.

Third is an American-made Waltham #156531, circa1864, housed in its original American Waltham Watch Co. 18K gold hunter case. Again, there is no historical documentation, engravings or etchings to give it provenance as being carried by a military man, but it, too, is of Civil War vintage. Its estimated value is $2,500, with the gold content again being a significant factor.

The final example is watch made prior to hostilities. It is Waltham #10186 (above), circa 1858, housed in its original silver hunter case, and also has no historical documentation or engraving, but the likelihood of this watch having been carried during the Civil War is much greater than the first two examples. Still, it is not a Civil War relic; merely a Civil War period watch. Its value is $2,500 because it is a rare Waltham.

The case marking of a gold Waltham was an American eagle, but also dubbed the “broken-wing chicken.” This is the typical marking for an American Civil War-era watch, gold or silver.

This last photo (above) is of a gold Waltham’s case marking, which was dubbed the “broken-wing chicken,” or, more accurately, the American eagle. This is the typical marking for an American Civil War-era watch, gold or silver.

I have chosen these four examples because they so closely typify the “Civil War watch,” or at least cover the obvious. There are many other watches out there that are of Civil War era and don’t look anything like these, be they made in England or Switzerland, imported to the US and retailed by an American jeweler. Any one of these watches could have been in the pocket of a soldier as he fought in any battle of say, Gettysburg of the Wilderness, but without documentation, it’s just another antique watch. Actually, the likelihood of a typical infantryman carrying an expensive pocket watch with him on a military campaign or into battle would be rare, if not unheard of. What would a foot soldier need a watch for? An officer would have a need for a watch, but it would need to be a relatively inexpensive and durable timepiece. English and Swiss watches of the day were prohibitively expensive and fragile, as well as difficult to repair. The American Waltham watch was the perfect watch for the job, as they were well-made, durable and relatively easy to repair, thanks to Whitney’s system of mass production and interchangeable parts. The technology of the day had not yet advanced to “stem winding,” so all Civil War watches are “key wind.”

My thanks and credit to the Waltham Watch Co. Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and of course Generals Lee and Grant and all the foot soldiers they commanded.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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This watch, Waltham P.S. Bartlet made in 1864, a genuine relic of the U.S. Military Telegraph Corps and really belongs in a museum devoted to the history of communications and telegraphy. It is by pure chance that I have the great fortune and honor to own this fine watch.

The U.S. Military Telegraph Corps was formed in 1861 following the outbreak of the American Civil War. David Strouse, Samuel M. Brown, Richard O’Brian and David H. Bates—all from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company—were sent to Washington, D.C. to serve in the newly created office. In October of that year, Anson Stager was appointed department head. They were charged with maintaining communications between the federal government in Washington and the commanding officers of the far-flung units of the Union Army. As such, they played a large part in intercepting and deciphering Confederate communications.

During the Civil War, the Morse telegraph was employed for the first time to direct widely dispersed armies and move them in unison, as well as to flash news reports of victories or defeats almost instantly all over our broad land. In fact, Edward M. Stanton, Lincoln’s War Secretary, called the telegraph—and that branch of the service that supported it, his “right arm.” In his annual report, delivered on Dec.5, 1863, he used this language:

“The military telegraph, under the direction of Colonel Stager and Major Eckert, has been of inestimable value to the service and no corps has surpassed-few have equaled-the telegraph- operators in diligence and devotion to their duties.”

— “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office: Recollections of the United States Military,” by David Homer Bates

The story of the USMT makes for extremely interesting reading. One of the most often overlooked but yet one of the most valuable Civil War services. American history and Civil War buffs will find this story interesting and fascinating:

A member of the U.S. Military Telegraph Corps tending to the all-important wires.

The USMT and the Signal Corps (which used flags, semaphore and lights to signal) were, at the upper echelon’s, often in bitter dispute over control of the communications during the war. As with all armies, at the lower operational level, the men and women of the USMT and the Signal Corps most often got along and co-operated well. It is a credit to both services that the individuals who performed the work did so under very adverse military and political pressures. Although the members of the USMT were often paid much more than the members of the Signal Corps (and yet considered themselves underpaid and even “struck” for higher wages), they were never considered members of the military organization and as such were denied the benefits of a pension and the considerable political power at the local “at home” level. Conversely, the members of the Signal Corps were often derided by the political powers running the USMT as being inferior in both ability and actual function.

In truth, the functions were very often different. The USMT handled logistical and strategic communications at the Grand Tactical and Strategic level. The Signal Corps operated at the Tactical and Grand Tactical level, with the latter very evident at Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville. The former was obvious at Gettysburg, to name but one instance. It was when an effort was made to blend the functions that the conflicts flared up. In the end, each service bled and died, and whether it was by direct or indirect fires mattered little.

In the West these functions were sharper and clearer over the vast distances. One can clearly see the telegraph stretching forward and backward during the Grand Tactical movement of Gen. Sherman (who had his own pocket telegraph set) as he executed the first and, perhaps, best example of the Indirect Strategic Approach on the American continent. Across that 40-mile-wide front were the flags and torches of the Signal Corps, performing much as did the Confederate Signal Service, gathering and dispersing information and coordinating the widespread units. In the East, during this same time frame, the Signal Corps was relegated to observation, while the United States Military Telegraph operated, perhaps, right down to the brigade level. This was the time of Petersburg and trench warfare.

A telegraph operation set up in the field. The telegraph was used during the Civil War by Union forces to coordinate widely dispersed units.

In a twist of irony, when the war ended, the civilians who ran the USMT decided that they wanted nothing to do with the telegraph lines utilized by the military out west and the service was turned over to the Signal Corps. Much of this had to do with the USMT “brass’” failure to make money speculating on events in the West. This venal trait of the upper echelon of the USMT was never more in evidence than the close relationship of Thomas T. Eckert with the extremely sharp speculator Jay Gould. Eckert routinely provided Gould with information passed over the “secure” USMT circuits. Gould used this information for his speculations in railroads in the occupied areas and in gold by betting against the dollar with advanced knowledge of a Union defeat or for the dollar by using advance knowledge of a Union victory. The failure of the USMT to pass this information to Gould during the battle of Gettysburg was infuriating to him and he demanded that Eckert correct the situation. The movement to take over the Signal Telegraph system of deploying wire was given a strong boost with Gould money. Soon the Signal Telegraph would cease to exist and the control of the content over the lines would pass to Eckert, and thus to Gould. By 1865, Gould had parleyed $50,000 into several million dollars. Of course, none of these transactions were known to the brave and talented individuals who made up the bulk of the United States Military Telegraph. To them are due much honor and fame. They represent a critical chapter in the history of the telegraph.

The watch pictured in this article is a genuine relic of the USMT and really belongs in a museum devoted to the history of communications and telegraphy. It is by pure chance that I have the great fortune and honor to own this fine watch. It is a Waltham P.S. Bartlet, serial number 123,606, dating its production to late January or early February of 1864, which means it most certainly saw service during the War between the States.

Waltham produced many thousands of watches during this period, but relatively few actually saw service in the war, and fewer still have survived. The P.S. Bartlet was Waltham’s second quality or grade of production watch, deemed more than suitable for timekeeping service for the wartime communications of the time. The watch has 15 jewels (white sapphires) in screwed-in jewel settings, lever escapement with a monometallic gold balance wheel, uncompensated, 30-hour run time, and is key wound. It is an 18-size full-plate model 1857. The watch is housed in its original coin silver hunting case with beautiful and functional “Barley Corn” engraving. The engraved surface of the Watch actually made the watch less likely to “slip” from the hand when handled. The watches’ timekeeping capability is quite poor by today’s standards and was only slightly above average for the standards of the time 1864. There were many watch companies in England and Switzerland that produced watches of much higher quality and timekeeping abilities available during this period, but they were also much more expensive and repairs and replacement would be more costly and difficult. Waltham’s unique methodology of interchangeable parts and mass production made this watch much cheaper and easier to repair than its European counterparts, along with R.A. Robbins (Waltham’s president) strict quality control, gave the USMT a quality, durable and functional timekeeping instrument.

The end of the Civil War also signaled the demise of the USMT. Its members were unceremoniously dismissed from service without severance or recognition, but they were allowed to keep the watches they were issued. I have no idea how many watches were issued and simply cannot find even how many people were put in service for the USMT other than they employed the use of former railroad men and (women!) in their ranks. Their service and devotion was amazingly unrecognized and ignored until 1898, when they finally received thanks and letters of recognition by the federal government.

The story of this watch and its owner has unfortunately been lost. This happens all too often when collectors suffer from “tunnel vision,” focusing totally on their own interest and ignoring the sometimes more important history of previous owners of the piece. If only this watch could speak for itself—maybe even in Morse code—what a story it could tell!

My thanks and recognition for photos and text to Cindi Verser, museum specialist and resident telegraph historian, at the Mariners’ Museum, “Lincoln in the Telegraph Office: Recollections of the United States Military,” by David Homer Bates, Unitedstatesmilitarytelegraph.org, civilwarsignal.org.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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There were lines of people at the doors on opening day of the Original Miami Beach International Antiques Show. So many people, in fact, that show officials were forced to open early to control the crowd. That is a very good sign for all of us dealers.

Editor’s Note: WorthPoint CEO and President Will Seippel will be traveling to numerous antique and collectibles shows throughout 2010. He will Twitter where he’s going each week. Anyone who sees him there and comes up to say hello will receive a one-year CEO Club discount membership to WorthPoint. You’ll know it’s Will because he’ll be wearing a white WorthPoint polo shirt.

MIAMI – How is the economy doing . . . hmm . . . if the antiques and collectibles market in South Beach and Miami are any indication, it is doing pretty good. I am spending much of my time in the field with buyers and sellers in 2010. It was a New Year’s resolution. I know, it sure sounds like a hardship to start off with Miami in January, while the rest of the country in an icebox! Yes, I even went for a swim while down here and would recommend that the rest of you make the trip and meet me here next year and take in the show.

Will’s tour guide for the Original Miami International Antiques Show was Wortholgist David Mycko, who specialized in horology.

I toured the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show at the Miami Convention Center with our horologist Worthologist David Mycko. For those of you who think that is a dirty word, let me assure you that David is a timepiece expert who specializes in watches. I asked David to help me learn the ropes of the show. I came down on the second day of the show (which ran from Jan. 21 to 25, 2010) and David already had a great opening day, having bought and sold numerous items. David told me there were lines of people at the doors on opening day. So many people, in fact, that show officials were forced to open early to control the crowd. That is a very good sign for all of us dealers.

While walking the floor with David, I immediately noticed two things. The first was the amazing amount of energy present, as the hall nearly crackled with it. The second thing I noticed was that one of my kids had borrowed my memory card from my camera and that I was out of luck as far as taking photographs to illustrate my first thought. Luckily, I was at the booth of Matt Bain of Miami Beach when I realized I was to go photo-less. Matt had a killer display of wristwatches and is a great person. But it was Alison, who works with him, who immediately came to my rescue, offering me the card from her camera. With two gigs of memory, I was back in business at one of the world’s greatest watch and clock shows.

This tiny box, with a portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm painted on the front and edged in diamonds and rubies, was, according to the dealer, a gift from the Kaiser to his daughter.

The thing that caught my eye immediately at Matt’s booth was a really cool James Bond watch. All of us guys want to be like Bond, or at least experience a Bond-like situation, and it is cool to see such a famous timepiece. Matt had a great collection of Rolexes, Breitlings and anything else you could possibly want in a wristwatch. If you’d like to for any of you that want to ask Matt about the Bond watch, you can visit his Web site.

We wondered around some more and I found a New England dealer by the name of Butch McGrath of Scituate, Maine. Butch, who runs a booth with his dad, was an oasis for me, as I am from Maine and it was nice to see New England antiques in Miami. One of things that peaked my interest was a tiny box with Kaiser Wilhelm painted on the front that was edged in diamonds and rubies. On the back was the date of a daughter’s birthday. According to Butch, this was a gift from the Kaiser to his daughter. Another item he had that I thought quite highly of was a leather World War Two flight jacket from the 14th Air Force with the original leather local theatre patches and the flyers bag with the original accoutrements. The flyer’s name was sewn in the bag so someone could have fun with doing research on this ensemble. If you are interested in the above items, Butch can be reached at 781.545.3661.

Next David showed me another watch dealer by the name of Steve Smith. Steve was a great guy that a buyer would feel immediately comfortable with. He seemed to have a watch for everyone (and in their price range).

My favorite watch of the show was the timepiece once owned by Lt. Col. Edward R. Warner of the 1st NY Volunteer Light Artillery.

While I was blown away with some of the pocket watches I had seen earlier, and despite the glory of the earlier European examples, my favorite watch of the show was the timepiece owned by Lt. Col. Edward R. Warner of the 1st NY Volunteers Light Artillery. This group saw very heavy action in the Civil War. The unit’s history can be found at this very cool Web site.

While looking at this watch, I noticed a couple of restored 1960s-era Vespas nearby. The good life would be to drive one of those out with a new vintage time piece in your pocket.

We had a lot of fun. We spotted another great watch over at The Red Barron’s of Atlanta. The watch was attached to an ancient—well old—single-shot percussion gun with a very decorative chain. It was for a gambler, so the story went.

David and I then walked over to see another watch he was looking at buying, but by the time we got there, it was gone. This was another sign that buying that was going on and can only reaffirm the old adage: “you snooze, you lose.”

At this point I was tired and Dave was going on. I ran into a friendly visitor from Baltimore who gladly shared his lunch with me, as I was too tired to wait in line.

All-in-all, it was a great day, and I left the show to head off to the airport. And a special thanks to Andrea and Mary from show promoters DMG World Media for such a fun time. I would highly recommend the show to others next year and heard very good things from shoppers and dealers and that each year the show only gets better.

Will Seippel is the president and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with a emphasis on ephemera—since 1984.

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The giant clock at the center of "The Hudsucker Proxy."

Time, horology and the looming presence of an enormous tower clock take center stage in the classic 1994 romantic comedy “The Hudsucker Proxy.” Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (“Fargo,” “No Country For Old Men”) and co-written by Sam Raimi (“Spiderman”), “The Hudsucker Proxy” is a witty, Capra-esque morality tale about fresh-faced Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins), an everyman hero from Muncie, Ind., who takes a job in the mail room of New York-based Hudsucker Industries.

Hudsucker Industries is flourishing. Profits are stupendous, and stock is at an all-time high. So when their founder, Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) leaps to his death from the 44th floor, his board of directors is thrown into panic. Hudsucker has not left a will, and his majority shareholding in the company must therefore soon be offered for sale to the public. But scheming Vice President Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman) has a plan. He’ll install a complete imbecile as chairman and devalue the stock to a level where the rest of the board can acquire controlling interests for themselves.

Barnes is randomly chosen to become company president (by proxy) as part of the insider scam to lower the price of the company stock.

Then, a snoopy reporter (Jennifer Jason Leigh) sees through the flimflam put up by Mussburger and his directors on mahogany row. She weasels her way into the company to find out what’s really going on and appears just in time to witness Norville’s master stroke that has the company floating high on Wall Street overnight . . .

When Mussberger’s manipulations drive Norville to the brink of suicide, it seems the despondent hero will plunge to his death from atop the Hudsucker clock tower at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Norville Barnes in the office of Hudsucker Vice President Sidney J. Mussburger, where the giant clock’s second hand’s is visible as it sweeps across the face.

The movie is full of horological imagery, from the massive clock to having characters symbolically wind and remove their wristwatches.

His only hope is Moses the Clock Man (Bill Cobbs), the keeper and repairman of the mighty Hudsucker Clock—which is much more than just a clock. Moses uses his power over the clock to ward off the forces of darkness—personified by Aloysius, the sinister Hudsucker building sign-painter (Harry Bugin).

The scene of this epic battle? The interior of the Hudsucker clock, which has the power to halt time.

From the recurring imagery of Mussburger’s ever-present wristwatch, to the shadow of the sweeping Hudsucker Clock minute hand as it looms over Mussberger’s office interior, to scenes where several characters symbolically wind and remove their wristwatches before attempting to leap to their doom—this film is a rich tapestry of horological imagery.

The mighty Hudsucker clock, carefully marking time as it represents the machinery of the universe, has a subtle, undeniable power. For moviegoers who like a bit of horology mixed into their romantic comedy, this film is a true classic.

I greatly enjoyed “The Hudsucker Proxy.” The overdrawn characters and the ice-cold schemes to depress the stock seem outrageous at first, but the more you think about it, the more sense they make.

While very delightful and light-hearted for the most part, “The Hudsucker Proxy” is very serious about its issues. It is the way the Coen brothers turn the material in a hysterical satire and every character into a farce that makes this film so enjoyable. Despite the technical flaws—which are surprising given Warner’s status in the DVD industry—I find this disc to be a great release that no lover of intelligent comedies should miss.

Click here to watch a clip from the movie showing the power of the clock and the battle between Moses and Aloysius.

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David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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The Art Deco Hamilton watch carried by John Dillinger when he was gunned down by the FBI outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago.

Dillinger carried a quality watch! The opening bid for this iconic watch was a paltry $41,825.

John Dillinger’s mug shots. On Dec. 12, 2009, Heritage Auctions held a sale of several items Dillinger had on his person when he was shot and killed by FBI agents outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago on July 22, 1934.

It’s not often that the belongings of someone as infamous as John Dillinger come up for sale. This month Heritage Auctions listed 11 items attributed to Dillinger, including two pocket watches and a wristwatch—one a gift from his father, the other an Art Deco Hamilton actually carried by Dillinger when he was gunned down by the FBI outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago.

Six of the 11 pieces sold during the Dec. 12, 2009 December Signature Arms & Militaria Including Civil War Auction, and Heritage has pushed back the closing gavel on the remaining five, including Dillinger’s Hamilton, to Dec. 28, 2009. Now, these items have fixed prices.

I have to give Mr. Dillinger credit; he carried a quality watch! It’s a shame, though, that it’s originality was altered by a well meaning but misguided watchmaker. I guess blood has a very destructive corrosive effect on the delicate mechanisms of a watch! Heritage Auction’s price for this iconic watch is now a paltry $41,825. Without the provenance, the actual value of this fairly common watch is approximately $150. The Waltham watch that his father gave him has an approximate value of $200. It sold for $4,481. A bargain!

Dillinger’s Hamilton is a 12 size Gentleman’s dress watch with a good quality 17 jewel movement housed in a quality goldfilled hinge back open-face case made by the Keystone Watch Case Co. also located in Lancaster, Pa. While not a watch capable of rail road timekeeping, the watch was in keeping with Hamilton’s standing as a watch company that produced quality at a standard above the rest. Hamilton was very successful at mass producing these “Banker’s Watches” in dozens of different styles, shapes and various case metals, white and yellow gold, platinum, and goldfilled. The “bottom end” was 17 jewels while the top end was 23 jewels and five adjustments. Hamilton’s “bottom end” watches were comparable to other watch companies medium and high end watches.

John Dillinger's nickel-plated Colt Pre-Woodsman .22 caliber automatic pistol, #5436, manufactured 1917, and a wristwatch. Items associated with John Dillinger that Heritage Auction put up for sale on Dec. 12, 2009: 1. Dollar Bill – $14,340 (sold) 2. Wood Gun – $19,120 (sold) 3. Waltham Watch – $4,481 (sold) 4. Hamilton Watch – $41,825 (available unsold) 5. Letter – $41,825 (available unsold) 6. Monogrammed handkerchief – $5,377 (available unsold) 7. Colt pistol and wrist watch – $41,825 (available unsold) 8. Suitcase – $3,585 (sold) 9. Sporting guns – $8,962 (sold) 10. Hunting suit – $29,875 (available unsold) 11. Family documents – $3,346 (sold)

Dillinger’s Waltham is an 18 size goldfilled open-face model ’83. This is a totally different type of watch, much bigger, heavier and older in style compared to the new, modern, slim gentleman’s Hamilton watch. The Waltham was his father’s era type of watch, and gifted by the elder Dillinger, so I’m sure he used it, until he discovered the new more technologically superior Hamilton. Like his guns, Dillinger appreciated the newer technology and embraced it.

Dillinger’s brother’s watch is a Swiss made Waltham wristwatch ca.1967. This watch was a Waltham in name only. Waltham went out of business in 1957. The Waltham name was purchased by a Swiss conglomerate that sold watches under the Waltham name right into the 1970s. I would value this watch in the $75-$150 range and only of mild interest to collectors.

Apparently Dillinger’s embrace of the new technologies of the time did not include a wristwatch; a much more convenient, and equally precision timekeeper as the pocket watch.

For those of a younger age who don’t know the story, FBI agents ambushed John Dillinger outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, killing him. Dillinger was was betrayed by the “lady in red,” who had told the FBI where they could find Dillinger. The movie playing at the Biograph that night was “Manhattan Melodrama,” starring Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Clark Gable.

Near the end of the film, there is a dramatic scene where Clark Gable’s criminal character, “Blackie,” is being led to the electric chair. He gives advice to another prisoner on the way, “Die the way you lived, all of a sudden,” Blackie said. “Don’t drag it out. Living like that doesn’t mean a thing.” Those were some of the last words Dillinger heard before his death. It seems likely that he himself might well have subscribed to a similar attitude.

All of the items in the auction came from Frances Helen Dillinger, John Dillinger’s half-sister. She says this about some of the items auctioned:

“This is the watch that John H. Dillinger had on him when he was killed in Chicago on July 22, 1934. Along with the watch, the federal men gave my dad an envelope with $7.81, stating that was all the money he had on him. My father received many letters from people that were at the scene of the killing, and stated there was a large amount of money taken off the remains by the FBI. The FBI also gave my father a bullet covered (almost completely red with dried blood, and with many bullet holes) white shirt, gray slacks, shoes, etc., that he had on when killed. The watch box I placed this in, was a Hamilton watch I gave my husband many years ago. I put John’s watch in this box to protect it.”

— Frances H. Dillinger Thompson (Johns’ half-sister) Aug, 24, 1997

Dillinger's Waltham is an 18 size goldfilled open-face model '83

This is a totally different type of watch, much bigger, heavier and older in style compared to the new, modern, slim gentleman's Hamilton watch.

Dennis Lowe, director Arms & Militaria for Heritage Auctions, recounts his visit to Frances Helen Dillinger Thomas:

“My visit to the Dillinger family in Mooresville, Ind. was a genuinely moving experience, most notably sitting across the kitchen table from his now 87-year-old kid sister Frances Helen Dillinger Thompson, and listening to her recount her memories of her older brother. John had in fact named her, Frances and Helen being the names of his two favorite girlfriends and, although he only spent limited time around the family hearth between her birth in 1922 and his death in 1934, John was, according to Frances, “a typical big brother . . . very protective and kind.” That characterization pervades Frances’ descriptions of her brother, still affectionately referred to by the family as “Johnnie.”

The decision to auction these items, which have been in the family’s care for the last 75 years, was clearly a difficult and emotional one. The items were rarely shown to outsiders and the burden of caring for them was an emotional roller coaster for Frances. In a burst of emotion during the 1960s, Frances took the bullet-riddled, blood-soaked shirt John was wearing when he was gunned down to the backyard burn barrel and unceremoniously destroyed it, unable to bear the horror it represented to her any longer. More than one prying reporter or researcher was denied access to the family over the years for committing the faux pas of referring to John as a “killer.” Dillinger was, in fact, never personally charged with the crime of murder, while the family has steadfastly stood their ground in Mooresville, with Frances’ residence just three doors from the original family farm.

These items represent the most tangible touchstones to the life and death of what is probably America’s best known “criminal,” whose legend remains surrounded by an aura of both danger and benevolence.

My thanks and credits to Dennis Lowe and Heritage Auctions for text and pictures.

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David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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A Professional model Omega Speedmaster, with spearpoint second hand. The Speedmaster is one of the most challenging modern watches to collect because the number of changes made to the line over the last 50 years.

I have been a collector and a dealer in watches for more than 35 years. It is said that collecting watches is about the details. While this statement may hold some truth for most collectible watches, they’re nothing compared to the pertinent details of the Omega Speedmaster!

The year 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the renowned and historic Omega Speedmaster. No other chronograph watch has been in continuous production for such a length of time. The vast depth and breadth of the models and variations of Speedmasters produced since the introduction of the first Speedmaster, in 1957, is beyond the scope of a single article. The minute and detailed changes Omega has made to the Speedmaster since its birth 50-odd years ago defines the “drastic” distinctions between otherwise very similar models. Instead, what this article hopes to accomplish is a reasonable overview of the early years and the main variations one would see in vintage Speedmasters today.

When the Speedmaster was first produced in 1957, and on subsequent models, changes were often made quickly, with little or no distinction being noted, and with little to no consideration that a couple of decades down the road collectors would have any interest as to when a hand was changed, or a subtle difference in the shape of a letter on a dial, or why some watches would seem to have attributes of either the previous or successor models.

The managers of the production lines in their offices in the late 1950s and ’60s likely weren’t considering the interest their products would be fetching decades later. Just as dinosaurs lived their lives with little regard for today’s paleontologists, Swiss craftsmen in this epoch did their work without much concern for our quest to make sense of it today. They were more concerned with quality, meeting demand, remaining profitable and viable against the competition. As a result, the further one goes back into history, the more blurred the story gets, making it one of the most challenging watches to collect today. The “bugger” is in the details!

The original Omega Speedmaster, produced in 1957.

The Speedmaster story begins with the CK2915, also known as “The Original 1957 Speedmaster” and sometimes (inaccurately) as the “Broad Arrow.” Pierre Moinat, the creative director of Omega, developed the main idea for the design. Among his goals: a rugged, more waterproof chronograph with a large, easily read dial. The intended market was professionals and enthusiasts in the aviation, automotive and sporting fields, where ease of reading and usage would be of utmost utility. The design was entrusted to Claude Baillad, while Georges Hartmann crafted the first prototype. The CK2915 was produced in three different series from 1957 through 1958, as officially denoted by the caseback designations: CK2915-1, CK2915-2 and CK2915-3.

The CK2915 model Speedmaster, because it was the first produced, is among the most avidly sought, and pricey to obtain. Omega started to transition to a new case reference standard in late 1962. I’ve been studying Omega Speedmasters for many years, and have yet to find any books or documents that lay out the subtle distinctions between these models. Some Speedmasters were produced with a unique chronograph second hand with a “lollipop” luminous circle located at the end of the hand. These “Lollipop Speedmasters” are very uncommon and fetch high prices when listed for sale. Later Speedmasters adopted a different chronograph seconds hand, which would be used for several years. This new hand had a spearpoint luminous shape, as well as a “spearpoint” counterbalance, as opposed to the original needle shaped hand. Because the early Speedmasters have the unique Dauphine hands, these watches attract more interest and hence higher prices than later Speedmasters.

This series of watches also has the distinction of being the model of Speedmaster that Wally Schirra wore during his Sigma 7 Mercury mission, making it the first Speedmaster to reach orbit. Later on, NASA would purchase Speedmasters for evaluation and testing, and as a result of those tests, made the Speedmaster the standard-issue Astronaut wristwatch.

Rare model

Early 1960s German advertisement.

Next up is the 105.002. By now, the Speedmaster had moved away from many of the features that made the early Speedmasters unique and unlike the later models. Long gone were the Balane hands, silver bezel, the smaller crown and distinctive caseback marking of those early editions. Most of these changes were made to improve the usability of the Speedmaster: The earlier Balane hands covered up far too much of the dial and often the subdials of the chronograph, diluting the watch’s ability to be used for one of it’s intended functions.

The silver bezel was discarded because pilots and drivers were frequently in bright, sunny conditions and the chance the bezel could reflect the sun’s blinding glare into the wearer’s eyes was very real. Balane hands, as well as newly adopted white painted stick hands, were both produced for this model. The dauphine hands, which were unpainted save for the Tritium luminous inserts, were often difficult to read in certain lighting conditions. So Omega switched to white stick hand. The 105.002 was only in production for a few short months in 1962 and possibly 1963 before Omega formalized the change to white stick hands for the 105.003 model. So this transition model was not produced in high numbers, is exceedingly rare, and hence commands a good price when offered.

Most of the unique differences between the original Speedmaster and the modern Speedmaster had been evolved out of the Speedmaster line after 1963. The 105.003 incorporates most of these changes, though a few differences remain. The “quiet” Speedmaster, as the 105.003 is often called, has the most plain and elegant appearance when compared to models produced prior or after its production.

After Schirra and Gordon Cooper wore the Speedmaster on their Mercury missions (Cooper wore both a Speedmaster and a Bulova Accutron Astronaut), NASA decided that the utility of having its astronauts equipped with a standardized wrist chronograph was beneficial. It began testing candidate chronographs. During the break between Mercury and Gemini, NASA tested chronographs for astronaut use. The eventual winner of the testing was the Speedmaster.

The Omega community has not been able to assemble a full list of the chronographs obtained by NASA, but a partial list has been assembled by Omega and is in collectors’ hands. A few months after Ed White’s Gemini IV spacewalk, NASA photos of the EVA were published in National Geographic. Omega has said that this was the first indication they had that NASA had been issuing the Speedmaster to astronauts. To signify this, Omega decided to rename the model the Omega Speedmaster Professional. Soon, in the fall of 1965, Speedmasters started being produced with dials bearing “PROFESSIONAL” in all caps below the script “Speedmaster” on the dial.

To the Moon

The watch worn to the moon.

Over the years there has been much discussion and even debate in the Omega collecting community as to which model Speedmasters actually made it to the moon. The answer is an open one. We can confirm that at least three different Speedmaster case references made it to the moon (along with a Waltham Chronograph). While we can exclude any models made after 1972, we can’t confirm or repudiate other models made before then.

In summation, the Omega Speedmaster is probably the most challenging and confounding wrist watch to collect. On the one hand, since Omega produced many thousands of these watches, they are not hard to find. On the other hand, so many collectors have “taken up the gauntlet” that demand has exceeded supply. Not to mention the near impossible task of acquiring one of each variation. One thing is very clear: few of the other collectible watches in the marketplace today has garnered such interest, historic importance, or consistently retained it’s value.

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My thanks for photographs and Omega info to the late Chuck Maddox, a self proclaimed Omegamaniac.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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Rolex "Sea Dweller"

During the late 1960s, in collaboration with COMEX—a France-based professional dive company—Rolex developed its “Submariner” model to meet the most stringent technical and professional demands of the professional deep-sea diver. In the process, Rolex eventually produced a very different watch from the Submariner and named it the “Sea Dweller,” which is still in production today.

COMEX divers not only needed solutions for water resistance at extreme depth, they also faced the danger of explosive decompression caused by helium penetrating the interior of the watch (divers breathed the mixture of oxygen and helium within their hyperbaric chamber after lengthy deep sea dives). To maintain a pressure identical to that underwater, the mixture in the hyperbaric chambers remained the same during the different phases of work and rest periods. This system was designed to eliminate the need to depressurize the chamber after each phase of work.

Before returning to free air, and depending on the depth attained, a period of depressurization was necessary to equalize the internal and external tension of the human organism. Though the process of depressurization is slow, the gas that accumulated inside the watch, having no means to escape fast enough, exploded the crystal off the watch, thereby risking injury to those inside the chamber and severely damaging an expensive watch.

Rolex collaborated with COMEX to develop a solution by installing a one-way pressure escape valve on the side of the watch case, at the nine o’clock position. The one-way valve will begin to equalize the pressure inside the watch when the difference between the exterior and interior of the watch exceeded 2.5 kg. per sq. cm.

The Helium Gas Escape Valve (HEV) was featured and tested on the Single Red and Double Red Patent Pending Submariner Sea-Dwellers, circa 1967-1969. Once the testing was successfully completed and Patent of the HEV approved, COMEX placed a special order with Rolex for the supply of a number of dive watches featuring the HEV and case with either ref. 5513 or 5514. This would be delivered to COMEX only and not provided for general sale.

The development and delivery of this unique reference evolved from a modified ref. 5513 to the final ref. 5514 with big case back numbers, circa 1975. The first COMEX deliveries were the Submariner ref. 5513, which can be found in a number of iterations: 1- The earliest ref. 5513 COMEX watches that have surfaced circa 1969/70 have non-HEV cases, non-logo dials and case backs which are engraved ‘Crown-Rolex-Comex.’

The serial number engraved inside the case back matches the serial number between the lugs at 6 o’clock. 2- The ref. 5513 COMEX watches with HEV (an improved version introduced post Patent approval) that followed (circa 1972) were mostly produced with a small or medium sized issue number engraved on the case back and a plain matt non-logo dial.

Approximately one third of the original issued ref. 5513 COMEX watches had a matt logo dial and very few have survived, thus making the ref. 5513 with the original COMEX logo dial configuration one of the rarest COMEX watches to exist (estimates have been made in the region of 50-60 watches in total).

The initial batch of ref. 5514 with HEV can be found with small & medium case back numbers (and generally non COMEX logo dials) and were delivered alongside the final batch of the ref. 5513 COMEX watches in 1972. Most deliveries from 1974 to 1977 of the COMEX “Submariner” with HEV only had the unique model ref. 5514 and not the ref. 5513. The model ref. 5514 was never sold to the public. The ref. 5514 from these batches featured two different case back styles with four variations of small, medium and large issue numbers. The original dials were still the matt variety, but the majority now featured the COMEX logo. In total the ref. 5514 was actually produced in higher numbers (approximately 600 to 700) than many of the other COMEX models, however, a far lower number have survived in their original configuration. The ref. 5514 remains a key watch to collectors purely because of the unique COMEX only reference number.

Comex Sea Dweller Rolex’s are highly desirable collector and investment watches. They fetch six-figure prices when offered for sale and are very hard to find in today’s watch market. Many watch manufacturers produce professional dive watches, but only the Rolex Sea Dweller has a helium escape valve. The variations of the Sea Dweller through its development can make a huge difference in the desirability and price of an individual watch.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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One of the tensts set up at last weekend's Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show in upstate New York.

The headlines read: “Mid-Summer Blues Amidst a Depressed Marketplace!” I see it every day in the newspaper and on CNN, but someone forgot to tell the people in this beautiful upstate New York hamlet of Bouckville.

Every year for the last 17 years, this sleepy little town of Bouckville host the Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show, a great outdoor is held in the where hundreds of antique dealers and flea market vendors flock to display their wares and recent finds in open fields that had until just recently been occupied by corn, barley, and cows. They are closely followed by hordes of antique fans and aficionados, eager for the find of a lifetime and the thrill of the hunt!

There is a lot of glass to be found at this event just about every year.

Set against the background of some of New York’s most majestic hills and beautiful farm country, the dealers migrate from across the country to erect their tents and offer their antique treasures to the masses. They know that antique collectors come from across this wide country seeking objects of their desire, usually with success. This year’s event, held Aug. 14-16, was a mixed bag of high-quality antiques and just plain junk! The economy’s precarious situation (tanked!) was evident in the myriad displays of stuff.

Dealers and collectors alike were complaining of the meager offerings and slim pickings, but they are a contentious lot and complaints are just a ploy to keep their finds a secret. There were some empty spaces that were in the recent years past occupied by venders, but the turnout was nonetheless large and remarkable. I found plowing through the fields of merchandise difficult but productive as the collectible watch business is alive and well.

The “main event” opens for load-in on Thursday, while Friday is dealer day (a steep $40 admission), and general admission begins on Saturday and runs through Sunday. For $7 and free parking, the Madison-Bouckville Outdoor Antiques Show proclaims “1,000 dealers,” and even if there is not that number officially, there’s still a lot to look over.

In addition, several local enterprising property owners up and down Rt. 20 rent spaces to dealers extending, a the three-day show to a week long event. Bono’s, Indian Openings, Hinneman’s, and Quaker Acres are but a few of the dozen or so “sub shows” where hundreds of “pickers” come a week ahead of the main event to scour the fields in search of that elusive bargain.

Sometimes it took some careful hunting, but there were treasured to be found.

Many, including yours truly, camp out on the back fields in tents, campers and the back seat. There are motels and an Indian casino within a 20 mile radius, and Syracuse and Utica are an equidistant 45-odd miles in either direction for those that need a city. The area is steeped in history; the Chittenango Canal, circa 1855, the Landmark Inn, circa 1790, Colgate University, established 1819, and the Hotel Solsville, est. 1939. The Landmark Inn has the best in fine dining and wines in addition to accommodations, while Hotel Solsville, just up the road, has the best burger and cold beer anywhere! I have no idea what’s available at the casino, but I hear it’s expensive. Local motels charge a very reasonable $40 to $90, depending on availability. The quaint historic village of Casanovia, established 1793, about 25 miles east has reasonable accommodations, fine dining, antique shops, and a fabulous lake.

The weather is always a major factor at an outdoor event of this nature, and Madison-Bouckville is no exception. This year the gods were kind, as there was plenty of sunshine. In years past, the rain came and turned these old cornfields into a gooey brown quagmire. The furrows of mud created by cars and trucks looked like huge servings of chocolate mousse sprinkled with little red, yellow and blue compact cars hopelessly stuck in the mud. The main event field has a fleet of antique farm tractors used during the show for deliveries and pulling out mud-stuck vehicles, so, no worries!

The turnout this year, all-in-all, was very good, as both dealer and collector alike hit the field with gusto! There was the typical lack of high-end merchandise, but no shortage of collectibles from A to Z. No fabulous paintings, bronzes, or National treasures turned up, but the few pieces of Stickley offered sold very quickly. Antique furniture and glass are popular items here, along with primitives and rugs. Utica N.Y. , the home of tools and tool-making Corning company—the home of glass—and Hamilton, the home of Colgate U are nearby and have historically contributed a wealth of product and education to this area. The Chittenango Canal and the Erie Canal, along with the railroads later, brought wealth and prosperity to this region during America’s Industrial Revolution. This state’s capitol of Albany is a mere 65 odd miles away.

It’s too late for this year’s event, but for those who know not to miss it next year, here’s the Web site. And for those that need to know more, click here. There is also a spring event; find your info and directions here.

David Mycko is a WorthPoint Worthologist specializing in antique and vintage watches.

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The early watch manufacturers didn’t do things consistently or exactly in series. The Boston Watch Company—the granddaddy of all American watch companies—is particularly annoying in this respect. Nearly every watchmaker in the United States was either European- or English-trained. Dennison was incorporating Eli Whitney’s mass production assembly line to the watch industry, which was going to make English and European watch production system obsolete. History records that in 1854, the Boston Watch Co. moved from Roxbury to a new factory in Waltham, Mass., and from that new factory, produced a run of 4,000 watches signed “Dennison Howard and Davis.” That’s what history seems to say at first glance, anyway..

In fact, the production history of DH&D is more complicated than it first looks. The Boston Watch Company failed in 1857 and was bought out and recapitalized as Appleton Tracy & Co. AT & Co. finished a fair number (perhaps 2,500) of DH&D watches that were in various states of assembly at the Boston Watch Co. when it failed. The wheel trains on these watches are the same as that on their descendants, the model 1857s. The third wheel pinion is below the wheel and the fourth wheel pinion is above the wheel. This can be called the “Waltham train.” Howard, backed by a businessman named Rice, competed with R.A. Robbins and Appleton at the bankruptcy auction to acquire the Boston Watch Co. Howard and Rice lost to R.A. Robbins, but managed to pull a few thousand unfinished movements out of the sale in lieu of Rice’s lost investment capital. Howard finished these old Boston Watch Co. movements and marketed them under the name Howard and Rice. Howard later severed his relationship with Rice and started his own watch company, which was later to become the finest American watch production company, E. Howard Watch Co. But that’s another story.

Another historical complication is that when Boston Watch Co. moved to Waltham, it took along a number of movements that were in process at the old factory in Roxbury. The train arrangement on the first several hundred DH&D movements is different from later DH&D’s and Model ’57’s. The third wheel pinion is below the wheel and the fourth wheel pinion is also below the wheel. Ron Price, the author of the current monograph on the origins and development of the Model ’57, refers to this as the Roxbury train, and points out that this unusual wheel arrangement is consistent with E.A. Marsh’s statement in his history of the watch company that the first “few hundred movements had been started in the Roxbury plant.”

The watch pictured with this article is a prime example of an early Boston Watch Co. Dennison Howard and Davis #1190 with Roxbury train. The movement is in overall excellent condition, with bright gilding, except around the winding arbor, which, consistent with early production, has no guard cup for the key wind arbor.

The watch is housed in an original, Eagle “Hallmarked” Case, #1151. Early cases for Boston Watch Co. watches were often marked with this eagle stamp, used by many American silversmiths to show the origins of a piece, and with an anchor used by Rhode Island silversmiths as W. Hauptman notes (NAWCC ‘Bulletin #106), “presumably from the Rhode Island seal ‘Anchor and Hope.’” The light engine turning is worn, but this remains a solid case.

In summary, the watch is a very early example of an important watch, in overall good condition. Hauptman, in the article referenced above, says: “A Dennison, Howard & Davis model, in my opinion, is the foundation of any collection of American watches …”