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Pocket Horology
National Research Chapter 174 National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors June, 2005 - Updated March 2006 Waltham's Assorted Specials The Waltham serial number lists, both the "Gray Book" (published by Waltham in the 1950s) and the early hand-written ledgers (covering up to around 1900), provide details of much of their production. However, one consistent gap in the record are the thirty serial number blocks of varied special-order watches that are listed as "Ass't Spec." (Assorted Specials) or "Special Orders, Assorted Sizes and Grades". These appear to consist of numerous small special orders that were too small to list individually. However, cumulatively the thirty groups of specials, produced between 1907 and 1920 account for nearly 12,000 movements that are otherwise unknown. These are mostly specially finished private-label watches, many with unique features. The purpose of this research is to fill in these gaps in the Waltham production records. As an example, serial number group 17,051,501 - 17,052,500 includes numerous examples of the "Patrician" label, manufactured for and cased by casemaker H.W. Matalene (discussed in our January 2003 Newletter). Within this run alone I have seen 10-ligne,
6/0, 0 and 14-size (Colonial Series) Patrician movements with 17 to 23
jewels. Many have gold gear trains and exhibit characteristics of Waltham's highest quality work. The group also includes some high-grade Colonial
Series movements marked for Tiffany & Co.
This Tiffany & Co movement is one of several I have seen that have been modified to read "TIERANY & COX". The pillar plate has also been cut down from 14-size to 12-size. Both of these Colonial Series movements have unique experimental features, such as a provision for pin or push setting that was, however, not utilized. Both, also, take a unique footless dial with special dial screws that pinch the edge of the dial to hold it on.
Here is a complete list of the "special" groups, including a generalized notation of what has been found so far. More detail will appear on this page later, including a listing of all reported examples. Many of these have custom cases that will also be part of the research.
run serial number
range quantity observed labels
1) 16125001 -16125100 100
2) 16140501 -16140700 200
3) 16158001 -16158300 300
4) 16167401 -16167700 300 Bigelow.
Kennard & Co.
5) 16186601 -16186700 100
6) 16188501 -16188700 200
7) 16196701 -16197000 300 Bigelow.
Kennard & Co.
8) 17018501 -17018800 300
9) 17051501 -17052500 1000 Tiffany &
Co. (Tierany & Cox); Patrician
10) 17162001 -17162500 500 Shreve. Crump
& Low Co.
11) 17187501
-17188500 1000 J. Q. Hatch
12) 18027501
-18028500 1000 Bigelow. Kennard & Co.;
Patrician
13) 18049001
-18049500 500
14) 18053651
-18054000 350
15) 18064411
-18064500 90
16) 18120601
-18120700 100
17) 18135001
-18136000 1000 J. Q. Hatch, Bigelow, Kennard & Co.; Warwick; Hatch
18) 19084501
-19085000 500 Bigelow, Kennard & Co.
19) 20012501
-20012800 300
20) 20024551
-20025100 550 J. Q. Hatch
21) 20056601
-20056794 194
22) 20056995
-20057000 5
23) 20092501
-20092600 100
24) 20092701
-20093000 300
25) 20309001
-20309500 500 Brenner Watch; Crest
26) 22082001
-22082500 500 Brenner Watch; Tiffany & Co.
27) 22190001
-22190500 500 Tiffany & Co. (Tierany & Cox)
28) 23004001
-23004500 500 Tiffany & Co. (Tierany & Cox)
29) 23013501
-23014000 500
30) 23203501
-23203900 400
Data fields that I am seeking to fill include: serial number, size, jewelling, movement marking and finish, plate layout, dial marking, special features (patent click, whiplash regulator, diamond endstone, gold train), and casing (style, material, markings, serial number, special features). Photographs of movements, dials and cases are requested, when available.
Information and photos should be sent to jtreiman@att.net Data sources will be kept confidential. |
