Early History of the New York Watch Company: Part 12 – The New York Watch Co. Product Line Before Restructuring as the Hampden Watch Co.
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As the New York Watch Company continued to expand its product line in the mid-1870s, new grades were added at various quality levels to compete with other American watch companies.
An 1876 J.T. Scott & Co. price list posted to the NAWCC Forum by Greg Frauenhoff describes the movements offered by the New York Watch Company shortly before restructuring as the Hampden Watch Company.
1876 J.T. Scott & Co. New York Watch Company Grade List:
No. 2, “John Hancock,” 7 Jewels, Steel Balance, $14.00
No. 3, “Novelty,” 7 Jewels, Steel Balance, Nick. Barrel Bridge, $15.00
No. 4, “Geo. Sam Rice,” 7 Jewels, Imit. Bal., $16.00
No. 5, “Chas. E. Hayward,” 11 Jewels, Imit. Exp. Balance, $18.00
No. 6, “Aaron Bagg,” 7 Jewels, Exp. Balance, $20.00
No. 7, “Theo. E. Studley,” 11 Jewels, Exp. Balance, $24.00
No. 8, “Hampden,” 11 Jewels, Expansion Balance, Nickel Barrel Bridge, $25.00
No. 9, “C. Woolworth,” 15 Jewels, Exp. Balance, $28.50
Same. Adjusted to heat and cold, extra, $4.00
No. 10, “J.C. Perry,” 15 Jewels, Exp. Bal. NICKEL, $35.00
Same. Adjusted to heat and cold, extra, $4.00
No. 11, “Fred Billings,” 15 Jewels, Exp. Balance, Screwed in Jewels, $37.50
Same. Adjusted to heat and cold, extra, $5.00
No. 13, “Railway,” 15 Jewels, screwed in gold settings. NICKEL. Expansion Bal. adjusted to heat and cold, $60.00.
No. 14, “Homer Foot,” 3/4 plate movement, sizes 16 and 18, 15 Ruby Jewels, Expansion Balance, adjusted to heat and cold, $65.00
No. 15, “John L. King,” 3/4 plate movement, sizes 16 and 18, 17 fine Ruby Jewels screwed in. Exp. Bal., adjusted to heat and cold, $75.00
Same. Size 16, improved, with pend., winding and setting attachment, $105.00
No. 16, “E.W. Bond,” 3/4 plate, NICKEL, with pend., winding and setting attachment. 17 fine Ruby Jewels in gold settings, Exp. Bal., accurately adjusted to heat and cold, $125.00
No. 20, “George Walker,” best 3/4 plate, pendant, winding and setting attachment, size 16, either in gilt or nickel, 21 high colored Ruby Jewels, finest quality, set in gold. Exp. Bal., accurately adjusted to temperature, isochronism and position, [breguet] spring, $300.00
The following chart provides a way to compare the grades offered in the 1876 J.T. Scott Catalog:
*Additions from observations or other sources in square brackets.
Grade Size Jewels Jewel Setting Balance Adjustments Special Feature Price John Hancock 18 7 – Steel – $14.00 Novelty 18 7 – Steel – Nickel Bridge $15.00 Geo. Sam Rice 18 7 – Imitation – $16.00 Chas E. Hayward 18 11 [Burnished] Imitation Expansion – $18.00 Aaron Bagg 18 7 – Expansion – $20.00 Theo. E. Studley 18 11 [Imitation Settings] Expansion – $24.00 Hampden 18 11 [Burnished] Expansion – Nickel Bridge $25.00 C. Woolworth 18 15 Expansion – $28.50 C. Woolworth Adjusted 18 15 Expansion Temperature $32.50 J.C. Perry 18 15 Expansion – Nickel Plates $35.00 J.C. Perry Adjusted 18 15 Expansion Temperature Nickel Plates $39.00 Fred Billings 18 15 Screw Expansion – $37.50 Fred Billings Adujsted 18 15 Screw Expansion Temperature $42.50 Railway 18 15 Gold Screw Expansion Temperature Nickel Plates $60.00 Homer Foot 16/18 15 [Burnished] Expansion Temperature Ruby Jewels $65.00 John L. King 16/18 17 Screw Expansion Temperature Ruby Jewels $75.00 John L. King Stem-Wind/Set 16 17 Screw Expansion Temperature Ruby Jewels, Stem-Wind/Set $105.00 E.W. Bond 17 Gold Screw Expansion Temperature Ruby Jewels,
Nickel Plates,
Stem-Wind/Set$125.00 George Walker 21 Gold Screw Expansion Position, Isochronism, Temperature Ruby Jewels, Breguet Hairspring $300.00
Interestingly, while the George Walker movement is included in the price list, no surviving examples of this grade have been found to date. Production of this premium movement was likely minimal due to the extremely high cost.
Special thanks for Greg Frauenhoff for allowing the use of his scan of the 1876 J.T. Scott catalog for this article. To my knowledge, this source provides the most comprehensive list of grades offered by the New York Watch Company and is a critical reference for New York research.
I have a very old pocket mans watch the movement name is Watham.Mass beautiful movement but I can’t read the serial number on it it’s all hand engraved it’s absolutely gorgeous & it’s 100% silver can someone contact me to let me know if I have a historical beautiful pocket watch Thank You