History

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 34: The U.S. Navy Burlington Watch

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: “The 1913 Timepiece,” Our Navy, August 1913. The Burlington Watch Company frequently leveraged the popularity of their watches in the U.S. Navy to present the Burlington as a reliable watch. Because the Burlington Watch Company was not associated with the United States Navy in...

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 33: Burlington Watches on Battleships

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: U.S. Navy Fleet, c.1911 Burlington Watch Company Catalog The United States Naval fleet gained national attention after completing the “1908 World’s Cruise,” showcasing the strength and prowess of the.

History , Illinois Watch Company

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 32: The “Little Guys”

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Members and Guests at the Annual Meeting of the Michigan Retail Jewelers’ Association at Detroit, Jewelers’ Circular, July 1908. While the Burlington Watch Company strategically positioned itself in the.

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 31: The Origin of the Burlington Challenge

By Nathan Moore

In Advertising History , History

Pictured: “Our $1,000 Challenge” Burlington Watch Company Catalog, c.1911. The time-keeping challenge presented to the Elgin and Waltham factories by the Burlington Watch Company was not a novel concept, despite the company leveraging the prospect of an open competition. The original challenge was issued by...

Advertising History , Catalogs & Resources , History

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 29: Re-Imported Watches

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: “Cheaper to Re-Import Watches,” Burlington Watch Company Catalog, c.1911. In an attack on the unscrupulous methods of the “watch trust,” the Burlington Watch Company exposed the drastic price differential.

Catalogs & Resources , History

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 28: Watch Trust Contracts

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: “Exposed! Trust Method Contracts,” Burlington Watch Company Catalog, c.1911. The Burlington Watch Company leveraged its fight against the “watch trust” to elicit respect from potential customers for their noble.

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 27: Fighting the Trust

By Nathan Moore

In Advertising History , Catalogs & Resources , History

Pictured: “War On Trust Methods,” Burlington Watch Company Catalog, c.1911. Starting with the first advertisements promoting the “Burlington Special” in 1908, the Burlington Watch Company lauded their stance against the “watch trust,” prominently including the headline, “Fighting the Trust.” During this era, several large watch...

Factories , History

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 26: The Babson Bros. Headquarters

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: The Babson Bros. Warehouse in Chicago, Edison Phonograph Monthly, May 1907 The Babson Bros. operated their enormous mail-order business enterprise from the west side of Chicago, fulfilling orders as.

Dials , History , Illinois Watch Company

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 25: The “Burlington Special” Dial Variants

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: “Burlington Special” Whimsical Dial Variants Compared [Variant 2 Image Courtesy of Pocket Watch Database Contributor “ngleasonmke”] Two distinct variants of the standard whimsical “Burlington Special” dial were furnished on.

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 24: The Alternative Dials

By Nathan Moore

In Dials , History , Illinois Watch Company

Pictured: Burlington Special Fancy Glass Enamel Dial, c.1916 [Image Credit: Reddit User “IWasRightOnce”] While early “Burlington Special” watches were furnished with two standard dial options, surviving examples provide evidence that the Burlington Watch Company also sold watches with alternative dials. Since these dials were not...

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