Railroad Grade

The Waltham “Crescent Street” Movement: The Model 1870: Earliest Advertisements and Initial Production

By Nathan Moore

In Waltham

Earliest Crescent Street Advertisement (Robbins & Appleton), The Watchmaker and Jeweler, December 1869 Despite the flagship "Crescent Street" watch eventually being classified as the "Model 1870," advertisements for the new railroad watch began to appear in late 1869. The earliest known advertisement for the Model...

Catalogs & Resources , Illinois Watch Company

New Addition to the Digital Archive: 1884 Illinois Watch Company Catalog

By Nathan Moore

The Illinois Watch Company distributed this small illustrated catalog in 1884 to promote its line of watch movements offered at the time. The introduction to the catalog mentions several improvements.

Elgin

The Comprehensive List of Elgin Veritas Grades with Estimated Production

By Nathan Moore

Closeup of Elgin No. 376 Veritas #15569051, c.1911 In March 1901, the Elgin National Watch Company introduced the new "Veritas" model as a watch "specially constructed for railway watch inspection.".

Rockford Watch Company Grade 545 Railroad Grade Movement Rating Certificate

By Nathan Moore

In Rockford

Rockford Watch Company Grade 545 Rating Certificate for Movement #560054, August 1904 Around 1906, the Rockford Watch Company attempted to gain more market share by leveraging stricter specifications required for railroad service watches. To further reinforce the precision and reliability of these watches, the company...

U.S. Watch Co. Waltham

U.S. Watch Co. “The President” 18-Size, Model 1892, 17 Jewels, c.1895

By Nathan Moore

U.S. Watch Co. "The President" 18-Size, Model 1892, 17 Jewels, c.1895 - Serial #150431 Movement In February 1894, John J. McGrane introduced "The President" watch for "Engineers and Railroad Men,".

History

Guest Post: AWC Waltham Model 1870 “Crescent Street”

By Miguel Ángel Cladera

This post was originally published by Miquel Angel Cladera on his exceptional blog at SaFonaGastroCrono. The English translation has been provided by Google Translate with minor edits for proper clarification..

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 73: Railroad Grade Classification for 16-Size Burlington Watches

By Nathan Moore

In Railroad Watches

“Our 21 Jewel Smashes Prices” Baltimore and Ohio Magazine, September 1920. In contrast to the Santa Fe Watch Company that sold watches with identical traits, the Burlington Watch Company never directly promoted the Burlington watch for railroad service in the United States. The majority of...

History

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Burlington Watch Co.” Part 72: The Moser Burlington Watch

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: “Men! A 21-Jewel Burlington Watch” The Winnipeg Tribune, August 17, 1928. With the exception of a single limited run, the watches manufactured at the Illinois watch factory for the.

Adjustments , Advertising History , Railroad Watches , Railroads

Private Label Trade Names on American Pocket Watches: “Santa Fe Special” Part 19

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Santa Fe Special Watch Endorsement by Santa Fe Railroad Engineer Edward Whitcomb, The Topeka Daily Capital, October 7, 1914 The validity of a “railroad grade” classification is frequently questioned.

The Freak Show: Webb C. Ball’s “Freakish” Railroad Dials: The “Side-wheeler” Watch

By Nathan Moore

In Dials , Elgin , History , Railroad Watches , Railroads

Pictured: Elgin National Watch Co. “Sidewinder” Watch, Grade H.H. Taylor, c.1875. In addition to the more unusual dials that Webb C. Ball classified as “Freakish” Railroad Dials in his 1920 paper presented at the National Safety Council meeting, he also attacked “side-wheeler” watches (commonly referred...

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