By the mid20th century, transfer machines were widely employed in the automotive industry, appliance manufacturing, electricalparts production, and many other metalworking. Media in category waltham watch company the following 32 files are in this category, out of 32 total. Pocket watch american waltham watch co, traveler, 1908. Most widely known under this name, the company would produce some of the finest examples of pocket watches ever created.
The dial has roman numerals but does not have any makers name on it. Producing millions of timepieces over their 107year history, waltham watch company is a landmark in american timekeeping. American waltham watch company, 18851906 historical research on the american waltham watch co. Watches by hourminsec products pocket watches american.
American waltham watch company watches information,company. American waltham watch company, 18851906 web horology. Other articles where american waltham watch company is discussed. It sold products under the brand names orient, waltham, and walthamorient. American waltham case serial numbers torrentssuper9s diary. The american waltham pocket watch is noted among collectors for their intrinsic beauty, high quality, unique designs, and for being made in america from 1850 to 1957 when they moved to switzerland. Located on crescent street and the banks of the charles river, the surviving elements of its manufacturing facility date from the 1870s to the 1910s, and include particularly fine industrial. Woerd woerds patent, formerly of the american waltham watch company, and the nutting brothers, owners of a watch tool and machinery company in waltham.
The company was founded by david davis, aaron dennison, and edward howard. Waltham full hunter antique pocket watches for sale ebay. The american waltham watch company historic district encompasses the former factory of the waltham watch company, the leading american watch manufacturer of the 19th century and the citys largest employer. Because of peculiarities of swiss law at the time, they could not establish a whollyowned subsidiary, and when american waltham went bankrupt in 1957, the swiss company remained independent. Presidents and explorers would wear walthams and the company would become one of the most recognisable names in american watchmaking. Aug 08, 2015 history of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass abbott, henry g. The company s historic 19thcentury manufacturing facilities in waltham, massachusetts have been preserved as the american waltham watch company historic district. Oct 10, 2018 history of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass abbott, henry g on. History of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass abbott, henry g on. The original home of the boston manufacturing company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning, spawning what became known as the. The property functioned as a watch factory until the 1950s. A colorado startup resurrects waltham pocket watches. In april 1891 a group of waltham investors took over the company and moved it back to waltham. The waltham pocket watch is equally celebrated and is part of the companys history from its very beginning.
With financial backing from samuel curtis, of smallarms. Over the course of 150 years, the waltham watch company would manufacture thousands of watches. The companys historic manufacturing facilities in waltham, massachusetts have been preserved as the american waltham watch company historic. Wade bought the american watch tool company, founded in 1872 in boston, and moved it to a larger facility in waltham. As abraham lincoln was elected president of the usa, in 1860, and the us was plunged into civil war, the comp nay had problems, as over the. Waltham public library local history and genealogy. A pioneer, a history of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass.
The company was founded in 1893, moving to selfpropelled vehicles after 1898. In 1885, after 26 years, the company name changed to american waltham watch co. Curt nickisch wbur this article is more than 4 years old. Awwco where it was to remain for the next 32 years. This had the combined effects of increasing productivity and lowering the prices of walthams watches to its customers. Their vision was to form a watch company that could produce highquality watches at a lower cost using interchangeable parts. The waltham watch company was steeped in american history, the company was founded by david davies, edward howard and aaron lufkin dennison who in 1850 set up a company in roxbury massachusetts to manufacture watch parts.
Gilded dial with engraving of a peacock in foreground, town scene. The waltham watch company, also known as the american watch company, made over 40 million watches, clocks and other precision implements between the years of 1850 and 1957. History of the american waltham watch company 1904 by henry g. This watch has an estimate manufacture date of 1904. It sold products under the brand names orient, waltham, and waltham orient. History of the american waltham watch company of waltham. The story of the waltham watch, with retail selling prices, waltham watch coompany, waltham mass. How to determine value of waltham watches lovetoknow.
The company was founded by david davis, aaron dennison, and mr. Regional digitization in massachusetts, funded by lsta grant and administered by the boston public. If you are interested in the waltham watch company history, you can read the following books online or download to your computer. Woerd, formerly the superintendent of the american waltham watch company, and the nutting brothers, around 1883.
Remember, the serial number being referred to is the serial number on the movement i. You can find many waltham pocket watches for sale on ebay. American watch company american waltham watch company waltham watch company waltham, massachusetts. The waltham watch company thus served to expand america and the worlds time consciousness. American horologe eventually became the american watch company of waltham, ma, or what we know simply as waltham. Lossing1876 p342 american watch company, waltham, ma. American waltham watch company, 18851906 forum tools. The watches are highly collectible and people often want to know waltham watches values. Dennison severed his connection with the company in 1862 and. The firm was known as the american watch company from 1859 to 1885.
Although it is possible to trace the roots of american watches and watchmaking much earlier, arguably the first factorymade, american watch was produced in the early 1850s by the american horologe company of roxbury, ma. Unfollow american waltham pocket watch to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Pocket watch information custom engraved swiss pocket. In 1954, waltham established a swiss subsidiary, waltham international sa. American waltham watch company history the founding fathers and forerunners of the great american watch company at waltham, mass. It should have given waltham an immediate and early edge over the competition. The waltham watch company started as the embodiment of the american dream but ended as a nightmare.
They had the then revolutionary idea of producing large quantities of waltham pocket watches by using machinery set up to mass produce parts in order to make watches more easily affordable than they. The waltham clock company has been out of business since 1954. The american waltham company was the first massproduced watch, using interchangeable parts. By 1860 the country was in civil war, and the company was in. History of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass abbott, henry g. Waltham clock history national clock repair new hope, pa. American waltham watch company history web horology. American waltham watch company one of the earliest and most prolific u. Sep 16, 20 by morgan denyer penrose antiques ltd here is a bit of a horological heresey, the english waltham. By 1860 the country was in civil war, and the company was in trouble again. American waltham watch company history web horology message. Welcome to waltham clock company museum created by andy dervan. As stated by carl sandberg in his biography of president abraham lincoln, the 16th president owned and carried a william ellery 18 size key wind.
It was renamed the american waltham watch company in 1885 and retained this name until 1906. New listing solid 18k yellow gold waltham usa 12s seventeen 17 jewel pocket watch excellent. A walthammade timepiece that vortic watch company uses in their 100 percent americanmade watches. Waltham watch company was the first watchmaker to massproduce watch movements on an assembly line. In the beginning of 2003, a few waltham collectors, including tom mcintyre and myself began development of the waltham database. The waltham watch company, also known as the american waltham watch co.
In the early 1920s the american name was dropped and the name became the wade tool company. Other articles where waltham watch company is discussed. The first republic corporation of america purchased the property in 1961 as a multitenanted light manufacturing and warehousing facility. The original home of the boston manufacturing company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning, spawning what became known as the walthamlowell system of labor and production. Organized by three associates in the mid19th century, the waltham watch company experienced a cloaked early. Find great deals on ebay for american waltham pocket watch and american waltham pocket watch 14k. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. By the mid20th century, transfer machines were widely employed in the automotive industry, appliance manufacturing, electricalparts production, and many other. Waltham is a city in middlesex county, massachusetts, united states, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the american industrial revolution. Waltham watch company was a watch manufacturer founded in 1850 in waltham, mass. As abraham lincoln was elected president of the usa, in 1860, and the us was plunged into civil war, the comp nay had problems, as over the next year business was at a standstill. This site presents interesting examples of their clocks and company history. Pocket watch information custom engraved swiss pocket watches. Waltham clock company museum home website designed to.
The american waltham watch company had its beginnings in 1850 in roxbury, massachusetts. Eaton became treasurer and president of the company respectively. The company s historic 19thcentury manufacturing facilities in waltham, massachusetts have been preserved as. The perfected american watch, american waltham watch company, waltham mass. American waltham watch company historic district wikipedia. Waltham manufacturing company wmc was a manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, motorized tricycles and quadricycles, buckboards, and automobiles in waltham, massachusetts. The waltham public library owns many books about walthams history which are located on the shelves of the waltham room. History of the american waltham watch company of waltham, mass. Thanks to the efforts of the internet archive, a nonprofit engaged in making books and other media available free online, some of our books have been scanned and are now accessible digitally. Both the orient buckboard and waltham orient were offered by the waltham manufacturing co. The waltham orient was much larger than the orient buckboard.