Coin Slot Magazine - #007 - 1975 - March [International Arcade Museum]
THE
COIN
SLOT
MARCH
1975
Company, which lasted until 1903. Many, myself included, consider
Howard watches to be the highest quality timepieces ever mass
produced in the United States. Edward Howard died in 1904. As for
David Davis, I can find no record of him after 1858. Between 1853 and
1858 he was a stock holder in the Waitham Improvement Co., which
was formed to promote and build a factory at Wraitham.
The
various
Waitham
companies
produced
watches
of
every
description, for ever}' need, at every price. As The American Watch
Co., and The American Waitham Watch Co., the company produced
millions of movements. Naturally, watches with the Waitham name on
them are not too hard to come by today, if just because of the sheer
volume that were created. Movements with the earlier company names
are quite desirable, and are becoming harder to find.
The earliest models were key wind, key set affairs. The first stem
wind movement was number 410, 698. a 16 size watch, made in 1868.
As was the custom when pocket watches were popular, the purchaser
very often bought the movement separately from the case, thereby
choosing the grade of each item. (i.e. —a high grade movement in an
inexpensive case, or any other combination).
From looking at Waitham catalogues we can get some idea of the
different quality items they offered. One catalogue, from the 1880's,
shows an extremely wide range of timepieces, starting with model
number 1 at $8.00. This pavement had gilt plates, compensation
balance, seven jewels, and was stem wound. For an additional $2.00 an
anti-magnetic version could be had. Model 1883 had
15 jewels (in
settings), compensation balance, and nicely engraved gilt plates. The
cost was $11.00. For another dollar, nickel plates could be had. One of
the highest grade watches produced by Waitham was the Vanguard. It
retailed
for $60,
description is
a
or $70 in the anti-magnetic
version.
quote
which
from
the
original
ad,
The
best
stated
"21 extra fine ruby jewels in raised gold settings, double roller, exposed
pallets, embossed gold patent micrometer regulator,
compensation
balance in recess, adjusted to temperature, isochronism and position,
patent safety barrel, exposed winding wheels, patent Breguet
hairspring hardened and tempered in form, elaborately finished nickel
plates with gold lettering, plate and jewel screws gilded, steel parts
chamfered, double sunk dial. The Vanguard is the finest 18 size
.com
m
:
u
from -muse
d
e
movement in the world."
ade and high grade Waitham watch in the
oad desirable
l
c
r
n
a
Another extremely
ow
w.
w Maximus.
23 jewel D Riverside
This had all the refinements of the
w
/
/
:
ttp then some! This model was produced in various batches
Vanguard h and
over the years, the first being somewhere around 1873. As production
went along changes were made,
including the amount of jewels.
Probably the most coveted of all the Waitham products is the five
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