DESCRIPTION:
APW - Waltham, American Watch Co, Model 1868, 19J, 16S, heavy 18K gold original AWCo HC, gold cuvette engraved "Major Ben Perley Poore on his 50th Birthday Nov 2nd 1870 from a few friends," white enamel SS dial with script signature correct to this mvt grade, SW-LS, lever escapement with capped escape wheel, gold disk around balance jewel setting, fishscale and stripe pattern nickel damascene, s#410414. Comes with an unusual early associated American Watch Co. marked fitted mahogony box. Gross weight of assembled watch 90.8 dwt (141.2 g). An attractive original example of top grade movement, this American Watch Co. grade Model 1868 is also quite rare with the NAWCC online Waltham database returning a total production of 152 made. This particular example is further notable for its serial number and Fogg's patent marking in an attractive wavy three-line arrangement, this example being the only one we have encountered with this marking style as all others we have observed have serial number and Fogg's patent marking in a much plainer straight two-line arrangement. The individual the case was signed for, Major Benjamin Perley Poore, served Company A of the 8th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War and in civilian life was a well known newspaper correspondent and author. Additional information regarding Poore can be found in a Wikipedia article at the follow link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Perley_Poore
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking weakly on a full wind and stopping frequently, overhaul needed, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, some scattered typical fine to micro-fine scratches and few small surface spots; dial with small chip above upper left of seconds-register, seconds-register re-glued, small light hl above seconds-register, edge flake or small chip near 11; fine hands, minute with some bend, tail of seconds-hand with some bend; case shows ample wear, micro-fine scratches, shallow denting to rear above center, no engine turning remaining evident; bow pivots freely and with side-to-side play in larger pendant sockets, crown shows substantial wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$5000
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$8000
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