DESCRIPTION:
APW - Waltham, Appleton Tracy & Co, low serial #5810, Model 1857, 16J, 18S, 14K gold or better (tested, all components holding 14K test on stone, front and rear with very gradual fade of 18K solution on stone, band with rapid fade of 18K solution on stone, case possibly in the approximately 15K to 16K gold range overall) WP&Co (Wheeler, Parsons & Co) HC with inaccurate "Warranted 18K" marking, gold cuvette with "BWCF" marking to its inner surface, "Appleton Tracy & Co Waltham" marked white enamel SS dial, KWKS, gold balance wheel, gilt mvt, s#5810. Gross weight of assembled watch 79.1 dwt (123.1 g). A very early example from the initial year of the Appleton Tracy & Co.'s existence, this movement is from a production run listed in Waltham records as having been made in December of 1857. This movement has the notable early production features of a total jewel count of 16 (with center wheel arbor jeweled under the dial) and a blued steel disk around its barrel arbor. These features were characteristic of the earliest production of Appleton Tracy & Co. grade movements, but were short-lived as this grade's production was soon after changed to 15 jewel movements with gilt cups around their barrel arbors. It appears that casemaker Wheeler, Parsons & Co. may have been incorporated in 1867 which would date the case of this example to some years after its movement's production.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent-plus mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, excellent gilt tone, some mild fingerprint type etching at small portions of plate perimeter, few micro-fine scratches; dial with hl below seconds-register at 6:30, two very faint hls above seconds-register, evident re-pasting of seconds-register central portion which is seated a bit out of level; excellent hands; case front opens a bit wide of 90 degrees (to approximately 105 degrees), case shows ample wear, scattered dings to rear and band, ding to lower perimeter of front, ding or mild dent to upper left perimeter of cuvette, substantially reduced engraving detail; tight bow, push shows substantial wear and has only its upper gold surface present; good glass crystal apart from a small internal rub at center from tip of center arbor.
ESTIMATE:
$2600
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$3400
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