DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton, "Santa Fe Watch Co., Topeka, Kansas." marked mvt and dial, Grade 925, 17J, 18S, gold-filled original HC, white enamel SS dial, SW-LS, nickel damascene, s#451903. A very rare private label marking, this is the first example of a Santa Fe Watch Co. marked Hamilton watch which we have encountered. This serial number is listed in the Hamilton factory ledger as having been sold on June 6th, 1906 to the Bauman Massa Jewelry Co. of St. Louis, presumably as its distributor, and is one of a group of eight nearby serial numbers this firm purchased during May and June of 1906 (451901 on June 6th, 451903 to 451907 on June 6th, 451913 and 451914 on May 28th). The Santa Fe Watch Co. is of course best known for its "Santa Fe Special" line ordered from the Illinois Watch Co. which was very successful with many thousand sold, but these Illinois Santa Fe watches are of notably later vintage having been begun in late 1913.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking somewhat sluggishly, overhaul recommended, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous plates with some scattered fine to micro-fine scratches, mild spot to barrel bridge at "k" of "Topeka," mild oxide to regulator needle, few small bits of oxide elsewhere to steelwork; dial with hls between 7 and 8:30, hl above seconds-register, edge chip under bezel at 8, small edge flake under bezel at 7:30, some edge rub under bezel at upper-left; fine hands with some oxide and finish loss in areas; case shows substantial wear, cuvette with scratches from slipped past openings, some scattered dings with greater number to rear, engraving detail substantially lost with only some of the deeper elements remaining evident, wear to brass at front and rear perimeters, to majority of lower portion of band, and to majority of pendant, case front opens a bit wide of 90 degrees (to approximately 100 degrees); brassy bow pivots freely, crown is a smaller sized brassy replacement that is seated high on the pendant, has significant up/down play, and shows substantial wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$400
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$800
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