DESCRIPTION:
APW - Edward Howard, by Howard Keystone, 23J with distinctive blue sapphire jeweling, free-sprung balance with special fine adjustment weights mounted on balance spars, 16S, heavy 18K gold original Howard case with "Captain B.J. Mullaney from Officers and Crew of U.S.S. Mullany, DD528, Sept. 1944" engraved to rear, Jurgensen-style lips, gold cuvette with ornate signature ring and matching mvt s#, "Edward Howard" marked white enamel SS dial, SW-SS, free-sprung balance with gold and platinum timing weights, frosted tear-shaped cap settings on balance and escape wheel, wolf's tooth winding with frosted and mirror finish wheels, frosted gilt mvt, s#66 with matching serial number engraved to case cuvette. Gross weight of assembled watch 68.6 dwt (106.7 g). Introduced in 1912 and priced at the lofty sum of $350 retail, the "Edward Howard" was E. Howard Watch Co.'s flagship product and made a conspicuous entry into the elite market niche. In total it is believed that approximately 300 examples (if not a bit less) of the Edward Howard were produced, and examples we have encountered have spanned serial numbers ranging from the mid 2-digit range up to the low 300s. The present example is an excellent original specimen, and features a very appealing military provenance for U.S. Navy Captain Baron Joseph Mullaney. Mullaney was Lieutenant Commander of the Fletcher-class destroyer ship U.S.S. Mullany from April 23rd, 1943 to September 19th, 1944; with this end date of command corresponding to the presentation engraving of the present watch. Following this command, Mullaney was to go on to command the destroyer U.S.S. Hugh W. Hadley during 1945 and Mullaney was awarded a Navy Cross for his heroism and service during a harrowing battle on May 11th in the Ryukyu Islands during which the ship was badly damaged by kamikaze aircraft which necessitated its towing to Anchorage for emergency repair. The movement of the present watch has two interesting features we believe worthy of mention. The first is that the movement attaches to the case via tabs under the case bezel, with no case screws or provision for case screws seen from the back side of the movement. This arrangement appears to be found among only some of the low serial numbered Edward Howard examples, as we have observed serial number 62 to be of this same style, but serial number 82 and all examples we have seen at higher serial numbers than this have had the more common (and in this cataloger's opinion, somewhat less visually elegant) design with case screws accessible from the rear. The other interesting movement feature of this example we'd like to note is that upon dis-assembly, this movement has no assembly serial numbers; but instead is marked with a single letter "P" to its main plate, barrel bridge, winding bridge, center bridge, fourth wheel bridge, escape wheel bridge, pallet bridge, balance cock, balance wheel spar, ratchet wheel, barrel, barrel cover, and even to its barrel arbor.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, good gilt tone, micro-fine scratches to balance cock, some micro-fine scratches and bits of oxide to portions of winding wheels and click assembly; virtually flawless dial with only a minuscule fine scratch in the upper portion of the seconds-register; excellent hands; case shows little wear, mild dent to band at 4, dings to band at 3 and 6, excellent engraving detail; tight bow, crown shows light to medium wear with small ridge break; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$8000
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$10000
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