DESCRIPTION:
APW - Waltham, Railroader, Model 1888, 17J, 16S, gold-filled OF case with attractive engraving detail to rear including an idyllic church scene, misleading "14K" marking within case, "Railroader Waltham" signed white enamel SS dial with bold Arabic numerals in radial orientation and heavy double track minute chapter, SW-LS, swirled pattern nickel damascene, s#6506524. The Railroader marking is quite rare in the Model 1888, and these are one of the very few Model 1888 movements to have been made as lever-set. This particular example was formerly owned by Illinois Watch Co. author and researcher Bill Meggers and comes with his distinctive inventory card and bag as pictured noting his acquisition of the watch for $450 in 1977 from Roy Ehrhardt, his observations on the watch, and noting all repairs and modifications during his ownership.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, mvt has had an additional case screw added to its train bridge which is a modification that was made at some point post-production and is not factory executed, the recess for this case screw is fairly large and the case screw in this position has a spacer inserted beneath to reach to the adjacent case lip, mvt winding wheel matte finish was restored in 1977 by Bill Meggers as detailed on inventory card, apart from these issues mvt is otherwise in fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, plates with some scattered fine to micro-fine scratches and pinpoint surface nicks, short deep scratch adjacent a balance jewel setting screw, oxide to regulator star; dial with scattered hls, cluster of perimeter fractures at 3:30 with some small associated surface flaking, tiny nick to hour track mark at 7, edge chip under bezel at setting lever; excellent hour and minute hands, fine seconds-hand with finish loss and oxide; case shows medium wear, some marring to cuvette at lip, ding to band near 7, some mild shallow dents to rear with little exterior visibility, some shallow dents to cuvette, reduced engine turning and engraving detail with small areas of full loss, few strips of wear to brass to pendant, very thin partial ring of wear to brass to rear edge, very thin strips of wear to brass along ridge tips along band; tight brassy bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$500
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$900
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