and one more

picture of hinge

and movement......love the blued screw heads!!

movement pix #2

and without crystal

Nice watch but I especially like the case.

If possible I would love to see a photo of the Ladd hallmark.

The watch description sounds like an ad for it. What are you asking?!

kh

Here you go, Lorne

and the patent date

And upon Googling...F.X.(Francis Xavier) Guth and his brother were jewelers at the time in Clarion, Pa. They came from Germany. A whole family of jewelers it seems.



Ken, just contributing, not for sale, one of my first pocket watches.

Thanks Richard, I had read about those markings but had never seen them.

Are the inside covers blank?

Richard,

Not trying to be mean, but just worried about the finger prints that are left all over the gilded plates. The residue transferred from your fingers will actually change to a rust colored impression on the gilded plates over time, if they are not removed with a Q-tip and light application of rubbing alcohol.

Thanks for your concerns, Jon. I have been neglectful/cautious since getting this watch 10-12 years ago. Things come up and my interest waned a little.
What you see on the movement was there before. They are in the pictures from 10-12 years ago. My concerns at the time, and I guess they still are my concerns, will the shiny appearance of the finish be affected at this point if it is cleaned?

This watch is next in line for my watchmaker to clean and oil, so any comments or suggestions from you or anyone visiting this thread is welcomed. I'll also have him regulate it somewhat.

Pretty cool having in your hands something that was around and in use when Gen. Custer was topping the hills at Little Big Horn.

Lorne, as in my first posting, a raised "anchor" is on the inside of the case indicating it is gold filled with a 25 year warranty . Nice enough to appear 14kt solid!!

Who do the fingerprints belong to? Research that.

kh

Eric, I have an opening...LOL

Those are 2 nice watches, the 17J is as nice an example condition wise of ANY Rockford I have ever seen!

My recent Rockford addition--Grade 89-sn-255385--gilt mvt.-15 jewels

21j and 16s Plymouth [Rockford] Prince Of Wales (two-star watch **) with folk art.

kh

case back ->

Prince of Wales movement

This is my Grade 89 17J, but rated as a 15J?? Ser. No. 328009
PL Otto Wettstein, Rochelle, IL (Seller listed as a Hampden!)
Wonder how many more "conversions" there are out there?

And the PL Dial:

Nice fleur-de-lis hands.

Nice watch Dave. I too have an Otto. , model 8 Grade 85.

This is my first try at posting a photo, sorry for the poor quality. The watch deserves better display, for sure.

Nice Larry,
Grade 85 is also rated as 15J, but yours looks like it also has the added center wheel jewel?? Wonder how common this is. Maybe Otto did it?
Love that case too!

I am not sure how common the center wheel jewel is, but it appears to me to be a 15 jewel watch. With a serial number of 350592, the book says Ca 1891. The 2013 book on page 348 shows a Special Railway model 8 with a number in the same range to mine and it shows the jewel setting and is pegged as a 17 jewel. Maybe that is the difference? I rather doubt that Otto re-manufactured the movement. As for the case,it is a Blauer 14K, nicely engraved front and back as well as sides. Not the original to the movement but a fine complement to the watch.

My only Rockford is a 12s in a display case, 21 jewels, adj to heat & cold, sn 835931. Don't know date of production or grade. Any info on these would be appreciated.

Michael,
You probably already have this information, but it's 1 of a total run of only 1000 manufactured in 1910: Which makes it pretty scarce!
Grade: 370
Adjusted
Movement Serial Number:835931
Estimated Production Year: 1910
Run Quantity: 1000
Size: 12s
Jewels: 21j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Model: 1
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted to Positions: Unknown
Railroad Grade: No

Michael,

You have a "rare" Rockford with only 1000 of the 370 being made back in da day...

Grade: 370

Adjusted

Movement Serial Number:835931
Estimated Production Year: 1910
Run Quantity: 1000
Size: 12s
Jewels: 21j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Model: 1
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted to Positions: Unknown
Railroad Grade: No

Thanks for your replies. One question is that my watch is an open face watch and not a hunting configuration. Not sure what to make of that.

Most likely somewhere in the past someone put your watch in an OF case. Happens all the time.

Could be an error in the data base which is not uncommon.

The more observations we post the more accurate it will become.

Page 369, 2013 Fatty shows Michael's configuration as:

Model 2
12 size
3/4 plate
bridge
open face
pendant set