On Dec 14th, in the Aurora thread, Jon Hart wrote:

"Two great watches made in the fine state of ILLINOIS..."

That got me wondering . . . how many states had American pocket watch factories in them?

Off the top of my head I can think of MA, IL, PA,
NE (Elgin/Lincoln - did Elgin make pocket watches in Lincoln?).

I know there are others, who and where? How many states total had American pocket watch factories?

Joe

South Bend Indiana- better mention that one or you will be toast on this site!!

New Haven, Seth Thomas, Conn

Columbus, Ohio

Larry

Canton, Ohio.

Regards! Mark

ingreham ,Set Thomas,New Haven watch Connecticut
my home away from home state

Manistee, Detroit & Ann Arbor Michigan
( Mozart from Ann Arbor and Allison from Detroit Are VERY RARE )
If you consider making only a handful of Watches a " Factory ' we can include these. Otherwise, Manistee Watch Co was the
Biggest.

Oh yeah . . . thinkin caps are getin put on . . .

How many states had more than one - like IL? Probably MA.

Next question will be how many states had watch case factories?

Michigan Again, Star Watch Case Co. Ludington.

Springfield, Boston, & Waltham MA.

Gruen, Ohio

Andy, Larry, Mark, Peter, Jack, Dana & Francesco - Thank you!

Dana - here is interesting link in reference to Hampden & Springfield, MA.

http://dueber-hampden.blogspot...atch-company-in.html

Jack, When I started this thread I was thinking mainstream American pocket watch companies, manufacturers or factories. The picture in my mind was the multi-story factory building with a three digit or more number of workers inside, i.e. Elgin, Hamilton, Waltham, Hampden, South Bend, etc.

The 'cottage industry' segment of American pocket watch manufacturing is, I am sure, a fascinating one, and maybe another story.

I am thinking of the companies who manufactured the watches generally available on the jeweler's shelves.

Another interesting link:

http://www.pocketwatchrepair.c...es/history_main.html

Joe That's kind of what I thought. That makes the
Manistee Co. the only true factory here in Mich.

NAWCCO was in Mansfield Ohio, seems there was a case company in Cincy Ohio also. Ball should have been in Cleveland Ohio.

Later Elgin was in South Carolina

Let's hear it for the Garden State (NJ). New York Standard Watches, you know! Jersey City, NJ.

Appleton, Wisconsin. Anyone have one they would like to sell?

Otay Watch Co. Located in southern San Diego County (near the border with Mexico).

United States Watch Co. Marion NJ. now part of Jersey City NJ.