some years back i purchaced an 18s movement that was signed A C Roebuck on the dial. it has a two toned mvmnt. it is a nice watch and when i come across someone with a sears and roebuck i can top them with my A C. i think the movement is made by trenton(not much info in my 87' shugharts). i was wondering if anyone else has one. how rare are they?

Hi Darren

I don't know if you know this but A.C. Roebuck was a Alvah Curtis Roebuck who took a job for Richard Sears. You can read more at http://www.hhs59.com/sears.htm

Tom

I found your AC in two of my references,1 the Complete Price Guide is available from IHC185 and the other is the "Golden Book, which you would have to find at a used book place or eBay.

The inset on the left is from the Complete Price Guide which explains a Trenton A C Roebuck in the HUNTER CASED version is a "2 Star" rare piece, and is probably worth over $275.00 depending on case and condition.
The right inset view is a image of that movement plate which indicate a lot of fancy Damaskeening work.

If you can show a picture of you watch that would help a lot.

David et al,

FWIW

In 1993 Heart of America released an 8 1/2 x 11 version of the golden book. Its not as pretty but it sure is easier for these old eyes to read.

Either way, it is a wonderful tool and should be in every collectors library.

happy hunting,

Bill Kapp

What a story about Sears and Roebuck! Where else can we find such a well rounded set of answers so quickly and in such a friendly manner!

OOPS I think that's

$375.00!

and Ex-Fn is $550.00 and Mint is $800.00

I got interested in this one, and I sure would like to see the movement.

I don't know Trenton's at all, so a peek would be nice.

I have a short VHS tape I made from a PBS story on Sears & Roebuck. One interesting thing was, in the old day farmers only had a few books, the Bible, a Montgomery Ward's and S&R catalog. These books would sit on the side table. S&R Co. had their catalog purposely made smaller so it would sit on top of the Montgomery Ward's catalog, and always be in view and the first book they would pick up.
I also have a set of 50 Sears & Roebuck Stereo View cards. Great pictures inside and outside the Factory. Anyone ever see these?
Brian C.

sorry to return so late. what great responses/info. thank you guys. ive never really found much about this watch over the years. i bought this mvmt on ebay several years back it was listed as "waltham mvmnt in tin". i suspect that most of the people that collect walthams took a look at the plates and saw it was not a waltham and passed on it. i looked up the name and found that a c r was the watchmaker that sears hired. only 4 people bid on the tin. i got it for about $30 total. not bad huh. when i got the mvmt i c@o it asap. it had been sitting so long that the hour/setting wheels had left their shape in the oil. i put this in one of my 18s cases with one of my favorite metals-oresilver. im tring to make a display back out of the case to show off the mvmnt. any ideas? oh sorry about the pics. tried one camera not so good so im looking for my other better camera.

Darren: Do you have a scanner? Try scanning the movement on photo setting with resolution no greater than 300. Ernie

There is a free program called "picasa" that massages pictures perfectly for this site, and also allows you to "stitch" pictures to get more than one in a frame and STILL download to this site. I use it all the time here as it massages all my ditial pictures, and as my cameras work better than the scanner for watches, it saves a whole lot of time. ex below

I noticed that you used the split screen pics . thanks for the info. ill try to use any camera i find here. i hate that i havent gotten any pics posted yet. just taint right to live in "show me state" and have no way to show yall.

finally

mvment. i think im figuring out this picasa.

That's a real "beaut"! Does it run now?

Yes it does run. I havnt carried this one lately because ive been doing outdoor work. I carried like that some time after i c&o'd it and well it got a little dirty...partly because the display back glass broke in my pocket. In your book the a c is shown as guilded. does this mean gold plates or gold flashed. Ive seen the info on trenton models but no mention of a two tone. That is part of the reason i asked if anyone had one of these. to compare notes if you will.

like broderick's movie... Anyone.....anyone...anyone(ben stien). HeHe.... Dave did you notice the funky(two tone) design of the balance cock? Until i took it apart i thought someone found a B c that "fit" rather than a factory part. You would think that they would follow the damaskeen. Oh the s# puts this watch as a mdl 4 circa 1894. Has anyone seen one of these in a early Sears, Roebuck and co catalogue?