Have a 16s Waltham that puzzels me[not hard to do]s/n 30553561 the data base shows 9jewels movt.marked 17jewels Waltham Crescent St.16s U.S.A I count 7jewels including one under balance wheel.Does any of this seem right?

movt.2

dial

Hi Roger
7 jewels are only whats visible. There are usually jewels on the other side and a few you cant easily see. It looks to be a 17 jewel watch.

2 jewels on the balance shaft (hard to see because cap jewels are over them)
2 cap jewels over the ones on the balance shaft
2 in the pallet fork (hard to see)
2 jewels holding the pallet fork
2 on the escape wheel
2 on the seconds wheel
2 on the 3rd wheel
2 on the 4th wheel
1 roller jewel (next to impossible to see)

Roger, my database says that this s/n 30553561 is in fact a Mdl 1908, 9j, 16s,open face, grade 1609 movement....

The price guide does not have listed any Crescent St. with fewer than 19 jewels....

Those cap jewels are just that and the Crescent St. signature may be from another watch....

Maybe others can shed more light than I can....

Regards,

Jerry

Thanks for your replies,the data base I beleive to be in error about the jewel count.The model#1908 and grade 1609 I believe and Jerry I think you are correct crescent st.on bridge is from another watch.I cannot find grade 1609 in the book at all.All I know is this is probably the best time keeper I have.I have been carrying it for 4 days now and it hasn't lost or gained any time according to my computer! Thanks again and if yall find grade 1609 let me know Regards Roger

Roger, here is my 21j Crescent St. which has pretty much the same layout as yours but without the cap jewels....

On your's the fact that it also has 16s on it says something is not quite right....The Crescent St. signature looks stamped really hard also....

Regards,

Jerry

Roger, your watch presents some interesting possibilities for several reasons;
The jewelling, Regulator, naming and factory records.

For comparison, I took out a pair of 9 and 17 Jewel "16xx" series Walthams. Both of these are WWII vintage production with the 9 Jewel issued to a British military unit and the 17J used (evidently) in the Pacific conflict.

Roger,
The serial number you gave for this watch does key-out to be a 9 jewel (1908 model, unadjusted) movement, and the serial number shows to be grade 1609. It should not be showing so many jewels. Perhaps it was upjeweled by a previous owner? Or, perhaps it is a 'Frankenwatch'. I rejoice with you that it is keeping such great time; it is a perfect watch to carry.
Mike
M.

Then I compared your "9-17" Jewelled watch with my 17 Jewel. Before starting that comparison please note that the 9 Jewel in my first picture is actually signed "Premier" which is quite out of the ordinary for any 9 Jewel watch to be named, so Naming yours Crescent Street may have been more arbirtrary as well.

Coming to your 17 Jewel movement vs mine, the much larger "stock" size Jewels pressed into non-countersunk holes on yours appear to have been re-fitted to the watch by an up-jewelling that could easily have been done at a watch school. That is further evidenced by the lack of any micro-regulator on yours. While the factory records of some Waltham Production were scrambled, during the War Waltham took extra measures to maintain accuracy of records. So I would agree with Mike that yours is an "up-Jewelled" 1609 type. It scould be considered a "student" watch and to that end is more collectible.

David,the stampins are identical to the watch with black face with the exception of the adjustments stamping. Maybe it is a student watch as it is fairly scratched up.If,in fact it is,the student should get an"F"for the scratch marks and an"A+"for his ability to achieve such accuracy in his timing and adjustment abilites!! This watch was an e-bay find and purchased from one of our IHC185 members of whom I hold in the highest regard.Thanks to everyone for their input.It is greatly appreciated!! Roger