I have here Waltham # 19864727. My book says Equity,size 161/2, grade 611. The case is a 20 year Wadsworth, "made for Equity Watch Co.,Boston.The movement is marked "American Waltham U.S.A., 15 Jewels. No other screw marks.
No mention of Equity on the movement.What is it?
The layout seems closer to a 14S or 12S, but is not a perfect match to either.

I'd like to see a picture of that.
Here's what I find in the database:
Start: End:
First: 19861001 Last: 19869000
Model: Equity Name:
Material: U Grade: No. 611,
Size: 17 Size: 17
Plate: Plate:
Jewelling: Jewels: 15
Balance: Bal: Breguet Spring
Style: OF
Style:

O.F.

Comment: 88
Source:
Date:

Your Equity could resemble a model 1908 Waltham as it has an 8 digit serial number.

I picture below two 7j and one 15j Equity's. (note one 7j is not marked on the wheel, so the only place it is "named" is the "Equity" sig. on the dial.)

The only thing that really links them to A.W.W.Co. is the exclusive (and very fragile) Waltham self-springing "click". They bear a slight resembelance to some 12s waltham plate works, and I think they were intended for an export market.

The most frustrating to me is their 6 digit serial number is in no way traceable to date of manufacture.

David: My plate design is the same as you show. The winding wheels do not have Equity written on them. So. what size is this watch, and is it really an Equity when it is marked American Waltham?
The dial is marked Waltham.

Jerry it is an Equity as confirmed by the case. I have some equity signed dials if you want one.

My understanding of the Equity watch was that it was made specifically for export. 7 jewel watches were popular in Europe, Canada and South America and the odd case size seems to support the export theory. As most of us know a decent 7 jewel watch can have good time keeping qualities and of course eliminates much expense. Dave thanks for pointing out the fragile self-springing click as something like that would be a potential source of frustration for a collector. In my opinion most American companies produced reliable 7 jewel watches.

Deacon: The watch I have is not 7 jewels, it is 15, and is marked Amercan Waltham not Equity. The dial is marked Waltham. I don't see how the case can change the movement.

David: Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to put an Equity dial on a non-Equity movement. I wonder if this watch came from a mixed run. I have no explanation for the case.

Jerry, your plate design is Equity. The only Waltham 17s (16-1/2 to be exact) Equity case named watch movements were Equity model. If the equity dial was spoiled sometime, a Waltham signed dial could have been put on it.

As the Waltham production record shows your serial number as part of an Equity production run, a picture of the rare variant movement plate signed American Waltham would be very nice to study

David: Movement

David: Dial

You have a most interesting Equity movement because it is fully serialized. The Equity watches I have had were not in the Waltham serial series and were not mentioned in the Waltham production records. The production record for yours does refer to it as an Equity though.

Mine were;
S/N
60486 1904 Equity Model 15J
89103 1904 Equity Model 15J
149135 1900 Equity"Stanley" 7J
164403 1900 Equity "Wood & Stone" Toledo 7J
185829 1900 Equity Conrad&Huhn Toledo 7J

Hi, , I've got a 17s movement listed as an Equity 611, that I bought advertised as a 16s. It was described as a hunter cased. The plate is configure differently. It also has a waltham dial with arab numbers and red 5min markers. I'm looking for a case, See thread in discussions "Greetings from Australia"That has a photo of the movement. Please feel free to fill me in as you find out more

I certainly will consider it Debbie. I'm please with the responses so far.'

Done, already had $12 worth of advice. Hope to get much more!