My latest acquisition, would appreciate your views on it, It,s a full Hunter the dial is signed
C E Banta & Co Pittsburgh Kan the Movement is signed P S Bartlett Waltham Mass it,s 17j
With beautiful Dmsk the case is Royal 20yr its SW & LS the case covers are a positive fit
The movement # 14019665, the case 728900, I have looked at 1883 but cant find one in the book for
A full hunter of that year, the case has a floral patt, on both sides , Next how did it wind up on this side of the pond

2

movment

5

Hi Leslie,

Your watch is a nice example. It is a Model 1892 Two-Tone mvmt. Very desirable.

I would guess that ebay sales have a worldwide market and may end up anywhere on the face of the earth

regards,
bb

C. E. Banta was Clifton Ellsworth Banta, born about 1863 in Illinois, USA. He was still living in Illinois in 1880 & was a clerk in a store.

There was not an 1890 census but a Kansas census shows him living in Pittsburg Ks. by 1895 by they did not document occupations.

In the 1920 census he is still in Pittsburg & is listed as jeweler merchant.

As to how the watch ended up across the sea as Buster said perhaps recently but who really knows. For example, a book I have been reading about a family originally from England, 1st immigrated to the US in 1880 but by 1900 they had sailed from the US back to England 4 times & each time they took all of their possessions with them. If this was just one family of approximately 8 people you can just imagine how many times it was repeated. Then you also have to consider two world wars with men from this country fighting in Europe & all of the personal belongings that might have gone with them.

Anyway, a nice looking watch & pardon my rambling.

Tom

This is from the 1890 Fort Scott Ks city directory

This is from the 1938 Pittsburg city directory. This might actually be Clifton E. Jr., he was born in 1904 & in 1930 is listed as the manager of a jewelery store. Clifton Sr. in 1930 is still listed as a jeweler merchant.

Thank you Tom & Buster for the very interesting history, I saw the watch it wasn’t cheap but I had to have it
I just can’t resist the American watches, it was advertised as 1883 but when I could not find it in the book
I guessed it must be later, Thanks again Les