August 24, 2021, 21:52
Gary E. CochranPennsylvania Special
A friend picked up an 18 size Waltham 1892 Pennsylvania Special and I was wondering if anyone knew how many of these were made…Thanks…Gary
September 17, 2021, 15:06
Theodore J. Brown Sr.Gary, did you check on the model 1892 website? There's a lot of good info there.
September 17, 2021, 18:47
Gary E. CochranThanks been looking it over but haven’t found anything yet…Just that these are rare…
September 19, 2021, 07:52
Lindell V. Riddle
Hello Gary,
I am familiar with the various "Pennsylvania" and "Pennsylvania Special" watches made for the H. M. Jacobson and Sons Jewelers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Illinois Watch Company which are finely finished, high-grade movements. They are not particularly rare but they are prized by collectors. Since I am originally from Pennsylvania, Debbie bought one for me several years ago 
which makes it VERY special to me.
Jacobson and Sons were Railroad Time Inspectors, I seem to recall they were in business for many years and if memory serves they were still in business when I looked them up not that long ago.
To research your Waltham "Pennsylvania Special" version, it would be essental to have your MOVEMENT NUMBER which would allow follow-up using the Waltham Book which to my mind would be the place to start. The Model 1892 Waltham is a very worthwhile movement and is very popular with collectors.
Sounds like a good acquisition.
Lindell
September 20, 2021, 08:21
Gary E. CochranLindell
I got ahold of Jim Schnieder who has the Waltham 92 web site that T. Brown suggested......This was his response...
There were around 200 of them made Gary. One of the runs is a mixed run so an exact number may never be known. That doesn’t really matter. It is a very collectible piece. Your friend did ok. Jim
Will keep digging to see if there is any other info out there on the web...Serial number 12550512.... 21 jewel OF watch
September 20, 2021, 17:31
Lindell V. Riddle
Glad we could help.
Remember whenever requesting research information the MOVEMENT NUMBER is the key, you see Jim helped by following up on the movement by that number.
Also remember that private-labels are almost invariably "mixed-runs" which means "guestimates" meaning estimates mixed with educated guesses may be as close as we may come.
Best always,
Lindell