Just got a nice Waltham, and the case is in very good condition. I noticed that around the bow recesses, there appears to be painted decorative effect, is this the original finish?
I have one of these cases that is super nice. The black enamel is somewhat better than Chris's example. I'll dig it out later and take some pix. It's a 23j Vanguard up/down with lossier inner terminal hairspring. It's the nicest overall example I've run across.
Doug
Posts: 83 | Location: East Hampton, Connecticut USA | Registered: March 10, 2004
One of the most interesting of these cases is the one I sent to Sweden last year. It looks great on Bernhard Schmidt's Canadian Pacific as you'll see in this topic...
Closer to home, I bought a nearly identical watch to the one Chris asked about at the Great Lakes Regional in Dearborn last fall. Mine is a wind indicator from 1929 in a correctly numbered deeply toned rose-gold-filled and black enameled Waltham-Wadsworth case.
Waltham Wind-Indicator looks fine in rose/enameled case...
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
Here's the 23-Jewel Vanguard movement which is number 26561754 from a 1929 production run. You can see details of the movement in the image below. But more on point for this topic, the Waltham-Wadsworth signature and case serial number 8458556 which like the movement is also from 1929 and interestingly it carries a 1928 patent.
Waltham-Wadsworth enameled case carries 1928 patent...
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
Great to see those scans, I was wondering if Doug had a side photograph of his case so myself and Lindell can see how much paint is in the bezel pattern area mine has traces left in it.
Interesting to note that by 1931 the Crescent St. grade is listed as being "adjusted to 6 positions". Most of the earlier Crescent St's are adjusted to 5 positions. The "6 Position" movements make a nice addition to a RR watch collection.
Ed Ueberall IHC Member 34 The Escapement
Posts: 620 | Location: Pooler, Georgia in the U.S.A. | Registered: November 23, 2002
Thanks for pointing out the "6 Positions" which, not being much of a Waltham collector I had not previously noticed in the ad or for that matter on the movement. Turns out the 23-Jewel Vanguard Indicator I showed above, movement 26561754 with 1929 production number has that "6 Positions" marking you referenced.
Looking at a slightly later 23-Jewel Vanguard Indicator, number 27128969 it is marked "6 Positions" as well. That one, shown below in a green-gold-filled Waltham "2-B Case" has the bolder dial shown in the ad Terry shared with us. Interestingly the 1931 ad shows no indicators, but the one below is from about that same time-frame.
Vanguard Number 27128969 is 23-Jewels and 6 Positions...
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
Sorry for the delay. Just took couple quick pix of one I have. Not as crisp as I thought but real nice. Thanks to Lindell for the super pictures and info. Wow. Nice case! Anyhow here's another. The Serial Number is 26561834 so pretty close to one Lindell showed.
Doug
Posts: 83 | Location: East Hampton, Connecticut USA | Registered: March 10, 2004