The technical history of the American Pocket watch history is a story of mechanical design that certainly seemed to follow Darwin's evolutionary observations for the "survival of the fittest". For example, Mr Paillard's non-magnetic alloy hairspring became the most widely copied product in the entire world of watchmaking. Probably helped by Mr Paillard working tirelessly with virtually every watch Co, USA and foreign to prove the truth of his idea, thus giving away his technology into the bargain. (Sorta reminds me of my first 30 years of "professional life")

These musings passed through my head tonight as I was cleaning up one of his Swiss-made "Non Magnetic Watch Co. of America" 16 size pieces.

I can see Mr. Paillard telling the Swiss who made this watch that American watches have to have three dial pins, so the Swiss, who always knew that 2 were enough, added another to satisfy Mr P.

Luckily, Mr Paillard also picked a Swiss Manufacturer that had a couple "better ideas" for the design . . . such as making an 11 Jewel movement that has a pair of Jewels for the Escape wheel and then only 2 "showoff" jewels for the 3rd and 4th wheels, and REAL adjustable banking pins that could be adjusted while the watch was up and running. A very sensible jeweling and clever banking pin innovation indeed. Better Jewel allocations and banking pins immune to being bent, broken and bewildered by every short tempered, impatient watch maker who touched our little beauties.

All in All, Mr Paillard's "American Watch" is somewhat Swiss-American, or is it American-Swiss?

Runs pretty good too, considering it has seen many decades of use.

That sounds a lot like what the chinese are doing to the swiss now. Excuse the cliche, but what comes around goes around, I guess. I think the swiss non magnetic watches look an awful lot like Omegas, but a little bit like Zenith watches I've seen, too. I wonder who the first company was to make watches for Paillard. The Peorias were very early.

David - that is a beautiful watch! You did another outstanding job bringing it back to life. Mr. Paillard was quite the innovator in his time. I know very little about these watches and your photo essay, along with all other examples pictured on the board, is making me appreciate more the other watch brands that I have not paid much attention to.
Thanks.