Here is a shot of another watch in my collection. This may lend credence to Eugene's watch actually being a Longines. The Agassiz examples look a lot like his watch, but, on the other hand, the regulator on his watch looks almost identical to the one on this Longines of mine.
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
I just went back and compared the click ratchets on Eugene's verses my Agassiz AND THEY ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL. So what do we have? An Agassiz or Longines
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
James E. Ellis & Co ; Jeweler & Silversmith, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
James E. Ellis moved from Liverpool, England, to Canada in 1848 and was associated with Rossin Bros until 1852. He bought the business in that year and was joined by his son in 1862. The firm changed its name to J.E. Ellis & Co in 1877 in partnership with M.T. Cain. The business continued until 1901.
Gerald
Posts: 742 | Location: Wertheim in Germany | Registered: February 21, 2009
While we are on the subject of Agassiz, I have been wondering about a feature on one that I lost the bid on last month on eBay. If you look closely at the balance wheel, there appears to be a glass cover over it. Has anyone ever seen something like this on an Agassiz before?
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
Gerald, the watch was being advertised as non-running and having a broken off stem down inside the movement. The dial was a very nice Tiffany dial. What you surmise could be right, but hard to say without having the watch in hand. I would have bid stronger for it but the thought of having to find or make another stem, along with finding the right size and type of case, made me hold back somewhat. I kept telling myself "just what I need...another project!"
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
Lorne, I'm no expert, but I would lean towards this being an early Swiss ebauche. The finish, jewel count, etc., doesn't seem up to the standards you would see for an Agassiz. Noticeably missing is that giant oversized jewel for the center wheel. The wolfs tooth ratchet wheels are pretty cool, though!
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
Lorne, that regulator on your watch that was a bit confusing due to it looking like a Longines feature, may have something to do with the fact that Agassiz eventually became Longines. The regulator may have been developed by Agassiz and used on late Agassiz movements just before Ernest Francillion inherited the company and began producing Longines watches. The regulator probably carried over to the early Longines, thus we see the similar regulators on watches from both brands. I don't know if I am right, or not, but it does seem feasible.
Posts: 718 | Location: Upstate New York in the USA | Registered: November 21, 2008
The similar watch pic posted last in the thread sold for $500 but I think that was an anomaly, probably having more to do with the case than the movement.
Posts: 2093 | Location: British Columbia in Canada | Registered: March 02, 2011