Take a look at this case. No Name, and see how it opens. The front opens the same way. Kind of strange?

This is first one like it, I have seen.

Welcome comments.

All pictures are from the _bay Auction.

Case back.

Pat. 1888?

Front

Could be wrong Keith and probably am, but I think these were classed as a dustproof case.

You're right it is a strange case. I have seen it a time or two but did not think much about it. I like odd stuff though and I think this is odd.

I've heard them called internal-thread cases, Keith. I've got a couple of them - the movement is mounted in a holding ring and then loaded from the back. Then there is a threaded locking ring to keep the movement in place before the back cover gets threaded into the case frame. There is no front bezel; the crystal is glued right into the case.

One of my Seths showing that big locking ring (red arrow):

I have always heard they are sewer lid cases.

I think Bila is correct. I have one like the one in this ad (GF) and I don't think they were too popular as the covers are a bit of a pain to screw on/off. Is yours the same, threads on the outside of the back and bezel? The ad is from 1890.

I also have one of these cases and heard them referred to as bezelless cases.
Roger

Lorne

You hit it right on the head with that ad. The pat. date is 1888, so it is in line with the ad's date. Both the front and back screw in flush. I can see if they got dirty it would be hard to screw on/off. This is a silveroid case. Your ad states that these are Canadian made case, which with the 24hr dial would make it a correct combination watch.

This is so cool, Thanks for that information.

ps Lorne is there any way you could make a PDF of that ad and email to me? jac4ky@aol.com

Thanks all for outstanding work and information!

Regards
Keith

Keith, yes I will send you the ad.(Sent Oct.4)

I have one in my collection a Jas Boss 14K Gold Filled with its original watch paper.

Larry

Thanks Lorne got the file...

Larry that is cool, I like when the case paper work is still intact.

The case cleaned-up nice and the watch I got running.
Wish the wife would bring home the camera from work, so I can post pictures...

Regards
Keith

Keith look forward to seeing the photos of your case, I will take some more pictures of mine and post them later, and Lorne great research on the American Watch Case Co. Advertisement I copied that from my records too

Larry

I found one of these in one of my 'bits' boxes. It's a Silveroid case.

The main body of the case has a captive 'copper' liner.

The front and rear bezels shown partially screwed in place.

The biggest problem I found with this case was that the front cover was very difficult to remove as there is very little of the bezel to grip and the crystal turns rather than the bezel.