How common is it for a jewelry store to have their name on the dial of a watch? I know that with some clocks, a large store may have ordered enough clocks that they can have their store name put on the dial, but did they do this with watches also?

I have been researching a local watch and clock store named P L Geissler, and I wondered if anyone had ever seen this name on the dial of a watch or clock. I found a very old advertisement for them and they say they sold american and imported watches and clocks. They may have been in business from the 1830s to early 1900s.

Andy

The International 400 Day Clock Chapter 168.
The Internet Horology Chapter 185 nawcc-ihc.org

The practice of placing a store name on watch dials was rather common at that point in history. It is more likely that such dials were made if the store had a high enough watch sales volume to justify the extra expense. Both American and Swiss watches can be found w/retailers names on the dials and sometimes on cases and movements.

To locate a watch with Geissler on the dial, you might try an occassional search on eBay, such as; ---- "pocket watch" Geissler ----. At some point in time, you might get a hit.

Good luck,

Greg

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the info. After doing a little more searches in the city directories (Evansville, IN), I found that starting in 1876 and for a few years, they are listed as "Manufacturers of Geissler watches". There is a P. L. Geissler, Louis F. Geissler, John L. Geissler and a few others with the same last name that are listed as "watchmakers" in the directory. I just glanced at the Cooksey Suggart watch book, and see that any dealer could special order watches with their names on them. I wonder if possible they did this, or if they actually made their own watches. I am still doing searches though. Has anyone ever heard of the name "Geissler" on a watch (or clock)?

I get so sidetracked when I do these searches, though. When I first saw that name on the back of my clock, it reminded me of the kids books "Dr. Seuss". The author's name was Theodor Seuss Geisel. Anyhow, in one of the directories, the Geissler watch shop had moved to a new address, and the new shop at the former Geissler address was run by a Ferdinand Suess!

Andy

The International 400 Day Clock Chapter 168.
The Internet Horology Chapter 185 nawcc-ihc.org

Andy,

Here are a couple of pretty nice examples of jewelry store names on pocket watches and clocks. This was a very good advertising practice for the latter part of the nineteenth century and the turn into the twentieth century.

The first picture is of a 4 1/2" dial Chelsea ships bell clock with the store name of BOYD PARK. This was a pretty large jewelry store right here in Salt Lake City, Utah. Boyd Park was also a RR watch inspector for this area.

The pocket watch private label dial says J. Eslias 729 Queen St. Gor. Lewis St. Toronto. This dial is on a model 1892 Canadian Pacific Railway movement made by Waltham.

1879 advertisement. Andy