Internet Horology Club 185
another 1888 quandry

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/5601088213

June 07, 2008, 21:28
David Abbe
another 1888 quandry
In my never ending search for the holy grail of Waltham 1888 models, I won this one on eBay. Is there anything special about this excepting the 15 jewel Plate marking on a 17 jewel movement?

ebay# 270242328146


June 08, 2008, 14:12
Lindell V. Riddle

Dave,

You have studied these more carefully than I, but the "15-Jewels" sure looks to me like a later addition. One possibility I have heard is that Waltham may have actually downgraded movements on occasion to fill an order. There are in fact examples of "re-marked" as "17-Jewels" movements that carry a 19-Jewel count.

It is hard for us today to understand what was done and most importantly why some of these things were done over the more than 100 year life of these watches. Whether markings such as you found are factory work or otherwise is open to conjecture and we may never really know for certain.

So... what do you and others think?

Lindell

Wink
June 08, 2008, 17:28
Ray Hallenbeck
Hi Dave,
Although we all miss your lively, informative posts aren't you on VACATION ? Big Grin

Hope all is going well.
Ray
June 08, 2008, 21:07
James H. Miller
dose anyone know what something like this is worth? i would have bid more but i didnt like stuff i read in there feedback.
June 08, 2008, 21:14
Donald Trumble
Jim, I think a focused collector of model 88 Walthams might want to own this one. Looks like someone was willing to see $59.00 of value in it as an interesting curiosity.

Don
June 09, 2008, 20:19
David Abbe
Yes Ray, I am on a cruise and right now we are in Glacier Bay, headed for Skagway or something like that. I threw a number at this watch only because of the markings and as I seem to have accumulated enough 88's to make this useful either for parts, or (more probably) as a restored oddity.
back to fun on the ship.