Does anyone know when the old E. Howard company started using the deer, horse and dog symbols for symbols for adjustment? Was it while the old man was still alive?

Steve, The E. Howard Watch & Clock Co. applied for trademark #14,733 on June 17, 1887 and it was registered Sep. 6, 1887. The "Deer" mark was used on June 1, 1887 according to the U. S. Patent Office records. The "old man", Edward Howard retired in 1881 and passed away on March 4, 1904.
Harold

Well, that is interesting. They did not use this symbol until after Edward retired. According to Townsend's railroad watch book Howard was the only watch that would pass inspection on any railroad with less than 17 jewels. Was that also true after Edward retired?

Beautiful watch, by the way. I've never seen that damaskeening beofre.

Here is one of my Howards.

Of course if the case had been original I never would have been able to afford it.

I have another one but in the larger size. It is in for repairs right now.

One last note: this is a pendent set watch, but still, according to George Townsend, accepted for railroad service by most if not all railroads. That's presteige for you.

Steve, here's a little history on your watch #66875. It was finished on Jan. 24,1891 and wholesaled to the firm of Levinson Bros. in San Francisco on April, 1893. It is a grade 7, fully adjusted, the highest grade made for that watch. It was in a group of ten finished that day and three of the ten were purchased by the Levinson Brothers firm. By the way, Don Levinson a relative of the late Levinson Bros. is a dealer/collector of old pocket watches and still based in the San Francisco area.
Harold

Thanks for the information!