April 01, 2013, 18:57
Kevin MoodieA Loaner Watch.
I have come to think of "loaner" watches as being primarily for the railroad men. I recently purchased a 16s watch with a Silverode case marked Harry N Clark 27 Syracuse NY. The movement is a 7j Waltham Equity. There is no cutout for a set lever, and there are no other movement screw marks. This must be the loaner for the "civilian" customers. No need for a rr quality watch when you are having your Waltham Broadway cleaned.
April 01, 2013, 22:31
Robert LoeI respect anyone who collects these loaner watches, because it must be hard to find them in really good condition. (How many people take really good care of a rental car?) Think about it. The jewelers probably made them up from surplus movements and cases. Was there such a thing as a loaner that was produced for that purpose?
April 02, 2013, 00:05
Tom BrownHarry N. Clark was a jeweler in Syracuse, he was born about 1871 in New York. I find him listed in 1917 & in 1940 he is still listed as a watch maker in the census.
Jewelers did have watches they loaned to customers other than railroad employees. Or it is possible the movements got swapped out sometime over the years.
I don't know if there were any movements marked "loaner" but knowing the Illinois Watch Co. & how they loved to label things maybe they are out there.
I have seen private label dials marked "Loaner" for some jewelers.
I do like the loaner cases!
April 02, 2013, 15:29
Kevin MoodieThanks for the replies. I think loaner watches were un-lovely, but functional, kind of like Skips wrent-a-wreck here in Tucson used to be.
I found a link which indicated Mr. Clark was a watch inspector for the New York Central rr. I've not seen a movement marked loaner. I do have a numbered dial from a Mexican watch inspector.