Hampden Watch Co Questions

November 24, 2009, 08:03

Richard Zenger

Today I have finished cleaning a Hampden pocket watch serial number 2810775 17j safety pinion pocket watch. It seems serial number list have is made somewhere around 1910 to 1912. It is engraved Jan. 1 1910. I have no idea what model it is and I do not know much about Hampden watch co. Any help would be great. Thank you. Tomorrow I hope to have the South Bend Studebaker 229 ready for photos and to show. It is a prize piece in my opinon with a Montgomery face.

November 24, 2009, 21:04

Ray Hallenbeck

Wow Richard, that sure is a beauty.

Ray

November 24, 2009, 21:55

Mike LaForest

Richard,
It appears to be a model 3 Hampden. I can't make out the writing at the bottom. Is that plate all nickel? It sure does glitter. Impressive!
Mike

November 24, 2009, 23:18

Richard Zenger

[Apparently my watch] is a Model 3, plated nickel, 18s 17j made in 1911 with a production run of 1000. Total of 1 run and a grade 111 with only 1 variation in grade.
The writing I think the writing that was in question says "Safety Pinion". You all are very empressive thank you so much for your assistance. I am sorry to bother you.

My grandfather was a watch maker and was brought to the USA by Gruen Watch Co to work at Science Hill. My father also a watch maker turned doctor is in his 80's and we have been going through a mountain of watch maker stuff. I have pocket watches coming out my ears. I am saving the Fussee stuff for last. I have dated some of them using the case hallmarks. I have several from the early 1700's and one from the 1680's. All are in running condition and we are cleaning and trying to sell a few. This Hampden is on Ebay along with a Birmingham Special by Illionis Watch Co. I have a Southbend Studebaker 229 that I hope to have ready for pictures tomorrow. My personal favorite and it is in excellent condition through and through. Must have never been used. Well, that is the story and I am sure you will get tired of me if you are not already. Thank you to everyone for your assistance. It is refreshing to see such a group so willing to give assistance. I hope to return the favor.

Rick

November 25, 2009, 09:20

Lindell V. Riddle

Hello Richard,

Welcome to IHC185 Membership, we are glad to have you with us!

Your watch movement carries a very unusual damaskeening pattern that is very desirable. It was done exclusively for one retailer, the W. J. Johnston Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The basic information about your movement is contained on page 152 of the Hampden book by James Hernick and Bob Arnold where the run 2810001 through 2811000 is indeed shown to be a run of 1,000 for the W. J. Johnston Company.

The majority of numbers in that run consist of 18-size, 17-Jewel, Open-Face, Nickel Plates, Model 3, Pendant-Set, Unadjusted movements, however there is a Hunter Variant as well. It is a Model 4, those are Lever-Set and apparently they show up in the upper numbers of that particular run. Specifically numbers 2810939 as well as 2810967 and 2810984 are reported as Model 4 Hunter movements, they are very similar to yours.

Just exactly when this run was produced has always been a matter of controversy among Hampden collectors and researchers as there are no surviving production records, all of that was lost when Hampden went out of business in the late 1920s and the tooling was sold to Amtorg in the Soviet Union. This run is thought to have likely to have been produced during the 1909-1912 time frame due to sightings such as your watch which has an engraved date on the case and therefore are very helpful in establishing the record. Thanks for sharing yours with all of us.

You might want to consider our Two-Book Offer of American Watchmaking and Springfield to Moscow, the Dueber-Hampden Story as together they are very helpful in understanding the great American watchmaking companies and their fascinating products. Your grandfather having been part of the staff at Time Hill in Cincinnati would have had a lot of stories as would your father being a watchmaker as well.

When researching your South-Bend be sure to check out the IHC185 South-Bend Research Forum where we have posted a great deal of information including original advertising, catalogs, material listings and much more. You might also consider trading in our IHC185 Mart and Auctions where there are no fees, no problems, just nice items and nice, friendly people as well.

Keep up the great posts,

Lindell

November 25, 2009, 16:18

Jerry King

Thank you Richard....

We never tire of looking at great watches and reading such stories as you have given us here with this beautiful Hampden....

Please keep up the great post's and photo's of your watches as you are ready to share them with us....

Regards,

Jerry

November 25, 2009, 21:39

Ray Hallenbeck

Hi Richard,
Can you post the item number for the Birmingham Special?, I cannot locate it on Ebay.
Thank you,
Ray

November 25, 2009, 21:47

David Abbe

I had the same problem, when I looked for the Studebaker.

So please post your listing number as some of us would be interested in bidding these.

November 25, 2009, 21:56

Theodore J. Brown Sr.

Hi Richard, That's a sharp looking Hampden!I'm jealous!Those W.J. Johnston versions are really cool.I have a 4th. model 16s ,same lettering and has fish-scale damaskeening.Does yours have a standard Hampden dial?Thanks for showing it!

November 25, 2009, 22:00

Tom Brown

I had looked for them too, the only one I found was the Illinois, it is the same watch as he posted here. Since this is open to the public I will just post his user name rgzing I couldn't see where the others are posted unless they are under another user name.

Ray, the item number is 290373766209

Tom

November 25, 2009, 22:48

Ray Hallenbeck

Thank you Tom.

Ray

November 26, 2009, 12:11

Claude Griffith

I have an Illinois 12s 21j "Executive" with red engraving and circular fish scale pattern that I can post if anyone wants to see. Nice watch I am looking for a dial to put on it and then get it serviced. I did some checking in the past it appears that for the 12s/21j there were only 300 made with that DMK effect.

November 26, 2009, 14:18

Ray Hallenbeck

Love to see it Claude.

Ray

November 26, 2009, 19:30

Claude Griffith

Ray you should see it in my post above. SN is 4685674 21 jewels adjusted 3 positions. The picture is a bit fussy but it has a circular fishscale type dmk effect with red inlay and gilt screws.

November 28, 2009, 01:03

Richard Zenger

I have given links to three watches I have on ebay as requested.

Birmingham Special:
Birmingham Special

Early Illinois around 1879:
1879 Illinois

South Bend "The Studebaker":
The Studebaker

November 28, 2009, 01:15

Richard Zenger

Lindell:

Thank you so much for the information. I am blown away. It was really helpful.

Rick

November 28, 2009, 01:17

Richard Zenger

More pictures of the Hampden

November 28, 2009, 01:17

Richard Zenger

Hampden picture case

November 28, 2009, 01:18

Richard Zenger

Hampden face with crystal

November 28, 2009, 12:55

Lindell V. Riddle

Thank you for the kind comments Richard,

There are great differences between a "South-Bend Studebaker" which your watch is not and a South-Bend "The Studebaker" which it is, the values are very different as well. Since you have the latter, more desirable version some of this might be of help, you might also consider inserting a correction and link to it in your auction...

Click for: A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTH-BEND WATCHES AND HOW THEY CAME TO BE

Research such as this will help avoid problems when buying and result in greater profits when selling.

Lindell