It seems like just when you think you have something figured out a new "wrinkle" comes out of our past watchmaker's "Wood-work". The 21 Jewel 16 size Waltham 645 which I really respect as evidence of Waltham's commitment to make an "affordable 21 Jewel" purpose-built RR grade watch was ALSO made with 19 Jewels in a few runs of the 1899 model! This one showed up on eBay, and I look forward to examining this little time capsule when it arrives. Does anybody else have any more info on these?

Nice 645,Dave! I saw one like that years ago.It had gold jewel settings,unlike the 21J version. If you have Roy Ehrhardt's 1980 price indicator book, he shows one like it onpage 56, watch pic #2.I wonder why they didn't make a 19J 845? In my humble opinion, 19J jeweled barrel watches like these are the ultimate railroad watch.Webb C. Ball was right!...Ted Brown.

Theodore, I agree with you 19 jewels with a jeweled motor is the reasonable "max" for a good watch.

To learn how many of these "classic" 19 Jewel 645's were made, I pored through my cc's of the "grey book" and Roy's Waltham book. The records show only 3-4,000* 19 Jewel 645's were finished in 5 runs in 1906-07 and within s/n's 15072051 - 15135000.

The finish on these "smacks" of "Vanguard in sheeps clothing".

Ehrhardt's 1980 catalog pg 56 picture you mention is from the second (and largest at 1000 Pc's) run. While the s/n15134354 I "rescued" from eBay is in the last run. Evidently as the 21 Jewel (only) model 1908 645 was made soon after, the 1899 model 19 Jewel 645 is a rare piece indeed.

Erhardt's 1980's Waltham books prices the 19J 645 at almost 1.66 times the "collectible" value of a 21J 645.

Cooksey Shugart's Price Guide shows no difference in value at all! I would go with Ehrhardt's value differentiation and hope Cooksey reads this and gives it a much deserved 1 star (minimum) rating.

*The last three runs of a total 2000 movements were recorded as "mixed" 19 and 21 Jewel movements. So the total has to be an estimate.

David,
Wow! I don't think I've ever seen one of these!

That movement is so clean and Wonderful!

How about the serial number on yours?

Man, I wish I had Ehrhardt's book on prices, I love his books.

The serial number as best I can read it is 15134354, andother one of those "poetry in numbers s/n.

The actual runs I found are;
15072051 - 3000 . . 950 mvt.
15083001 - 4000 . . 1000 mvt.
15094001 - 5000 . . 1000 mvt. 19 & 21 J "mixed"
15104001 - 4500 . . 500 mvt. 19 & 21 J "mixed"
15134001 - 4500 . . 500 mvt. 19 & 21 J "mixed'

Wow I see what you mean.

Makes then outstandingly rare in my book!!!!

Looks like a 19 jewel Riverside damaskeen pattern.That is a real nice looking Waltham!

Hello Dave:

I have 15134240 in my collection

Larry, 2 things, first is yours 19 or 21 jewels?, Second, can you dig up a picture of that? Being only 10 dozen numbers apart, they could well have been in the same carrier tray batch when they were run through the dmk machine.

Dave:

Mine is definitely a 19 jewel #645, I will try to get some pictures up in the next couple of days.

Larry

Waltham 19j 645 #15083910 is in my collection.