I just renewed by membership and ordered the Complete Guide to watches and I can't find too much about this watch...

I bought this collection 30-40 years ago, and am now retired and selling some of the watches which are mostly Hamptons.. Well I came across this watch.

It is a key wind up and is running as I type this up. I will add some pictures. It does not have a case.

The one picture shows a sort of cover for the workings and has not inscriptions.

When I take that off, it has inscribed on the workings the following: J. H.Allison, Detroit,the words fast and slow next to the time adjustment and NO. 13469.

The dial has a second had turning and the words J. H. Allison and Detroit is under the name.

Does anyone know about this watch or the value of it?

My email is chris@take-2.us


Thank You!!

Back with cover on workings. Just setting on not all the way down

Workings with back cover off

There was a John H. Allison that had a jewelry store in Detroit according to the 1860 census, he was born about 1825 in New York.

To my untrained eye, the movement looks English & fusee driven. I have one very similar from a jeweler in New Hampshire from about the same time period. I have always thought mine was the equivalent of an English made import private label for a jeweler in this country.

At least that is my guess.

Tom

ps. found this listing in the 1861 Detroit city directory.