Lindell,
A beautiful dial indeed! Movement and case are very nice as well! I've not seen anything like it! Really nice Lindell! Pictures belong in "Timekeepers Gallery"!

Is the watch in working condition?

That's a beauty Lindell.
Do you know if the dial is signed on the back, O'Hara Dial Co.?
Brian C.

Lindell,
I'm not sure who installed your dial but The O'hara Dial Co. specialized in fancy dials. They made dials for Waltham Watch, U.S. Watch Co. of Waltham and many others. They made many other items out of porcelain as well. Some of the other items were badges, pins, buttons, the lids on steins, even porcelain dials on stoves.
One piece of info that our 185 members might find interesting is; On the beer steins that are signed on the bottom, O'Hara Dial Co. The only thing that was made by the factory was the porcelain lid. the mugs were made in New Jersey.
The factory was located about a mile from the Waltham Watch Co. I worked across the street from the dial factory building (which had been closed for years) for 5 years and because I wasn't collecting watches at that time, I never noticed the painted sign on the side of the brick building, "O'Hara Dial Co."
I collect items from this company and have a pretty good collection and info on the company. If you like I can put some of the info that I have, in the mail for you.
Brian C.

Very nice,, Lindell . . . Any Masonic brother, that I know, would relish it dearly.

BTW, do you know the jewel count ?

Timely regards,

That style Waltham regulator is called a "tadpole" regulator. I believe that Waltham used it prior to the introduction of their star regulator which is more commonly found.

Lindell

Were you able to find any information on Mr. E. H. Gammon? I was researching O'Hara Dials when I ran across this post.

Tom

1876 chicago directory lists an EH Gammon as a partner in Gammon, Deering and Steward manufacturers of the Marsh Harvester and another EH Gammon as a livery operator,either or both may have been masons

Hi Tom

I have found a lot of information on that same gentleman, that is why I thought I would ask if Lindell had ever found out details on who had owned the watch.

Tom

Tom,You are for sure The Desert Fox in your ability to filter information right out of the ether LOL ,yes I suspected as much in the words you chose and will,both as a watch collector and a mason, watch with interest to see what you came up with !! Have a great day,all ,and remember "TEMPUS FUGIT"

Hi Tom

If I came across sounding rude, I surely didn't mean it, I know I am not the only one that can find this stuff.

I was doing some research on O'Hara dials when I ran across this post & for the heck of it searched a little & found the guy from Illinois but I thought before I spent a lot of time digging I would see if the info was still needed.

Just bored & always looking to search for something.

Tom

quote:

Just bored & always looking to search for something.

Tom: what you are is just bored and incredibly intelligent ,dogged and resourceful at rooting the jewels of info out of the mass clutter of the sands of time my friend!!
No I sure didn't think you were rude,but I do think you're a superior information hunter, which does a wee bit annoy most every lesser being LOL

I think my problem is I just want to fill my head with useless bits of information dealing with the past that give me absolutely no benefit in life.

Tom

I think a guy who had those skills in his work life is probably well pensioned , and sitting around the pool with a pretty young thing half his age named Sharleen who keeps saying,"now that's a pretty one made by Silverine , honeybunch, much nicer than the yellow one made by 18k!! Now what kind of a mother would it be that would call her kid 18k lovey dove"!!!LOL

The website you start should be called "THE SLEUTH" or "FACTFINDERS INC" with a base price OF $50 for information hunted on demand for anything legal,or anything old that's of interest to anyone who will pay, and believe this Tom,wackier ideas have made others rich beyond our dreams !! best wishes Tom, Slàinte mhòr agad, pronounced slanj'-uh vorr' ah'-kut , Gaelic for "to your great Health"

and of course PRO BONO for IHC185

Lindell

I couldn't remember if I had searched for him before or not, I also searched & I couldn't find it here.

Tom
Yeah, I have always thought about charging something to look these things up, I think I pay around $500 a year to access different databases. But working full time as it is I don't know if I would be willing to go to the trouble & start a business, plus it would probably start feeling like work & then I wouldn't want to do it anymore.

This is just part of what I have found on Mr. Gammon, I am still trying to find an article listing him as a Mason.

Elijah H. GAMMON

An Old and Highly Esteemed Citizen of Batavia, Who Lived a Long and Useful Life; Accumulated Great Wealth and Expended it for a Good Cause.

The late Elijah H. GAMMON, who was Vice-President of the Plano Manufacturing Co., was born in Lexington, Maine, Dec. 23, 1819, and at an early age began to lean upon his own resources for support, as his parents were farmers, of small means, and unable to even furnish him the education he so much desired and which he acquired by studying nights and working days for the necessaries of life. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school, but still continued his studies, as he had decided to become a Methodist preacher. In the year 1843 he married Sarah J. CUTTER, and the same year was stationed at Wilton, Maine, with a salary of $100 per year. He continued preaching in this section until 1851, when, on account of the sever climate, he contracted a bronchial trouble that necessitated his removal to a more congenial clime. After careful investigation, and correspondence with friends who had moved to Ill., he with his wife and two daughters, Abbie K. and Sarah M., came west and settled in Ross Grove, DeKalb Co. The country then being new, he opened a select school. In 1852 he united with the Rock River Conference of the M. E. Church, and was stationed at St. Charles. From there he was sent to the Jefferson street church in Chicago, and in 1854 came to Batavia, where he remained pastor one year, of the M. E. church, when he was appointed Presiding Elder of the St. Charles district, which duties he discharged until his health failed him in 1858., when he was confined to his bed for a long time. After his recovery, he was unable to continue in the ministerial work, was placed upon the superanuated list, which relation he maintained until the day of his death. During the year of 1855 occurred the death of his wife, who is buried at this place. In May, 1856, he married Mrs. Jane COLTON, who followed him to their future home, Dec. 23, 1892. His only son Charles Wesley GAMMON was born Sept., 1857, and died at the age of 19 years, of typhoid fever, while attending school at Worchester, Mass. In the year 1859 Mr. Gammon bought an interest in, and became a member of the firm Newton & Co., with home he continued until 1861, when his attention was called to the great demand for harvesting machinery, and he conceived the idea of a large house for distributing them at Chicago. From this thought, came the great distributing firm of Easter and Gammon. In 1864 this firm took hold of the Marsh Harvester and became its general agents for six of the western states. This was the foundation of then great fortune which he accumulated - upwards of two millions. A few years later, Mr. GAMMON acquired an interest in the Plano Manufactory with the Marshes and Stewards and early in 1870 he associated with him, Wm. DEERING, under the firm name of Gammon & Deering. In 1878 he withdrew from active connection with it and spent considerable time traveling in Europe as well as his own country. In 1881 he became associated with W. H. JONES, now President of the Plano Mfg. Co., who with others immediately placed a harvester, the “Light Running Plano,” on the market, which was a most marvelous success, and to-day the factory ranks among the best. The establishing of the Gammon Theological Seminary at Atlanta, Georgia, and the beautiful and spacious M. E. Church, of Batavia, will stand as fitting monuments to the memory of the Christian gentleman. He departed this life at his home in Batavia, July 3, 1891. [Batavia Herald, 7 April 1893]

I tried to find him in any Mason rolls I could find with no luck, however I did find where it was common for Ministers of his faith to join the Masons. Also I had seen where there was some kind of uproar back in the late 1800's about Minister's joining the Masons, so I don't know if that might be why it wasn't mentioned in his obituary.

A beautiful dial to be sure. Not only from an artistic sense but also from a masonic sense. Judging by the comments that have come from it's being posted here for everyone to admire there are a few masons amongst us of which I am one of. I personally find the dial intriguing because of the symbols that are being used and cannot help but wonder what kind of a Lodge this fellow belonged to. Certainly the symbols at the 1,4 and the 10 position are nothing that I can place from the A.F.&A.M. of Canadian Lodges. The symbol above the center is also different in that it appears as a cuff perhaps of a Grand Lodge Officer? If anyone knows the origins of the signs I would be very interested to here from them.
Cheers.........John

not a cuff brother John,rather the Keystone symbol of the Mark Master Mason in Royal Arch Masonry

I am not a Mason but this is what I could locate about the other symbols you asked about.

The Masonic Shoe is symbolic of a physical confirmation of a spoken deed.

The lamp is a symbol of knowledge.

The Anchor is an emblem of hope.

Brother Tom, thank you for the education, alas I am of the Scottish Rite and would never have guessed in a million years. Tom Brown I thank you as well for even further education on the symbols of the watch dial. All is well with the world again. Thanks, John