Internet Horology Club 185
Seeing Double

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/847101732

February 03, 2010, 14:24
Robert Schussel
Seeing Double
One of the more interesting mysteries of the Hampen Watch Co. is their 5th model private labels for 12 size watches.To date only 3 private labels have been discovered. A possible 4th private label is the 7j Model 3 Cantonian .

One of these private labels is the Hampden 12 size unadjusted 17j "O.E. Co.,Special". This private label name is also found on some Illinois Movements.

While the RR experts on the NAWCC board have speculated that these were produced for the Ohio and Erie Railroad I believe they are incorrect.
Rather I believe they were made for a jeweler.

The 12 size Hampden "O.E. Co.,Special" is very rare.Only 3 examples are known.Possibly as few as 50 were produced.Both of my watches were cased in 20 year Dueber screw off back cases.

3,148,723
3,148,734 [Hampden Watch Co Book]
3,148,735


February 03, 2010, 14:25
Robert Schussel
The movements


February 03, 2010, 14:25
Robert Schussel
closer view


February 03, 2010, 15:24
Tom Brown
The odds of it being this guy are slim but what the heck.

O.E. Tilley was a jeweler in Springfield at the time Hampden was located there.

Tom

01

February 04, 2010, 17:47
Tony Dukes
Robert,
I have a O.E.Co. Special in my collection. Will dig it out of my safe and post the serial number here.
Tony

Movement number----3148715
Movement and dial marked O.E.Co. Special
February 08, 2010, 12:59
Robert Schussel
Thanks Tony.

At this rate it may end up that only 50 were produced

Bob
February 08, 2010, 14:56
Lindell V. Riddle

Bob,

Theoretically there may have been only three groups of ten for a total of thirty.

3148715 Tony
3148723 Bob
3148734 Hampden book listing (Page 155, right column)
3148735 Bob

The fact that 3148734 is listed means it may be out there somewhere today.

I would also agree with you that these 12-size Hampden watches were probably not private-labeled for any railroad and very likely the "O. E. Company will turn out to be a retailer, meaning a department store or retail jeweler. We should bear in mind the famous retail jeweler "Webb C. Ball Company" is typical of how many business names were expressed so a retailer not using his middle initial in the business title, something like say Owen Edwards Company as an example would make perfect sense in this instance.

Consider also the "O. E." could be initials of a retail partnership, initials were often used in business when one or both partner's names were unusually long or difficult to pronounce.

Lindell

Wink