I seem to notice that all the early American transitional movements have a lever. Have I just not ran across one without a lever? I am wondering because every once in a while I notice a nice proper transitional case with a straight key wind movement in it looking like it has always been there and there has never been a place for a lever put in the case. I am beginning to wonder if the examples could be as originally cased since I can't seem to find any transitional movements without levers. Thanks!

Transitional movements had to deal firstly with the mechanics of winding the watch. The many, many early "rock and lock" toggle wheel variations added to the "advanced" stem wind mechanism to set time were all variations on a theme of the European designs using a button to rock the wind mechanism over to time set position.

Our choice of the lever had few advantages but was certainly an "American way" to do it.

The Toggle levered "ABBOTT" conversion for making a Key Wind and set into a Pendant wind lever set was one of the very first U.S. designs that seems to have actually led the way to this lever idea.

I like big silver hunter cases, key winds primarily, but I have an exceptional 8 oz coin transitional case on the way in. It currently houses what I suspect is the original model 1877 Waltham key wind. There has never been a place for a lever on this case and it is definitely a factory transitional case with a design around the keyhole, not drilled later. I guess perhaps these came from the maker with no place for a lever and this was cut in after you chose your movement? The movement dates to 1881 which is of course way before they came factory cased. It bugs me I guess to have a key wind in it and not a proper transitional movement as this set up just leaves the crown useless. I gave some thought to putting a transitional movement in it then I started thinking that perhaps it has never had one in it and if this is the original movement to the case I suppose I could be alright with it. I wonder why somebody would buy a transitional case way back when then just set a key wind movement in there? Who knows I guess. Just bugs me. I usually look at a transitional case with a key wind in it as not being "correct" and don't give it much more thought but this one is a little different since I own it now.

I have a couple of questions about the Abbott's conversion. Can a watch equipped with one still be wound with a key? And where on the case is the toggle lever slot cut? Thanks.

Eric, the Abbot's conversion will not interfere with key winding the mainspring. The Toggle lever comes out just about 10 degrees below the 3:00. All of these conversions were done to what we would call "Hunter" movements

Thanks, Dave.

Dave, one more thought, if you don't mind. I wonder if the person who had the Abbott's conversion fitted to their KW would have been more likely to buy a new transitional case, such as Mr. Sizemore was talking about, or if they have been more likely to have bought a new up-to-date PW/PS case since they would would not want to key wind the watch they just paid to have converted. I have an Abbott's on a Waltham 1877 that I will be casing soon, which explains my earlier questions about the key wind status and lever slot.

The Abbot conversion was designed to use a stem winding case with an 8mm wide slot for the set lever filed out at the edge below the Crystal bezel.

The case fitment requires an extra-long winding stem as the Abbot winding (female) staff socket is deeply recessed under the top plate. Inset left

Thank you for the help, Dave.