Only a few of the Millions of watches that map our country's history can be said to be true "pathfinder's" of the future. With that in mind I must share with you a mdl 1857 Waltham that Deacon Jones sent me last summer in somewhat "sad" shape.

It started while we were discussing these old guys and Deacon said he had one but had no appropriate case. I replied I had an early AMN Watch Co. Coin Case that may work well. So Deacon sent the watch to me. . .

This week I took some time to look into it. . . WOW I NEVER know that Waltham had laminated pallet lever Jewels! Some "discoveries" which I was cleaning and inspecting . . .

After a trip through the cleaner and some more time on the parts, I dug up the case . . .

With that in hand, I began the task of checking and adjusting those few things these utterly simple time pieces require. Nice wolf-toothed click wheel . . . Is that a solid gold balance wheel . . . it sure ain't "white steel" color!

But after removing about 2 pounds of rust, and a lot of old ossified fish brain oil, the movement loves its residency inside a proud Coin silver case that looks like it could have held this from the beginning!

This watch is running proud. Could have seen an officer through the war between the states or run the railroads that Cornielius Vanderbult worked so hard to extend down from New York and Ohio to Washington DC the for the effort. It is still running very accurate! (around 16198-16202 bph)

THANK YOU DEACON FOR THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS WATCH!

Nice job David. It looks gorgeous.

Great job David, I love your narrated picture posts.

Ray

It is a Gold wheel! I scanned the written record of Waltham July 1860, FIRST YEAR OF AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY PRODUCTION! and it shows for this s/n 37272 that this watch was part of a production of TWENTY (20!) P S Bartlett Model 1857 finished with SOLID GOLD Balance wheels! , Furthermore . . .

Meggers Ehrhardt discuss this VERY EARLY model 1857 movement with the UNDER HAIRSPRING REGULATOR, and tie it back to the FIRST model 1857 18s design made by Boston Watch Co. In fact I would bet that some of these (Swiss made, etc.) parts were from 1850-53 Boston W. C. Inventory.

A very nice example of an early 1857. With the addition of the correct period case this is indeed a correct Waltham.
One could believe this watch survived some of the bloodiest battles of the civil war. It may even have been at whitness to Lee's surrender at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
The straight signature, not sunk seconds bit date to 1860.
The English side lever escapement was used on all Mdl. 1857 movements until 1874. The English pallets were covered where the the pallet stones are set in slots running in the plane of the pallet.
A very nice edition to any watch collection.

Great watch David. I like your images.

David you are fantastic! The laminated pallet jewels are new to me and I wish I had your talent. I am going to carry your wonderful restoration and just enjoy it. Many thanks friend.