I have an 18s,15 jewel,grade 65,model 2 private label pocket watch,made 1894-95,signed James Traphagen on the dial.Signed James Traphagen,Newark,New Jersey on Movement.Info that was with it when purchased says he was a conductor.Only James Traphagen I found in Newark,N.J.was about a motorman on the streetcar line.Anyone have anymore info?Thanks.Norm

Norman

I would bet more than likely he was this James Traphagen I found in the 1870 census for Newark NJ. He was born about 1820 in New York & he is listed as a jeweler.

This image is from the 1880-81 Newark City Directory listing of jewelers

This is from Professional criminals of America, Volume 3 By Thomas Byrnes

He was arrested again in Newark, N. J., on July 5, 1881, charged with "blowing" open the safe in James Traphagen's jewelry store on Broad Street, that city. When the officers pursued McGuire, he turned and fired several shots at them. A party giving the name of George Williams, alias Dempsey, was arrested also. McGuire was tried and convicted on three indictments on October 18, 1881, one for burglary and two for felonious assault. He was sentenced to ten years in Trenton prison on each indictment, making thirty years in all, on October 19, 1881.

Hi Tom,Don't know where you find all this stuff,but you are amazing.The info showing him as a jeweler sounds more plausible since it is a 15 jewel watch.Thanks again.Regards.Norm

Hey Norm....how about posting a couple of photos of this watch, nothing fancy, just to help tie everything together....

Great job as usual, Tom....

Regards,

Jerry

Number 1 I hope.I'm still learning to use a light box.Still haven't mastered my digital camera.maybe if I live long enough?

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Last one.

Thanks Norman....Great job....now this ties everything together....Thanks, again, Norman....

What is the production year of your watch, Norman...?

Regards,

Jerry

Serial # 1195686 dates it between 1894-1895.Thanks for the kudos Jerry.Regards.Norm

UPDATE: Norm sold me this watch in June 2011

We had it serviced and it is actually a Grade 65
16 Jewel Hunter...one of 200.

It's a private label Railroad King!

Traphagen was indeed a jeweler in Newark. Pretty scarce watch. Pics of it back in a HC below:

I thing that what you meant to say this is the grade that they marked railroad kings on some of the watches.

It is like saying that all model 5 Seth Thomas are unmarked Maiden Lanes.

yes they did...and yes I did
and yes they did

All Grade 65 are not private label RAIL ROAD KINGS.

What are you talking about Tom.

Yes they did, yes I did, yes they did.

Here is my 65-S which is a 17j version. This one is also a private label from Ohio. I would expect any movement made prior the the early 1890's that was at least 15j, adjusted (heat/cold) and had a patent regulator could have been used for RR service. Hampden started pushing the 17j New Railway around the later part of 1891 so that might have been why the grade 65 was up-jeweled to 17j and called the 65-S.

I have serial # 1,195,549. A marked 16j Railroad King, not to far off from this one.
A small run of 200, I wonder how many in this block of RR Kings were actually private labeled?