Here is a couple of dollar watches both early ones The frist is a R.H.Ingersoll & bros. about a 16 size case measures 50 mm. it still runs

the second one is a Columbia 0 size not running

Who made the frist dollar watches was it Ingersoll & bros..

pic2

Columbia 0 size 4 jewel

Movement

Sammie, The first successful dollar watches were designed and mfg by Benedict and Burnham of Waterbury, Connecticut. this then became the Waterbury Watch Co.

Your Ingersoll Would date to the teens or a little before. Surprising is that there is no SN showing.

The Columbia Watch Co watch was a spin off from the US Watch Co of Waltham.

Tom

Thanks tom i looked there is a serial# 6459868 very lite stamp a little hard to see. I have 5 or 6 dollar watches i got in some items i bought a couple of months ago and was suprized that 3 of them would still run..

Sammie, The SN on your Indersoll puts it as mfg around 1900. This was about the time that they went to stemwind and stem set. Their earliest ones were wound with a crank on the back of the watch. Although these were non-jeweled, pin lever movements, they are sturdy beasts. If one has been kept reasonably clean and rust free, they will continue to run.

Tom