Sold!Sold!Sold! – E.Howard Boston – Early Transitional Movement in 9ct Solid Gold Half Hunter Case – sn 53814 – 1875c

General Description:

This is an excellent Transitional Pocket Watch by one of the noted early American Maker’s E. Howard & Co., Boston.  It bears sn 53814, which dates to 1875c and is both Key Wind/Key Set on the back and Stem Wind and Set.

It has a lovely  42mm Enamel Dial with Roman Numerals and Gold Hands. It is in very good condition and exhibits only slight marks and very light hairlines at the 18, 24 and 34 minute markers, as shown in pics. It is signed E. Howard & Co., Boston – Pat. Feb 4th 1868.

The movement is their 15Jewel, 3/4 Plate “size L”  (16sz approx) with an exposed nickle barrell. It bears s/n 53814, which dates to 1875 (est.) and is Key Wound and Key Set on the back and also Stem Wind and Set, which makes this a rare Transitional Model. It is in beautiful cosmetic condition and keeping good time over 24 hours, which can be adjusted further. It has a Precision Regulator (type 1?), a flat hairspring and a cock that is signed Heat & Co Ld.

The movement was cased later in a 50mm diameter (68m incl ring) Half-Hunter, 9ct Solid Gold Case which was made by Dennison Watch Case Co. Ltd. It bears sn 209014 and Birmingham Hallmarks for 1920c. It is in beautiful condition, exhibits no dings and is original to the movement.

This is a desirable watch by an Eminent & Collectible American Maker, weighs a total of 94.4 gms and is being sold as described and in the condition as shown in the pics. It is priced at €1,850 or nearest Offer

Our ref is ACC 315 and this watch comes to you directly from a large Irish Watch Collection, which was assembled over the past 40-50 years.

For Notes on E.Howard & Co. see below.

Dial:

Type: Enamel
Signed:     as above
Width (mm):  42 (Note:25.4mm=1inch)
Numerals: ROMAN
Hands: Gold Hands
Crystal: Glass
Condition: Good – some hairlines and slight marks, as shown in pics

Case:

Metal Content: 9ct Solid Gold
Serial Number:  209014
Maker:      Dennison
Diameter (mm):50
Diameter – (mm) incl. Pendant Ring : 68
Condition:Excellent

Movement:

Calibre:   E. Howard & Co.
Model:  15J – L Series.
Serial Number:   53814 – dates to 1875c
Condition: Beautiful Cosmetically
Timekeeping: Running very well and keeping good time over 24 hours
Overhauled: A mini service recently.

Notes on E.Howard (extracts from Wikipedia)

E. Howard & Co. was a clock and watch company formed by Edward Howard and Charles Rice in 1858, after the demise of the Boston Watch Company. The pair acquired some of the material and watches in progress, based upon a lien against the defunct company held by Rice, but they were unable to buy the existing factory or machinery, so they moved to Roxbury. Soon afterwards, Howard bought out Rice’s interest and thereafter concentrated on high quality watches based on his own unique designs and eccentric production methods. E. Howard & Co. produced high grade watches, regulators, and marine clocks. In 1881, after Howard sold out his interest and retired, E. Howard Watch & Clock Company was formed as a joint stock corporation on December 1, 1881 to succeed the earlier firm.

Early history:

Howard was a clockmaking apprentice of Aaron Willard, Jr. and commenced business with David P. Davis, manufacturing high-grade wall clocks under the name of Howard & Davis in 1842. They also became known for their manufacture of sewing machines, fire engines and precision balances. About 1843, with a third partner, Luther Stephenson, they began to also manufacture tower clocks.

In 1857, David P. Davis left the firm and Howard & Davis was dissolved. In 1857-8, Edward Howard finished and sold left over “Model 1857” material from the Boston Watch Co. under the name Howard & Rice. In December 1858, Howard bought out Rice’s interest and began manufacturing watches of a new design, signed “E. Howard & Co.” While the company name changed several times during the firm’s watchmaking history, all watches it made continued to be signed “E. Howard & Co.” throughout, with only minor exceptions. The Howard firm established itself as perhaps the premier American manufacturer of luxury watches from 1858 into the 1890s.

On March 24, 1861 the clock and watch businesses were combined into one joint stock corporation, the Howard Clock & Watch Company, which failed in 1863. Thereafter, Howard formed a new company called the Howard Watch & Clock Company (transposing clock & watch) on October 1, 1863, which was successful for some years but was reorganized in 1881 after financial setbacks of a few years previous.