Waltham Watch CompanyOut of all of the many American watch companies, the history of Waltham-the first American watch company-is probably the most renowned.Widely believed to be the father of modern watch manufacturing, Aaron L. Dennison (1812-1895) not only had the idea to manufacture watches through the use of machinery, but also had the energy and perseverance to achieve it. He convinced Edward Howard, already an established manufacturer of technical goods such as clocks, scales and steam engines, to provide the necessary capital for the enterprise. Joined by a few investors, Dennison and Howard began the world's first enterprise aimed at mass wtch production.Dennison was the son of a shoemaker from Freeport, Maine. Recognizing his son's mechanical talent, young Dennison was apprenticed to a pupil of Goddard, who was the first man in America to produce as many as 500 watches. Subsequently, he worked for Jones, Low and Ball, and afterwards for himself, repairing watches and selling tools. Dennison was struck by the inefficiency of watch production, and from his own experience knew that no two watches were alike. Furthermore, he knew that if a part broe, his only solution was to remake that part by hand. In his own words, "The principal thinking up of the matter (interchangeable system) was done when I was in business at the corner of Broomfield and Washington Streets in Boston...I used to stroll out upon the commons and give my mind full play upon this project." His idea developed largely from his observation of firearms manufacturing in the Springfield armory.Dennison and Howard opened their company in the Howard clock factory, but soon moved to a new building, complete with steam power, just across the street. One of the company's first expenditures was a trip to England by Dennison, who hoped to familiarize himself with English production practices and, furthermore, find sources for jewels and enamel. His report is so amusing that we quote it in its entirety: "...the party setting up as manufacturer of watches bought his Lancashire movements-a congomeration of rough materials-and gave them out to A, B, C, and D to have them finished. A, B, C, and D gave out the different jobs of pivoting to E, certain other parts to F, and the fusee cutting to G. dial-making, jewelling, gilding, motioning, etc. to others, down almost the entire length of the alphabet, and how that, taking various pieces of work to outside workpeople - who, if sober enough to be at their places, were likely to be engaged on someone's work. Under such circumstances, he woultake an occasion to drop into a pub to drink and gossip, and, perhaps unfit himself for work the reminder of the day. Finding things in this condition, my theory of Americans not finding any difficulty in competing with the English, especially if the interchangeable system and manufacturing in large quantities was adopted, may be accepted as reasonable."The above quotation provides an insight into understanding the motivation behind the pioneers of American watch manufacturing.Upon Dennison's return in 1851, the new factory began operation and the first watches were produced in 1853. Dennison and Howard, already familiar with the business, knew the labor pool very well and were therefore able to employ some of the best technical minds and hands in America. Together they built the first, tremendously successful, fully automated watch production line in the world. Additionally, they built, invented and patented many new pieces of production machinery-more than most specalized machine shops. About 35 million watches were produced during the company's 100-year history-some simple, some complicated, some unusual and some very precise. Many of their watches successfully competed with those of their European counterparts in the Kew Observatory Timing Contests. Others won first prizes at World Exhibitions (Philadelphia, in 1876) and some were used by European companies, such as Timing and Repeating Watch Co.During the 100 years of production, the company changed names 10 times:1850 The American Horologe Company1851 The Warren Manufacturing Company1853 Boston Watch Company1854 The Waltham Improvement Company1858 Appleton, Tracy & Co1859 The American Watch Company1885 American Waltham Watch Co1906 Waltham Watch Co1923 Waltham Watch & Clock Co.1924 Waltham Watch Co.1950 production suspended(There was a company formed in 1884 named "U. S. Watch Co. of Waltham" which had no relation to either one of the above ten.)