The Art of American Horology & Colle...

New York, Nov 28, 2001

LOT 9

American Watch Co., Waltham, Mass., Model 57, "Broadway" Grade, No. 1101037, delivered in July 1878.Extremely rare and fine, gold, hunting-cased watch with unusual calendar.

USD 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: USD 9,200

C. four-body, "bassine", engine-turned covers engraved in foliate pattern, gold hinged cuvette with engine-turned border and aperture for winding. D. white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, adjustable rotating disc in the center with days of the week, pointing to 5 columns with dates of month. Blued steel "Double Swell Spade" hands. M. 18 size, gilt, full plate, 7 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic steel balance with blued steel undersprung flat balance spring, arbor prtruding through the cock for manual adjustment of the day disc.Signed on the dial and movement, dial also signed "Pat applied for".Diam. 53.9 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

After searching all American horological patents with calendar mechanisms - including all the patents granted or assigned to Waltham-, i.e. classes 368/28 (with calendar indicator), 368/37 (calendar combined with movable ring or disk) and 368/38 (calendar combined with movable ring or disk with jumper spring) we were unable to locate a single patent which remotely resembles the mechanism of the present watch. We uncovered only one patent relating to calendar display, by B. Rosenburg, of WalthamMass. No. 412796, however, it is completely different from the one employed in this watch. Most likely, a patent was not granted because the idea is based on a principle invented earlier by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, however, employed it only for indicating the time, whereas, the inventor of the present watch employed the same idea for the day and date indications. This watch is an extremely rare, possibly unique, testimony not only to the genius of Benjamin Franklin, but also to American ingnuity in general-the capability of modifying ideas in order to apply them to various uses.