The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 594

Howard & Rice (Boston Watch Co.), Boston, Mass, No. 6060, made before 1857, completed 1858.Fine and very rare, silver, hunting-cased, very early American watch.

USD 7,000 - 9,000

C. Four-body, "bassine" quadruple-hinged by "G.G. & Co.", No. 96645, engine turned and engraved, reeded band, hinged silver cuvette with winding aperture. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track, sub-seconds, fixed by three pinned feet. Blued steel "American Spade" hands with polished heads. M. 18 size, frosted gilt, full plate, column pillars secured by screws, 15 jewels, lateral counterpoised lever escapement with vertical pallets, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with blued stel undersprung flat balance spring. Signed on movement, pillar plate punched "48".Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 15
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

This is one of the earliest Howard and Rice watches known to exist. The earliest seems to be No. 6003.Howard produced only 500 of these watches of which less than 30 are known.The present example supports that Howards earliest output was based on the materials and machinery taken from the Waltham factory following their bankruptcy in 1857. For additional information, see Howards A Brief History of American Watchmaking, pgs. 12-13 of this catalogue.