The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

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

LOT 600

Otay Watch Co., Otay, California, No. 30242, "Native Son" Grade, circa 1892.Very fine and rare, 20-year yellow gold-filled, hunting-cased, keyless watch.

USD 5,000 - 6,000

C. Four-body, "bassine", by Philadelphia Watch Co., No. 9039131, both covers engraved with a house, woodlands in the background, floral and engine turned borders, hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk sub-seconds. Blued steel "Morning Glory" hands. M. 18 size, nickel, two-tone, full plate, gold-washed, damascened in a wavy pattern with rosette in the center, 15 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with blued stel Breguet balance spring, micrometric Otay regulator, safety pinion, lever-set.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Otay Watch Co. was established in May of 1889 and closed in October of 1890. The company was sold to Japan, where very few watches were made using American equipment. Overall, the company produced about 1200 watches of good quality, usually employing a micrometric regulator derived from Reed's patent, but with finer adjustments. The use of a two-tone nickel movement is indicative that the company's policy was to manufacture high quality movements.