The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

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

LOT 697

Aluminum PlatesRockford Watch Co., Rockford, Illinois, No 13, Model 10, circa 1900.Exceptionally fine and rare, keyless watch with an aluminum movement in a nickel display case.

USD 6,500 - 8,500

C. Three-piece, transparent screw covers. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute track with 5-minute red Arabic markers, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "Spade" hands. M. 16 size, aluminum, full plate, 15 jewels in flush screwed settings, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compen-sation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, micrometric regulator.Signed on the back plate, pillar plate punched "13".Diam. 55 m|M|


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

There were few horological manufacturers who experimented with aluminum. In 1882, J.P. Stevens of Atlanta, Georgia used aluminum for his pallet forks. The best known complete aluminum movements are those by Vacheron Constantin, who began making aluminum watch plates in 1939 (see Antiquorum sale, October 13, 2001,Lot 673).However, at least 60 years before the Europeans, and as indicated by the present example, it appears that Rockford was the earliest company to use aluminum for making watch plates.For the patent, see the back of the catalogue