Catalog: Antiques (110)

S.B. Champlin Company Providence, RI 1872 - 1934 The men's watch chain or "Vest Chain" is typically much scarcer than the pocket watch itself. This is because by 1915, the watch was retired to storage and the chain “discarded”, thrown away, or women converted them to bracelets. This fine men’s vest chain presented was produced by the Champlin Co. in 1896, inventoried, and was never sold to the trade or Jeweler for sale. It is therefore, in pristine, new but old stock condition! Can’t get any rarer or desirable!

A sharply angled, almost-triangular-plan 5-story brick industrial building, this was constructed by the S.B. Champlin Company (established 1872) to house its manufacturing of gold rings and gold-filled chains as well as provide rental space for other jewelry manufacturers, an own-and-rent practice then common in the jewelry industry and characteristic of neighboring contemporary buildings in the Jewelry District. The building was so successful that it was enlarged to the south in 1901; only a faintly visible seam marks the union of the two sections. In 1978, the building was converted to condominium use, the first of its type in the area, and retains mixed residential and commercial use.

Gold filled vest chains were originally produced with high gold content. True Gold-Filled vest chains are considered a solid karat gold with today's value per gram @ $3.22. Total weight is 9 grams.

Vintage 18k Gold Filled Vest Chains 1896 S.B. Champlin Co., Providence, RI. NOS. Never used, sold or applied to a watch. All chains still has the original Sales Manufacturers tags. Vintage 18k Gold Filled Vest Chains 1896 S.B. Champlin Co. NOS. All Prestine original condition. Please view the chain inventory and make a selection. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HISTORIC AND COLLECTIBLE HARD ASSETS.

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S.B. Champlin Company Providence, RI 1872 - 1934 The men's watch chain or "Vest Chain" is typically much scarcer than the pocket watch itself. This is because by 1915, the watch was retired to storage and the chain “discarded”, thrown away, or women converted them to bracelets. This fine men’s vest chain presented was produced by the Champlin Co. in 1896, inventoried, and was never sold to the trade or Jeweler for sale. It is therefore, in pristine, new but old stock condition! Can’t get any rarer or desirable! These chains are among uncirculated inventory that the Champlin Co. never sold to the trade in 1896. Never known to exist until I began to release them from my personal collection.

A sharply angled, almost-triangular-plan 5-story brick industrial building, this was constructed by the S.B. Champlin Company (established 1872) to house its manufacturing of gold rings and gold-filled chains as well as provide rental space for other jewelry manufacturers, an own-and-rent practice then common in the jewelry industry and characteristic of neighboring contemporary buildings in the Jewelry District. The building was so successful that it was enlarged to the south in 1901; only a faintly visible seam marks the union of the two sections. In 1978, the building was converted to condominium use, the first of its type in the area, and retains mixed residential and commercial use.

Gold filled vest chains were originally produced with high gold content. True Gold-Filled vest chains are considered a solid karat gold with today's value per gram @ $3.22. This NOS chain weighs 9 grams.

This is one example of many chains never used, sold or applied to a watch. Please view the images of this chain selection inventory with the attached images provided. Length varies from 9 - 14 inches. Still has the original Sales Manufacturers tag on each of them. Vintage 18k Gold Filled Vest Chain & T-Bar 1896 S.B. Champlin Co., Providence, RI. NOS. Prestine original condition. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HISTORIC AND COLLECTIBLE HARD ASSETS.

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INDEPENDENT WATCH CO. Fredonia, New York Circa: 1875-1881 The California Watch Company was idle for two years before it was purchased by brothers E. W. Howard and C.M. Howard. They had been selling watches by mail for some time and started engraving the Howard Bros. name on them and using American-made watches. Their chief supply came from Hampden Watch Co. Illinois w. CO U.S. WATCH Co. of Marion. The brothers formed the Independent Watch Co. in 1880, but it was not a watch factory in the true sense. They had other manufacturers engrave the Independent Watch col name on the top plates and on the dials of their watches. Sold mostly by mail order. The company later decided to manufacture watches and used the name Fredonia Watch Co., but they found that selling watches two different ways was not particularly good. The business survived until 1881 at which time the ow3ners decided to move the plant to a new location at Peoria, Illinois. Approximately 180,000 watches were made that sold for $16.00.

This example is a 18 size, full plate gilt, key wind and key set, 15 Jewels, marked: "Independent Watch Co. Fredonia, N.Y. No. 206,198". White porcelain original dial marked "Independent Watch Co./FREDONIA/N.Y." with a single hairline. Original double hinged back and bezel unmarked 3oz nickel silver open face key wind case. This movement is clean running. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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This same tin is also available in 16 size also. Please specify when checking out. Circa: 1878. AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH Co. MOVEMENT GILT TIN 18 Size, Screw Off with solid Top and Back with Coin Edges on both sides for a better grip. Patented 1878 - 1888. Stored for over 50 years and now being released. I held these back because of their mint condition. Unused condition and completely authentic and original movement gilt tin to store the 18 size Waltham Movement securely. Salesman and merchants used these tins to protect movements from damage when transporting or storage. 50mm diameter and 19mm thick. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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Circa: 1885. AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH Co. MOVEMENT GILT TIN 12 Size, Screw Off with solid Top and Back with Coin Edges on both sides for a better grip. Patented 1885 - 1894. Stored for over 50 years and now being released. I held these back because of their mint condition. Unused condition and completely authentic and original movement gilt tin to store the 12 size Waltham Movement securely. Salesman and merchants used these tins to protect movements from damage when transporting or storage. 44mm diameter and 17mm thick. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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Rare movement tin. AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH Co. 16 Size MOVEMENT TIN with STEM & CROWN 1870. Marked: AMERICAN WATCH Co. Exposition model with the original glass on both side for easy viewing. Early Waltham Salesman and Jewelers presented movements in these easy view tins to show dial and movement choices. Very rare because when closed you can wind the watch as if it was in its final watch case. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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Rare early Movement Tin. AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH Co. 12 Size MOVEMENT TIN with STEM & CROWN 1870. Marked: AMERICAN WATCH CO. Exposition model with the original glass on both side for easy viewing. Early Waltham Salesman and Jewelers presented movements in these easy view tins to show dial and movement choices. Very rare because when closed you can wind the watch as if it was in its final watch case. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

NOTE: We have been selling vintage watches on E-Bay since 1998 as watchco1974 with over 9800 vintage watch sales and 100% positive feedbacks. You can buy from us with confidence.

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ROCKFORD 21j 540 Hunting Bridge Model Orig. Salesmans Sample 1898. Rare. Single STAR Rarity in the historic price guides, Lever set, three (3) finger nickel bridge model, "Butler" finished plates, Adjusted, 14k gold center wheel, marked "540", serial No. 624,653. The nickel glass back is a rare original Rockford produced salesman's sample display case featuring beaded edges on both sides. The original double sunk high grade RR dial has hairline clusters at edge of 11 & 5. Clean, running and still very accurate. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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HAMPDEN 18s RAILWAIY SPECIAL PORCELAIN RR Porcelain Dial NOS. Double sunk Dial. Just removed from Hampden dial factory RR inventory. Never used. Associated with the Hampden Railroad series; Railway and 23j Railway Special. Perfect condition. Hunting Model Dial. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN BONDS or STOCKS. BUY HARD ASSETS PROVEN IN TIME.

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HAMPDEN 18 Size Hunting Model SSD Arabic Script Signature NOS dial; never used. Produced and designed for the Hampden 17j. Very nice. Hairline free. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN BONDS or STOCKS. BUY HARD ASSETS PROVEN IN TIME. NOTE: We have been selling vintage watches on E-Bay since 1998 as watchco1974 with over 9800 vintage watch sales and 100% positive feedbacks. You can buy from us with confidence. OTHER NICE FEATURES: Free U.S. Shipping. $58 Fedex overseas.

This is a rare Masonic customed dial placed on a very early Pre-Columbus 1/2 bridge Two-Tone plates, 16 Ruby Jewels, Lever Set, no signature or serial No. The Masonic "Delta Tau Delta" multi-colored dial was customized for an individual. hairlines ar 4 does not distract. The nickel snap back and bezel coin edged case has the original beveled crystals and is in excellent condition. It is American, and the circa: is about 1882. This rare Masonic variation is clean, running and presents itself in a quite unique way. The original buyer looking for the very best! THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET, BITCOIN, BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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FREDONIA WATCH CO. Fredonia, New York 1881-1885 The company sold the finished movements acquired from the Independent Watch Co. Those movements had been made by other companies. The Fredonia Watch Company was sold to the Peoria Watch Co. in 1885, after having produced approximately 20,000 watches. Fredonia makes a official announcement that read as follows:

Extremely rare; costumed created just for a Canadian Jeweler. FEDONIA WATCH Co. Jewelers PRIVATE LABEL G.L. MC COY, OTTAWA, Ohio. Extremely Low Serial No. 2493. 15 jewels, Quick Beat", lever set, No. 2493, marked: G.L. Mccoy, Ottawa, O. Running Elk on a 20yr. Yellow Gold filled fancy original hunting case. Mint white porcelain single sunk dial marked: "G.L. Mc Coy/ Ottawa, O."

In 1885; S.S. Lavey the jeweler, has sold out to G.L. McCoy, of Ottawa, who has taken possession. During that year, he commissioned Fredonia to custom create his Jewelry Store on the plates. This is that surviving example. In 1886, On account of the illness of his daughter GL. McCoy has sold his jewelry store and moved to Los Angeles, Ca. and opened a new Jewelry store.

This watch is clean, running and seems to keep time. However, still we have to offer it on a as is condition. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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ROCKFORD WATCH CO. Rockford, Illinois 1873 – 1915 The Rockford Watch Company’s equipment was bought from the Cornell Watch Col, and two of Cornell’s employees, C.W. Parker and P.H. Wheeler, went to work for Rockford. The factory was located 93 miles from Chicago on the Rock River. The first watch was placed on the market on May 1, 1876. They were key wind, 18 size, full plate expansion balance and dials made by outside contract. By 1877 the company was making ¾ plate and nickel movements that fit standard steel cases. The factory was located on the Railroad lines and they always advertised the Railroad. The company had some problems in 1896, and the name changed to Rockford Watch Co Ltd. It closed in 1915.

This Rockford Key Wind is presented with a very rare original private label dial marked: "HARNER.SILVEN." 18 Size, Open Face, Key Wind & Dey Set, Full Plate Gilt, 11j, Serial No. 52,886. The first 12 months of production of the key wind watch. This is interesting because Rockford produced this watch in 1877 at a time when private labels were always offered. 1n the 1870s, HARNER Razors & Blades began merchandising Blades and Razors to the public and latter became famous. We think this private label has it's origin from the early days of this company as a marketing support adding prestige to their name in 1878.

Full plate gilt, 11j, key wind and key set marked: Rockford Watch Co., Rockford, Illinois, Serial No. 52886. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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ROCKFORD Model 1 All Original 3oz. Coin Silver Pocket Faub 1879. Mint and all original including the black felt pocket faub; complete with no initials on the faub itself. The silver key wind case is a double hinged back and bezel with the original hard rock heavy beveled crystal. Dial, movement is clean cunning and all original. Museum quality and rarity. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET or BONDS. BUY HARD ASSETS, SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME.

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Rare. All original 16k solid yellow gold factory built case by the factory. 138 Grams, total weight. Original white porcelain single sunk dial with never before seen fancy gold hands; marked "E. Howard Watch Co. with hairline at 1 edge. The Series III gilt 5/8 plate gilt key wind and key set from the rear, serial No. 4290 is original to this case. Movement marked: "E. Howard Watch Co., Boston", Reeds Pat. 1857, 15 jewels, compensated balance. Clean, running and completely free of distraction. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE, DON'T INVEST IN BONDS or STOCKS. BUY HARD ASSETS PROVEN IN TIME.

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NATIONAL WATCH Co. Elgin, Ill. 1864 – 1874

Waltham W.Co. directors Learning from the errors in production and design, formed the National Watch Co. and the goal was to provide a reasonably priced accurate and easily serviced watch (in the field) that would be available for use in the expansion to the Wild West.

The company was 1st formed in 1864 by officers of the earlier Waltham Watch Co. Some of these Waltham organizers were P.S. Bartlett, D.G. Currier, Otis Hoyt, Charles H. Mason and others. The idea of beginning a large watch company for the mid-West was discussed by J.C. Adams, Bartlett, and Blake. After a trip to Waltham, Adams went back to Chicago and approached Benjamin W. Raymond, a former mayor of Chicago, to put up the necessary capital to get the company started. Adams and Raymond succeeded in getting others to pledge their financial support. The National Watch Co. was formed in August 1864 and incorporated in Elgin, Illinois. The factory was completed in 1866, and the 1st movement was a B.W. Raymond, 18 size! All watches were key wind and had porcelain dials marked: “NATIONAL WATCH Co.” Any dial that is marked this way and is mint, is very scarce. They made history creating the foundations of mass production and the ease of service by watch journeyman in the field. They produced 400,000 watches by 1874, allowing circulation of watches available for use in the 1870s. In 1874 they went out of business, refinanced, and incorporated with a Name change to the city to which they owed their origin, Elgin NATIONAL WATCH Co., Elgin, Illinois. They went on to produce 50 million watches, both wrist & pocket by 1955.

Wild Bill Hitchcock, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Railroad men, gunfighters, Saloon keepers, Lawmen, Cowboys all carried National Watch Co. watches because they were available, accurate, reasonably priced and in circulation all over the Wild West at that time! This example is NATIONAL WATCH Co. Elgin, Ill. Chas Fargo 7j, Key Wind/Key Set, serial No. 148,965 and marked: ELGIN., full plate gilt. The full plate gilt plates are in excellent condition, if not mint. The original white porcelain dial is single sunk marked "NATIONAL WATCH CO." with a very fine chapter ring and is absolutely mint and free of any distractions. The case is a beautiful massive 4oz. coin silver Hunting Model case featuring a single blank SHIELD surrounded by flower designs. All surfaces are free of dents or any distraction that might distract. Just removed from my personal collection, clean running and a historic early American watch. Original sterling silver vest chain with T-Bar. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HISTORIC AND COLLECTIBLE HARD ASSETS.

Offered with this purchase: The Deadliest Men by Paul Kirchner Soft Bound C: 2001. Personally signed by the only living participant in this book. The Deadliest Men by Paul Kirchner Soft Bound C: 2001. 417 pages. Offered as a result of frequent requests by my valued customers. This book provides facts surrounding my personal gun fighting experiences in my store. These events occurred from 1989 to 1992 in the Watchcompany retail store in West Los Angeles.

NOTE: We have been selling vintage watches on E-Bay since 1998 as watchco1974 with over 9800 vintage watch sales and 100% positive feedbacks. You can buy from us with confidence.

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S.B. Champlin Company Providence, RI 1872 - 1934

The men's watch chain or "Vest Chain" is typically much scarcer than the pocket watch itself. This is because by 1915, the watch was retired to storage and the chain “discarded”, thrown away, or women converted them to bracelets. This fine men’s vest chain presented was produced by the Champlin Co. in 1896, inventoried, and was never sold to the trade or Jeweler for sale. It is therefore, in pristine, new but old stock condition! Can’t get any rarer or desirable!

A sharply angled, almost-triangular-plan 5-story brick industrial building, this was constructed by the S.B. Champlin Company (established 1872) to house its manufacturing of gold rings and gold-filled chains as well as provide rental space for other jewelry manufacturers, an own-and-rent practice then common in the jewelry industry and characteristic of neighboring contemporary buildings in the Jewelry District. The building was so successful that it was enlarged to the south in 1901; only a faintly visible seam marks the union of the two sections. In 1978, the building was converted to condominium use, the first of its type in the area, and retains mixed residential and commercial use.

Gold filled vest chains were originally produced with high gold content. True Gold-Filled vest chains are considered a solid karat gold with today's value per gram @ $3.22. This Slider design has total weight of 14 grams.

Nautical DOUBLE ANCHOR GF Vest Chain & T-Bar Champlin Co. 1896 S.B. Champlin Co., Providence, RI. NOS. Never used, sold or applied to a watch. Still has the original Sales Manufacturers tag. Vintage 18k Gold Filled Vest Chain & T-Bar 1896 (New, But OLD STOCK). Prestine original condition. "This chain is guaranteed to give entire satisfaction to the wearer": quote: S.B. Champlin Co. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET OR BONDS. BUY HISTORIC AND COLLECTIBLE HARD ASSETS.

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Swiss NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY 18k GOLD Chaux-De-Fonds Minute Repeater and 30 Minute Register Chronograph. Slide activating minute repeating. 55mm Diameter. 16mm thick. Fully functional with clear vivid chimes. Nickel and Gilt high-grade movement, serial No. 7966.

Plain polished surfaces and closes tight. Very nice and all original. THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET. BUY HARD ASSETS SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE FROM AN OLD TIMER--now in my 53rd year trading, buying and selling horological items!

NOTE: We have been selling vintage watches on E-Bay since 1998 as watchco1973 with over 13,500 vintage watch sales and 100% positive feedbacks. You can buy from us with confidence.

OTHER NICE FEATURES: Free U.S. Shipping. FEDEX $58.00 overseas.