It was an 18-size, 15-jewel movement, with a chronometer balance, adjusted to heat and cold and was among the earliest to include a micrometer regulator, modelled by Charles Vander Woerd.Ī product of Walthams Nashua Department, the 1870 Model was introduced as a key-wind key-set watch, with winding and setting from the back. In 1862 the American Watch Company absorbed the Nashua Watch Company, including Nashuas superior machinery, creating a separate department to produce high-grade watches.Ī new wing was added to the Waltham factory to house the Nashau Department where high grade watches were produced independently from the rest of the factory.

Pemko 412 crl 42Īvailable as 11-jewel and 7-jewel versions this grade reportedly accounted for 44.6 percent of watches sold by 1865.

The William Ellery grade (named after William Ellery, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) became the popular Civil War soldiers watch. The Civil War provided impetus for growth in watch sales, especially for the American Watch Co.

Under Robbins leadership the company gradually added less expensive 11-jewel and 7-jewel grade watches to their line. It was an 18-size, 15-jewel watch which wound with a key on the back side of the watch, and set with a key from the front.īy the end of 1857 the company was producing movements at the rate of 365 per month. Most of the remaining Boston Watch Company material and watches in progress, along with some of the watch making machinery were acquired by E.Īaron Dennison remained in Waltham as the superintendent of the mechanical department. Sales dropped, debts climbed and bankruptcy became inevitable.Īs majority owner, Robbins reorganized the company as Appleton, Tracy Co.

The company produced gilded full plate pocket watches ranging from 7 to 15 jewels which found acceptance in the industry, the first pocket watch produced in America of standard interchangeable parts, fostering growth until the country began experiencing a recession in 1856.

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