This new pocket watch had a “quick-beat” train, compensated balance and a top plate which had two sections. A letter “N” was stamped on the movements as a tribute to the company and its inventors. After enjoying great success with his watches, Howard then introduced the Stem-Wind movement, this was the first of its kind and they were made at a furious pace as demand for them ran until the 1900′s. This watch had enamel dials and had the name of the company (E. Howard & Co., Boston) inscribed on it. Though the factory never made their own watch cases, in 1902 they assigned the rights to use Edward Howard’s name to the watch case making company which was the Keystone Watch Case co.

These Howard pocket watch and all of their accessories can be bought from countless online sites and even auction houses that carry antiques. Many designs of Howard hunter pocket watches are available and prices may range from those that are newly manufactured which can cost a few hundred dollars to the genuine antiques that fetch almost a thousand dollars at the beginning of the bid alone.

Buying A Howard Pocket Watch

Some tips to look out for in knowing when you truly have a genuine Howard pocket watch in the palm of your hand, is to look for the letter “N” in the watch movements. These watches were generally made between the decades of 1958 to 1930 although they may continue to be made up to this day, just under different names or company brands. Look for the serial number and the make sure that these are engraved in the pocket watch. To further help you in buying a Howard pocket watch, many guide books are available and it would be better to go online and look up your pocket watch in the company catalogue.

Always remember that these are not just pocket watches but also precious pieces of jewelry and are of high value. Most owners or sellers of these would be more than willing to provide certificates of authenticity to ensure quality. If they should refuse or make an excuse in handing you a certificate then this should serve as a warning and caution should be taken.

As the production increased they were able to develop reliable and precise watches that did not cost as much as the more sophisticated Swiss watches of their time. Robert Hawley Ingersoll and his brother Charles established this company in 1892 and they first started out by selling low-cost items to the immigrants living in New York. They first sold watches when it was introduced by the Waterbury clock company to the things they were selling.

They later on developed high quality watches through a revolutionary method of mass producing pocket watches by way of an assembly line, because these watches did not have any precious jewels inside them, they were reasonably priced at $1 each! These were known later on as the “Yankee” watch or the “dollar watch”. After a successful run in the US, the brothers ventured across the Atlantic and introduced the “Crown” pocket watch in London which was sold for 5 shillings; this was almost equal to one dollar at the time.

As they gained success overseas, sadly however, their American factory was later closed down during the great depression. The London based factory was later purchased by Waterbury and then became a wholly British enterprise. The United States Company of Waterbury was later renamed as the United States Time Company in 1944 and is now known as the Timex Group USA.

Other watches that this company has developed were the Reliance and Night design pocket watches. The Reliance was a watch that had 7 jewels that catered to the more sophisticated tastes of their British customers and was understandably sold for more than a dollar, they actually the start of a line of more elegantly produced pocket watches. And the night design watch which had a luminous dial which remained visible at night or dark times. these became quickly popular and helped keep the company afloat for a good deal of time. They were among the first of their kind and helped Ingersoll stamp their name around the world.

Though they are among the best when it comes to pocket watches, other companies also offer the same competitive quality and are almost priced the same way. Longines and Swiss made watches are among the few who have also produced reliable pocket watches. Not all companies that sell wristwatches sell pocket watches as well.

During this era, raillroading was spreading from coast ot coast and throughout America heralding the industrial revolution in this country. Most railroaders carried the famous Hamilton Pocket Watch with them because of its accuracy and dependability.

The Hamilton was a working man’s watch. It was not inexpensive, but it had a class and prestige of its own. As the years passed and its influence grew, the Hamilton Watch Company began adding intricate carvings to their pocket watches. This move made these watches even more sought after; in fact, some people mentioned their Hamilton Pocket Watch in their wills. They would leave their favorite watch to a favorite son or nephew, but rarely to a daughter or neice. The pocket watch was considered a man’s watch and not delicate enough for a woman.

Hamilton Pocket Watches continued to be made in the United States up into the 1950′s, but by then pocket watches had gone out of vogue with the American public. During the booming growth following World War II, people were more interested in style and looks, and they liked the convenience and ease of use of wrist watches. American watch makers started to cut corners to compete with each other and began importing Swiss works to put in their pocket watches which were not selling as good as wrist watches.

From the early 1920′s until the 1950′s the Hamilton Watch Company was a well known and highly respected name in watchmaking because of their style, design, and use of precious metals like gold in their watches. In 1969, the last Hamilton Pocket Watch was made, and by then even Hamilton was using Swiss works in its pocket watches.

The event occured on April 18, 1891, as two trains approached each other in Kipton, Ohio. On a passenger train, the pocket watch of an engineer stopped working for four minutes. As a result of this mixup the train was running late. Another train – a mail freighter – was heading in the same direction on another side of town. The trains missed their usual rendezvous point and wrecked near the edge of town, killing eight people including both conductors.

This event spurred great change among the rail community. A jeweler and watchmaker specializing in pocket watches, Mr. W.C. Ball was a significant voice during the time and knew timekeeping well. He knew what it took to keep a watch on time – and prevent another railroad collision as a result of something as small as a pocket watch – and he was thus appointed to the chief inspector to railroad timekeeping.

As part of his new duties, Ball quickly enacted rules and regulations for all railroad pocket watches. All railroad workers were now required to have with them at all times a pocket watch which was up to American Railway Association regulations.

These watches must have been:

• Open-faced pocket watches;
• Keeping time to within 30 seconds;
• A size of no less than 16 and no more than 18; and
• Have a minimum of 17 jewels.

If a worker did not keep his pocket watch up to code, and in acceptable condition, he faced harsh discipline. In fact, railroad workers were subject to routine but unannounced pocket watch inspections to ensure the safety of train travel.

Do you want to buy a railroad pocket watch? There were several companies who made watches which matched railway regulations. Specifically, Waltham model number 1883 is a size 18 watch. Waltham Watch Co. was a very prominent watch maker during the 1800′s and provided watches to hundreds of rail workers – and to regular citizens as well. Their models “riverside maximus” and the “vanguard” were some of the popular ones. An authentic Waltham antique pocket watch can sell for prices ranging from $100 to $1,000 depending on the age and condition.

Before you buy, it is recommended to consult with a watchmaker or jeweler to make sure that your future purchase is an authentic one!

In the early 16th century, clock makers devised a process to use springs instead of weight to operate their timepieces. This switch allowed them to significantly condense the size of the pieces that allowed personal timepieces to be carried on one’s person. Far from the classic pocket watches that fit in the palm of your hand, these portable devices were rather large and bulky and were worn on a thick chain around the neck. Even as new methods allowed for smaller sizes over time, the pieces were still rather square and bulky.

The beginning of the 17th century was when the classic pocket watch truly began to take form. Most antique pocket watches around today came from this time period. Watchmakers opted for a smaller, rounded design, often focusing on the artistic aspects of the watch instead of just the design elements. As time went on and more importance was placed on the pocket watch as a status symbol, they began to be cast in precious metals and studded with fine gemstones.

Pocket watches are stylish and beautiful, they are rugged and practical, they are simple and elegant. For every person or profession, there is a pocket watch perfectly suited to his or her style and needs. Over the centuries and years, they have remained a key accessory for men and women alike, staying strong until the creation of the wristwatch shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Even just the sight of antique pocket watches today conjures up images of days gone by, making them such desirable and beautiful pieces of history to collect.

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, the pocket watch is defined as “a watch on a chain, intended to be carried in the pocket of a jacket or vest.” The pocket watch, sometimes also spelled “pocketwatch”, was first invented in the early 15th century. In fact, Peter Henlien, originally a master locksmith, was a notable pocket watch maker around the year 1524.

Initially, pocket watches were worn around the neck – and devices were fairly big compared to their size today and in recent history. Some estimate that it took only one century for watch wearers to begin wearing their watch in a pocket.

The growing popularity of pocket watches was one major factor in their increased production and usage through out the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. It wasn’t before long before they truly became a staple in societies around the world.

Pocket watch types vary, from key-wind and key-set watch movements (the first pocket watches used this movement); crown-wind, crown-set movements, created in the 1800’s by Patek-Philippe; crown-wind, lever-set movements, which were mandatory on all railroad pocket watches; and crown-wind pin-set movements.

Pocketwatches saw increased usage along with the age of railroading during the late 1800’s. They became a standard piece of equipment among all rail workers, as implemented in 1887 by the American Railway Association. The association set certain standards for the type of watch worn, including size, number of jewels, position adjustment, time accuracy, and other measures. This system was so highly regarded by the Railway Association that members were often subject to surprise checks from their superiors – and a failure to keep your pocket watch in satisfactory working order most often meant disciplinary action.

Unfortunately, the reshaping of American fashion meant the eventual twilight of the pocket watch. However, the pocket watch was still a societal staple through the early 1900’s, as most considered the wrist watch (the latest in “watch fashion” in that day) to be feminine. New military standards in 1914 helped promote the decline of the pocket watch. Soldiers in World War I, as well as their officers, agreed that a watch worn on the wrist was more accessible and easier to keep clean and tidy than using a pocket watch.

As many members of society, military personnel included, moved toward the use of a wrist watch versus the traditional pocket watches, railroaders remained true to their roots by using the pocket watch in their every day activities.