Pocket Watch Guide

The Ingersoll Company has long been in the trade of making reliable watches since 1892. They have revolutionized the American standards of watch making as they continuously set the bar a little higher. Among these milestones of achievements, they have made several pocket watches that have changed the industry and also were the first to successfully adapt an automated production line.

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.