Birth of Soviet Watchmaking

Birth of Soviet Watchmaking  1 of 2 Blogs on the Dueber-Hampden Watch Co.'s rebirth in Russia.

A Brass, Advertising Novelty from "The Dueber Watch Case Co." 

This is a "Match Safe". It's long enough to hold the big "Barn-Burner" type of stick matches.  

The Hinge & Spring still work fine but it could use a polish.

I've seen these 'Advertising Novelties' { Fobs & Tie Stick-Pins } before but they've all been marked "Dueber - Hampden, Watch Co." or just "Hampden Watch Co.". Perhaps this one was made before "The Dueber Watch Case Co." moved to Canton, Ohio & became The Dueber - Hampden Watch Co. 

Possibly Unique 1910 18 Size, Hampden Electric Railway Serial No. 2640034 [not part of my collection, mores the pity] 17 Jewel, Model 3,  ON3P-A. [Check up-date; Thurs. 12/22/2016. This is now a part of my collection].

Single Sunk, Arabic Dial, with Spade "Railway" Hands.

Movement is like the 17 Jewel Dueber Grand but is signed "Electric Railway". Otherwise a standard Open Face, Model 3, Pendulum Set, Adjusted, 17 Jewel, Hampden it's the only example I have ever come across. 

The Dueber-Hampden Watch Co. did make a 16 size "Electric Railway Standard" [previously documented here] but this 18 size Model is not listed anywhere & seems to be a "one-off" trial model. The 16 size Electric Railway Standard watches are quite rare so they must not have found much of a market & were discontinued around this time, which most like figured in the reason the 18 size Electric Railway was never put into production.  

1902 Hampden, New Railway, 23 Jewel, 18 size, Serial No. 1721580.

This one has the "Canton, Ohio" signed Dial that usually appeared only on the late 21 Jewel models. The Hands are the appropriate Spade & Whip, Blued, Railroad Hands. 

Has Damasked Nickel Back Plates, a Steel Escape Wheel, Sapphire Pallet Stones & Sapphire, Jeweled Motor Bearings. I'm currently looking for a supply of 'Beveled Head' polished steel screws to replace the 'Flat Head' screws [a lot of watches I have seen had the original 'Beveled Heads' replaced with 'Flat Heads']. I may have to use a thread gauge & micrometer & go looking for them at Screw Manufacturing Companies, [as a last resort]. 

Here's the Crescent, 20yr., Gold Filled, 3-Hinge Case I propose to use to replace the Dueber Silverine Case it came with. Serial # 1287441. 

It has a Engine Turned Back, with Shield & Floral Decorations. The Bow & Stem are correct for the Era, as is it's slim profile. 

Another Hampden North American Railway. Serial No.1438123, 21 Jewel, 18 size. This one from 1901 w/ "Fish Scale" & "Fan" Damasking. In Dueber Coin "Railway" 3-Hinged Case, Serial #2501633. 

Probably the best looking Damasking of any of the North American Railway's. 

Case has a new Acrylic Crystal. Bow is nice & Tight & it closes up tight.

Minor Scratching on Back of Case. 

Double Sunk, Enamel, "Script" Numeral Dial has 2 light hairlines @ 7 & 11. Nice, Blued, Medium Spade Hour & Whip Minute Hands.

The Dueber Coin Case is Marked "Railway" w/ the Dueber "Anchor & Shield" Logo. These Cases were around .900 to .925 Silver. Dueber also made .975 "Sterling" Cases but I haven't seen many, so I don't think they were very popular [probably a case of "small difference in Silver for the extra price"].  

A 1906 North American Railway, Private Label [J.R. Haynes, Carpenter, W.VA.] On June 20, 1906 a J.W. Haynes became the Superintendent of the Greenbriar Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio, Railroad's, West Virginia, Grand Division. 

Single Sunk Dial w/ Logo; J.R. Haynes, Carpenter, W.VA. [today there is no "Carpenter, W.Va." It may be under Lake Sutton in Braxton Co. or was a "Company Town", so small that it never made it on to a map. For that matter it could have been a Junction or Coaling Station on the C&O Railway].

Nickel, Model 3, Movement. 

Hands are Blued, Fleur de Lis style [missing seconds hand].

Plain Back, Gold Filled, Case. Making a guess, I would think that J.R. & J.W. Haynes were related. Same geography, last name & possibly a link to the C&O Railroad if J.R. was a Time-Inspector  [as many Jeweler/Watchmaker's were]. Perhaps the elevation of J.R.'s relative signaled more work & he ordered some Railway Approved, Watches from Hampden, w/ his Name on the Dial. Or it could have been a single purchase [names on Dials were free but the buyer would have been charged to have the movement stamped / engraved].

18 SIZE WADSWORTH 20 YEAR, GOLD FILLED, ENGRAVED, HUNTER CASE.

Starting to make a dent in my severe lack of Hunter Cases w/ this Late 1890's / Early 1900's GF, Case.

Photo's show the Case still unpolished. It's a Yellow Gold Fill & should polish up Flashy Bright.

This is a Lever & Pendant Set Case & the Later Style Winding Ball & Bow.

Guaranteed to Wear for 20 years. Serial No. 661514 [which is of absolutely no use in dating or identifying any of these cases & one wonders why no Case Co. bothered to keep track of them].