Model 1857 Catalog
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The BWCo Sequel - the Model 57 Exhibit
Ron Price (Natick, MA)

Maybe in better financial times and with a little more luck, Samuel Curtis might have been able to turn the Boston Watch Company around financially. However, the author's contention is that it never would have been as successful as the American Watch Company without the aggressive marketing strategy injected by Royal Robbins. Even if the company had found Mr. Robbins before the insolvency, the founders would unlikely have accepted him in control; and Mr. Robbins would unlikely have invested in the company with such a large debt. Indeed, Royal Robbins got a good deal when buying the watch factory at the insolvency auction on May 9, 1857, even if he did not fully appreciate it at the time.

According to his records, Mr. Robbins paid $41,500 for the factory plus two mortgages amounting to $14,380 in liabilities (interestingly, it is yet to be explained, why the assignee recorded receiving $4,000 less in the court records).

It is speculative history as to how much inventory Robbins found in the factory when he took over, but he did not take much time to get the factory operational again. He produced his first 100 watches in July of 1857, and was producing movements at the rate of 365 per month by the end of year. A March 13, 1856, Waltham Sentinel news article puts the production around 250 movements per month a year prior to the company going insolvent. Robbins' first model watch, a continuation of the four-pillar, full plate DH&D, later became known as the Model 57 for the year of its introduction.

The depression of 1857 hit the company hard. Watches were sold at auctions and dumped at twice discount, and employees were asked to work at half salary. By autumn 1858 the financial clouds began to break and a market for watches gradually re-emerged. On August 26, 1858, the Waltham Improvement Company agreed to merge with Mr. Robbin's watch company, and reorganized as the American Watch Company (AWCo) on January 1, 1859.

Robbins' first watches were finished in the style of the Boston Watch Company watches but engraved with the trademark Appleton Tracy & Co. (AT&Co). He quickly introduced his own style of engraving, but the movements were essentially the same DH&D design. Almost immediately Robbins began plying the "supply and demand curve." He introduced a lower grade 7J C. T. Parker in November, 1857, and the P. S. Bartlett in December. He also introduced a version of the Bartlett the following January with 11 jewels (top plate jeweled only) probably to give it the appearance of a 15J watch. These watches were offered at much lower prices than the AT&Co grade, presumably to increase sales to compensate for the lower margins. A succession of lower grade watches followed as Robbins experimented with customer acceptance. Robbins used the AT&Co movement as the quality grade leader on the Model 57, and the lower grades as the common consumer watch. This successful merchandising technique launched the American Watch Company into a world-class manufacturing enterprise. One million Model 57 watches were produced in the model's 25-year life.

This succession of grades and the changing features in each grade are illustrated in detail in the author's forthcoming monograph "Origins of the Waltham Model 57," and in an abbreviated fashion in the seminar paper "Evolution Of The First Successful Industrialized Watch." Several grades and features are exemplified by watches in this exhibit.

AT&Co5341 -- Appleton Tracy & Co. serial number 5341:
Engravings on this Aug-Sep, 1857, movement have the new AT&Co appearance, but the potance is the same as employed on DH&D movements and the full four-digit serial number is stamped on the underside of the top plate as on DH&D movements, neither of which is the case on later movements. However, it does have 16 jewels with the center arbor jeweled on the pillar plate. Porcelain dial is plain with Roman numerals, but not original; the seconds bit would likely be sunk. Case is just a holder.

CTP1176 -- C.T. Parker serial number 1176:
This lower cost 7 jewel grade has its top plate pinned to pillar posts instead of being secured with screws; this saved labor and expense as screw manufacturing had not yet become highly refined. On the other hand, the pinned plates might have been an intentional distinguishing feature as these watches employed many other screws. The hairspring is also anchored in a brass stud on the plate under the balance cock on these watches, presumably hidden like this so the stud could be left unfinished and be less costly to produce. Although the C.T. Parker and P.S. Bartlett movements did not employ the same potance on the AT&Co grade, they did share the same design of ratchet, ratchet bridge, click, and click spring. The porcelain dial is plain with Roman numerals and seconds bit is not sunk. 18K C.J. & Bro HC #30 with eagle hallmark.

PSB1409 -- P.S. Bartlett serial number 1409:
This early 7J Bartlett (serial numbers began at 1401) with steel balance became the forerunner of AWCo's commodity products. PSB movements were later offered in 7, 11 & 15 jewel versions. Pinned plates were continued on the Bartlett until late 1858 (around S/N 12,500). The 15J P.S. Bartlett was discontinued by the end of 1860, favoring the 11J instead for this grade. Not clear why the cock on this example is engraved "jeweled." The AWCo porcelain dial is probably not original. The case is just a holder.

CTP8153 -- Chas T. Parker serial number 8153:
Although is has pinned plate, this second-run Parker with gold balance has 15 jewels in real settings, and is clearly a better grade than the Bartlett. Note that the serial number is in the AT&Co's new range. The previous 1,000 series numbers might intentionally have been in the BWCo range to disavow it as BWCo material if not accepted by customers. The AT&Co porcelain dial has Roman numerals and a single sunk seconds bit. The OF coin silver case with star hallmark might not be original.

AT&Co13752 -- Appleton Tracy & Co. serial number 13752 "Sporting Chronodrometer" (Courtesy Charles Wallace):
The so-called Sporting Watches (chronodrometer stop watch) followed the second run P.S. Bartlett in serial number (13701). The stop watch complication was built on the Model 57 design. A wire lever through the plate stops and holds the balance wheel when the stop button is pushed. It was not very practical nor successful. On the other hand, the culture in America in 1858 - 1860s probably had more to do with its lack of success. Porcelain single sunk dial signed "Improved sporting watch JAs Appleton Jr. Waltham, Mass."; At&Co silver HC 7137. Also see another example in the "Complicated Waltham Watches".

The J. Watson and R.E. Robbins Watches
By November, 1859, the company introduced its first new model, the thinner 3/4 plate Model 1859 KW18, perhaps to compete with the upcoming Nashua Watch Company. However, Robbins still kept experimenting with the Model 57 in varying grades. The Chas T. Parker grade was followed by J. Watson and R.E. Robbins grades.

Watson23878 -- J. Watson serial number 23878:
First run 7 jewel J. Watson watches have a unique engraving with the name "London" on the barrel bridge and had an English appearance (at least some did). With this designation they might have been made for export; on the other hand, more likely, they were another Robbins experiment and made to look like an English import. The second run all appear to be engraved "Boston"; some with 11 jewels. The plain porcelain unsunk dial on this exhibited watch has English appearance. The silver HC serial # 320 with no makers name has an engine turned inner lid.

Robbins25180 -- R.E. Robbins serial number 25180
The R.E.Robbins watches are all 11 jewels (pillar plate not jeweled) according to the serial number ledger. These movements appear identical to the P.S. Bartlett being produced at the same time, including under sprung hairspring, hidden stud and fake jewel settings (just engraved into the plate). It is unclear why so few, or why any at all, were produced. This example watch has a gold balance and an unsunk AWCo porcelain dial; The A.W.Co silver HC, serial # 6170 has a lion hallmark.

Ellery46211 -- Wm. Ellery serial number 46211 (courtesy Charles Wallace):
By 1862 the company's next marketing experiment, the William Ellery grade M57 watch, became the popular Civil War soldier's watch. Reportedly, by 1865 the soldier's watch - the Ellery - accounted for 44.6 per cent of unit sales and 30.4 per cent of the dollar volume. The Wm Ellery name was chosen as being distinctive and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island. Due to the war market, though, this watch probably would have sold well under any name.
This Ellery on exhibit was made in February, 1862 with 11 jewels; steel balance, under sprung hairspring and hidden stud, but note that there are no fake jewel settings as on the Bartlett or Robbins grades. Ellery's also were offered in 7 jewels, favored for this grade. The barrel bridges on the earlier runs were engraved "Boston," perhaps to distinguish them from the P.S. Bartlett grade.

HWCo468253 -- Home Watch Co. serial number 468253 (courtesy Don Wing):
The next low end Model 57, the Home Watch Co. (HWCo) grade, was introduced in December 1866 with serial number 283001 in 7 Jewels (the following January, 11J versions were also offered), probably to compete with the newly founded National Watch Company. The barrel bridge was engraved Boston instead of Waltham possibly as camouflage to convey the impression that this low grade watch was not made by the AWCo. The William Ellery M57 was already engraved Boston, and at this time was changed to Waltham (see Ellery 711193). Note the absence of a key guard cup protecting the winding square and the absence of an applied index scale as on the better grades. The balance is also sprung under whereas both the Ellery and Bartlett were made sprung over around 1868. Although cannot be seen, this 1870 example has a cheaper escape wheel with toe-ended teeth; the Ellery was converted to the standard club tooth design around this time frame.

AT&Co365660 -- Appleton Tracy & Co. serial number 365660:
As Robbins introduced new grades, he continually upgraded the existing grades with added features. The AT&Co grade was a prime example. This watch on exhibit was delivered in 1869 several years after the AWCo offered its better grade 3/4 plate models. Although no longer the company's top offering, the AT&Co grade was the best in the Model 57 line. It was spruced up to look more like the 3/4 plates, but was offered at a more affordable price. Robbins was covering all bases. Note the plate jewels are smaller than on the earlier version and their settings are secured with two screws like the 3/4 plates versus three on earlier versions. Perhaps more important, the regulator and index were moved to the balance cock like on the 3/4 plates. This was done only on the AT&Co grade Model 57. The exhibited case is a 4Oz. coin silver half hunter (back lid opens with button) OF with thick crystal. This is not a dainty watch.

WWCo597388 -- Waltham Watch Co. serial number 597388 (courtesy Joseph Brown):
The Waltham Watch Co. (WWCo) grade was introduced in 1867 apparently as a bridge between the high grade AT&Co and low grade HWCo movements. All WWCo movements were given 15 jewels, but not quite all of the features of the AT&Co grade (e.g., the jewel settings are fake, just engraved into the plate). It was provided with stem winding as illustrated by this exhibited watch even before the AT&Co grade, albeit not a very good one (probably because at the time the company was offering stem winds in higher grade models). This 1873 WWCo watch on exhibit is still key set. In fact the stem can be turned only clockwise. Note this SW movement, as with typical factory M57 SWs, is held with two case screws whereas KW/KS versions have only one screw. It is also equipped with a main spring let-down screw on barrel bridge, but is deactivated on the pillar plate side.

Ellery711193 -- Wm. Ellery serial number 711193:
This later run 11J Ellery made in 1873 looks an awful lot like the Bartletts of its day (see PSB 406849), but it does not have the fake jewel settings, and the bimetallic composition "expansion" balance is fake (there is no cut in the balance). It clearly is, however, a better grade than the Home in this upgraded version, even when comparing 7J movements.

PSB406849 -- P.S. Bartlett serial number 406849:
The Bartlett became Robbin's mainstay Model 57, the middle ground grade, and was produced throughout the entire life cycle of the Model 57. As can be seen on this 11J example made in 1869, it is fitted with an expansion balance like the two higher AT&Co and WWCo grades. Although there are exceptions (perhaps not original), the two lower Ellery and HWCo grades were not given expansion balances. With these five varying grades of M57s, by 1869, Robbins was making a watch to fit every taste and pocket book.

Crescent816849 -- Am Watch Co., Crescent Park serial number 816849:
Introduced in May, 1875, the Crescent Park and Martyn Square grades appear to have been made for export. Their style of engravings, balance cock (with hairspring stud and wider base), and curved barrel bridge look like a cross with the Model 70 perhaps to be more acceptable to the English market. The balance cock and barrel bridge on these export Model 57 watches are not listed in the "Waltham" 1885 Materials catalog. Perhaps these grades should not be called Model 57s, but they share most of the same parts, including the 4-pillar plates. The 15J Crescent Park is a better grade than the Martyn Square and few were made. Many Martyn Squares were made, mostly 7J and 2-pair 11J versions, and often show up in England (another successful Robbins experiment).
Note the S-shaped barrel bridge and studded hairspring on this exhibited 1875 watch. Also the plate jewels are smaller than on the standard Model 57 (the settings are fake). The plain porcelain dial has sunk seconds and Roman numerals. The OF "half hunter" silver case, serial # 87675, was made by Aaron Dennison at his watch case company in England.

Broadway929169 -- A.W.Co. Broadway serial number 929169:
The Broadway Model 57 grade was introduced only in 7J KWKS versions around 1875-1876. The Broadway was probably Robbins' response to the cheap unjeweled watches beginning to appear on the market at the time. This grade did become quite popular. Although the Broadway does not appear to be any "cheaper" than a 7J KW/KS Home (per this 1876 example), this grade bore the distinctive A.W.Co. Waltham signature perhaps because by then the Home was selling well.
The last Model 57 watches made were probably Broadway S/Ns 1122001 - 1124000 (Oct - Dec '78) as seems to be indicated by listings in the Serial Number Ledger.