Description
VTG 1950s WALTHAM Mens Manual Wind-Up Watch WORKS GREAT Concentric Pattern Dial
See photo #1 for a close-up of the concentric circles on the watch dial.
This will be carefully packed in a carton, for secure shipment to you.
This is a pre-loved watch from the 1950's and has been sitting in a jewelry box for a few years. It is WORKING. We just tested it and it is ticking away as I type this listing out! Be sure to Double-Click on each high resolution photo to see if you would like to own this piece of history. The photos are of the EXACT piece that you will be getting.
The
Waltham Watch Company (initially the Boston Watch Company) was a
pioneering American watch and precision instrument manufacturer that
operated from 1850 to 1957.
It was the first company to mass-produce watches under one roof and
played a pivotal role in the American Industrial Revolution. The
company's historic factory is now a mixed-use development and national
historic district in Waltham, Massachusetts. Early history and innovation
- Foundation: Founded in 1850 by watchmaker Aaron Lufkin Dennison, David Davis, and Edward Howard in Roxbury, Massachusetts. With the help of investor Samuel Curtis, manufacturing started in 1851.
- Move to Waltham: The company moved its operations to a larger factory on the Charles River in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1854. The location was chosen partly for its cleaner air, which was less dusty for watch production.
- Revolutionary mass production: Waltham revolutionized the watch industry by implementing the "American System of Watch Manufacturing," which used machine tools to create standardized, interchangeable parts. This made watches more affordable and accessible to the average person. The assembly line process at Waltham was so groundbreaking that it reportedly inspired Henry Ford.
- Early instability: Despite its innovation, the company experienced early financial troubles. In 1857, it was sold at auction to Royal E. Robbins and reorganized under the name Appleton Tracy and Company, which eventually became the American Watch Company in 1859.
Golden age and success
- Civil War and beyond: The company gained crucial sales by providing watches to the Union Army during the American Civil War, including a watch presented to President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
- Railroad industry: Throughout the last quarter of the 19th century, Waltham became the main supplier of railroad chronometers for railroads in North America and over 50 other countries. The company's "railroad-grade" pocket watches were known for their quality and safety features.
- Diversification: In addition to watches, Waltham also produced clocks, speedometers, compasses, and other precision instruments.
- Official name: The company officially changed its name to the Waltham Watch Co. in 1907.
Decline and legacy
- 20th-century challenges:
The company faced challenges in the new century, including increased
competition from Swiss watchmakers and the rise of battery-powered
watches.
- Wartime focus: During World War II, Waltham focused entirely on military production, ceding a significant portion of the civilian market to Swiss watchmakers.
- Financial issues: The company went through multiple bankruptcies and reorganizations starting in 1949.
- Closure: The original company ceased production in 1957, with its assets being consolidated and sold off.
- Legacy continues: Although the original U.S. company is defunct, its name continues under different ownership.
- Swiss brand: Waltham International SA, a Swiss subsidiary, was established in 1954 and continues to produce watches.
- Vortic Watch Co.: American startup Vortic Watch Co. uses vintage Waltham movements in new, larger wristwatches, celebrating the company's legacy.
- Other brands: Other companies have acquired the brand name and produce modern watches that differ significantly in quality and mechanism from the vintage versions.
- Historic site: The monumental Waltham factory complex, which closed around 1962, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and is now known as the "Watch Factory".
