M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. is a private label pocket watch line manufactured by Seth Thomas and identified by Roy Ehrhardt in his Identification and Price Guide to American Pocket Watches from Beginning to End.

Mayne (Maynard) James Abbott was a jeweler and optician in Forest Grove Oregon from 1900 through the 1930’s. The top advertisement below appeared in the Oregon News in 1910, and the bottom ad appeared in the Forest Grove Express in 1916. Both advertisements inform us that his store was on Pacific Avenue in Forest Grove. The top advertisement also mentions the location “Paterson Block”.

M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 803-823 – M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. – X-size – Model X – Serial# X – X Jewels - Grade X

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 992077 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 822 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3058075 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 4013768 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Adonis U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 18 and Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24.

The Pocket Watch Database reports that Seth Thomas produced Adonis U.S.A. pocket watches for the Illinois Watch Case Company.

Adonis U.S.A.

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 991674 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

American Best is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 5, manufactured for Siegel Brothers Jewelers in Boston Massachusetts U.S.A.

In his “1980 Price Indicator” Roy Ehrhardt illustrated that the Siegel Bros. commissioned Seth Thomas to produce three different private label pocket watch lines with their name marked on the movements. The photos in this posting are of my recently acquired example of “The King”. Illustrations from the “1980 Price Indicator” of Siegel Bros. “The King”, “American Best” and “Workingman’s Friend” are also included in this post.

The 1908 Boston Massachusetts City Directory identifies Eli and George Siegel as the “Siegel Bros.” jewelers at 387 Washington Street in Boston. Their business is also identified as Washington Jewelry Co. in other period documents. The Siegel Brothers must have known Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Daniel F. Pratt, because his store was located at 335 Washington Street. In one of the photographs, you can see the address on the marquis of a blueprint maker, 345 Washington Street.

American Best (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – American Best – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number X – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 821 – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 3252188 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 821 – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 3252273 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Athabasca is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12, and 6-size hunting Model 18.

Athabasca

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# 1050460 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 820 – Banner – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# 176044 – 11 Jewels - Grade 105

EA 811 – Banner – 18-size – Model 6 – Serial# 591028 – 11 Jewels - Grade 106

EA 811 – Banner – 18-size – Model 6 – Serial# 593803 – 11 Jewels - Grade 106

Banner is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 6, Model 7, and Model 16 possibly manufactured for Lapp & Flershem who used "Banner" as a trade name for their house brand of watch parts.

Banner

EA 820 – Banner – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# 161507 – 11 Jewels - Grade 105

EA 822 – Bennett Mfg Co. New York – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3053918 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

Bennett Mfg Co is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24.

Advertisements from The New-York Tribune (1911–1915) confirm that Bennett Mfg. Co., 175 Broadway, New York, was actively marketing pocket watches during the production window of Seth Thomas Model 24. While no advertisement has yet been located specifically naming a Seth Thomas-manufactured private label, the documented commercial activity establishes Bennett Mfg. Co. as a contemporary watch retailer or jobber operating during the relevant period.

These advertisements are from the New-York Tribune. The top-left advertisement appeared on Sunday December 10, 1911, on page 52. The top-right advertisement appeared on Sunday December 15, 1912, on page 13. The bottom-right advertisement appeared on Sunday March 29, 1914, on page 39. The large advertisement at the bottom appeared on Sunday December 12, 1915, on page 53 and mentions Bennett Mfg Co’s “Factory to Pocket” plan for watch purchases.

Bennett Mfg Co. New York

EA 822 – Bennett Mfg Co. New York – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3053828 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86422 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86441 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

EA 807 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 87814 – 11 Jewels - Grade 155

Bismark U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 2 and Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 3.

Bismark

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86401 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. is a private label pocket in Seth Thomas Model 5.

Tetley “Dexter” Blackburn, born September 5, 1867, was a jeweler in Belleville, Ontario Canada from the 1890’s through the 1920’s. He lived at 51 Highland Avenue with his second wife and the children from his late first wife. Tetley “Dexter” Blackburn died from a heart attack on November 23, 1925.

The postcard photographs below show what Belleville looked like in the very early 1900’s.

The advertisement at the top appeared in The Toronto Star on Thursday June 5, 1919, on page 17. The article at the bottom appeared in The Globe and Mail on Saturday August 20, 1921, on page 22.

T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# XXXXXX – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb. is the first known private label pocket watch line contracted in Seth Thomas Model 1.

Alexander S. Bleyer, born in Austria in 1847, is known to have been a jeweler in Central City Nebraska in the 1870’s and 1880’s. He lived at 94 Lone Tree Lane with his wife, Betty, and their six children. Lone Tree was the name of Central City Nebraska until it was changed in 1875. Records of Alexander Bleyer beyond the 1880’s have not been found at this time. See Wolf’s Nebraska Gazetteer 1879; 1880 US Census for the Town of Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska; and 1885 Nebraska State Census. The postcard photograph below shows what Central City looked like in the early 1900’s.

This advertisement appeared in The Nonpareil on Thursday March 20, 1884, on page 4.

A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb.

EA 805 – A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb. – 18-size – Model 1 – Serial# 4510 – 11 Jewels - Grade 44

EA 807 – John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 16807 – 11 Jewels - Grade 55

John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 3.

John Mathias Bonnet was a clockmaker and jeweler in Zanesville Ohio. The 1850 United States Census shows that he was 37 years old, born in Germany in 1813, and that he had a wife, Barbara, and five children including John M. Bonnet, jr. A January 3, 1883, Probate Record shows that John M. Bonnet died and left his jewelry business at 156 Main Street to his three sons John, jr., Albert, and Samuel. He would have died in late 1882 for this record to have been created so early in 1883. The 1907 Zanesville Ohio city directory shows John M. Bonnet, a jeweler, residing with his wife Helina, at 425 Locust Avenue. Newspaper reports document that John M. Bonnet’s wife became ill in the summer of 1908 and died that November. John Bonnet also fell into poor health and was moved to be with family in Baltimore where he died on September 28, 1909.

The postcard photographs below show Main Street in Zanesville Ohio, the street where John M. Bonnet’s Store was located.

All published in The Zanesville Signal, the top left article appeared on Saturday September 12, 1896, on page 8, the bottom left advertisement appeared on Monday March 29, 1897, on page 8, the article on the right appeared on Wednesday September 29, 1909, on page 8.

John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

EA 807 – John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 14286 – 11 Jewels - Grade 55

J. M. Bostwick PORT WASHINGTON, WI

EA 809 - J. M. Bostwick PORT WASHINGTON, WI - 18-size - Model 4 - Serial# 51906 - 7 Jewels - Grade 11

John Martin Bostwick and John Martin Bostwick, jr were the jewelers and proprietors of John M. Bostwick & Son, the oldest business house in the City of Port Washington Wisconsin from 1870 through 1933.

In 1888 J. M. Bostwick, sr. opened the Wisconsin Chair Company which eventually provided half of Port Washington’s jobs, which led to a surge almost doubling the city’s population. In 1899 the Wisconsin Chair Company caught fire and created a conflagration that burned down half of Port Washington. The business was insured and rebuilt an even larger factory in a location with direct access to the railroad.

The pocket watch movement has what could appear to be an after-market engraving "J. M. Bostwick Port Washington Wis". It should still be considered a true private label because if the Seth Thomas Watch Company didn’t actually perform the private label engraving, they certainly participated by leaving their own standard movement markings off of the movement.

An obituary for John Martin Bostwick, jr., who pre-deceased his father read: “He died at age 60. John was the son of J.M. Bostwick, Sr, President of the Wisconsin Chair Company. He was born in Port Washington. He took jewelry and engraving and had been proprietor of the J.M. Bostwick Jewelry Company for 35 years. He is survived by his wife Daisy, his father, a brother Ed, five sisters, Mrs Nellie Ramsey, Mrs Otto Pfeil, Mrs Ione Fairbands, Mrs Allen Cady, Mrs Harry Henery.”

E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA, KOSSUTH is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Elbert Green Bowyer (9/10/1857 - 1/9/1925) was a jeweler and optician in the city of Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa from 1878 through at least 1915. Reports also indicate that he was some sort of official to whom deaths were reported in order to validate life insurance claims. The postcards below show Algona during the time when E. G. Bowyer was a jeweler there.

This advertisement appeared in the Algona Courier on Friday March 20, 1896, on page 5.

E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA. KOSSUTH

EA 806 – E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA, KOSSUTH – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 73706–7 Jewels - Grade 56

EA 806 – Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 506156 – 15 Jewels - Grade 71

“Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA.” is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Robert George Brumer (1860-1946) and Gustave Adolph Brumer (1865-1954), born in Pekin Illinois, were the Brumer Bros, jewelers and watchmakers in the late 1800’s through early 1900’s at 214 5th Avenue in Clinton Iowa. The next generation of family members continued the business under the name Brumer Jewelers, eventually moving the store to 2nd Street near Boegel’s Menswear. The photographs below show the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Second Street in approximately 1910 and the 1930’s.

The top-center article appeared in the Seatle Union Record on Saturday September 19, 1903, on page 8. The bottom article appeared in The Dispatch on Monday July 31, 1911, on page 4. The advertisement at the bottom was found by chance in the 1918 or 1919 Henry Paulson & Co. catalog on page 18. It was actually part of an advertisement for Henry Paulson Co.’s pre-made advertisements. You can see at the top that the order form is attached. It was great luck to find that the example used was Brumer Bros.

Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA.

EA 806 – Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 504190 – 15 Jewels - Grade 171

“E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill.” is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Edward Irving Camm was born on January 27, 1852, in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. He moved to Monmouth, Illinois in 1870. He was married to Harriet Richardson in 1876 and was a watchmaker and jeweler there from 1878 until approximately 1905. The 1903 Monmouth City Directory reports that his store was at 100 South Main Street and his home was at 314 South B Street, only a couple of blocks from the store. The store had previously been the location of the first National Banks in Monmouth, a very secure location for a jeweler to acquire. In approximately 1905 he moved to Petaluma, California where, after a short time of working of a painter, he resumed his career as a jeweler and his son eventually joined him in the business. Edward Irving Camm died on January 11, 1935. The 1910 postcard photograph below shows the location where the store had been on the right-hand corner of the street. The Monmouth Trust and Savings (see news article below) had taken over the building upon Mr. Camm’s departure.

The very-top-center advertisement appeared in the Monmouth Review on Friday December 20, 1878, on page 3. The top-left advertisement appeared in the Warren County Democrat on Thursday November 3, 1887, on page 8. The 2nd-top-center advertisement appeared in the Monmouth Review on Friday January 6, 1888, on page 2. The top-right article appeared in the Warren County Democrat on Thursday December 29, 1904, on page 1. The bottom-left advertisement appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Wednesday October 16, 1907, on page 2. The bottom-center article appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Monday January 23, 1905. The bottom-right article appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Saturday July 26, 1924, on page 8.

E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill.

EA 806 – E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# XXXXXX – 11 Jewels - Grade 56

EA 816 – Centennial – 12-size – Pendant Model 22 – Serial# 3277689 – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Centennial

EA 822 – Centennial – 6-size – Pendant Model 24 – Serial# 3052795 – 15 Jewels - Centennial Grade 322

Centennial is a Seth Thomas Factory Named Grade encompassing Model 21, Model 22, and Model 24.

Centennial (Factory Named Grade)

EA 815 – Centennial – 16-size – Pendant Model 21 – Serial Number 1322579 – 7 Jewels - Centennial Grade 332

In the summer of 1913 the Seth Thomas Clock Company issued Centennial Medals to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the original founding of the company in 1813. The medals were designed by Seth Thomas jr., the great-grandson of the founder of the Seth Thomas Clock Company. The Centennial Medals were two and one half inches (2 1/2”) in diameter, struck in bronze with a gold finish. The obverse displays a portrait of Seth Thomas, in relief. Around the edge it reads “To Commemorate The 100th Year of Seth Thomas Clock Co”. At the sides of the portrait “ Seth Thomas” and “1785-1859” is inscribed. On the reverse there is a figure representing Father Time holding a pendulum in his right hand swinging over a scale marked 1813 - 1913. The pendulum ball bears the Seth Thomas trade mark. In Father Time’s left hand is a scythe. To his right is an hourglass.

Later that year on September 1st of 1913 the Seth Thomas Clock Company released its Catalog No. 701 “Seth Thomas Watch Movements”. Catalog No. 701 was also marked as the “Centennial Edition” Trade Price List.

Within the 1913 Centennial Edition Trade Price List Seth Thomas introduced “Seth Thomas ‘Centennial’ Open-Face Watches”, 7-jewel high grade movements in three sizes. All of the movements were pendant set, utilized the Breguet hairspring, and came cased and timed from the factory.

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 814 – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – STF Serial# CENTURY11D – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial Number CENTURY12C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 814A – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# 173701 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 821 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 983024 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 822 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Pendant Model 24 – Serial# 3071734 – 7 Jewels - Grade 320

It has been reported to me that my imagery of this watch has been placed on another Seth Thomas pocket watch website in violation of copyright law.

Century U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13, and 6-size hunting Model 18 and 6-size open-face Model 24. Access the Seth Thomas Photo Album by Model Number to see more Century U.S.A. pocket watches.

Century (Factory Named Grade) - Century U.S.A. Private Label

EA 813– Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – STF Serial# CENTURY10B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1896 Spring Catalog No 102 Seth Thomas pocket watches were not a big story. There were no images of Seth Thomas movements or dials. They were included in the list of choices for watch movements to fill the advertised watch cases as the low-end seven jewel option. It wasn’t until the 1898 Fall Catalog No 107 (shown below) that images of Seth Thomas movements were on display in the Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog. The first images included two seven-jewel Model 10 private labels, Pan-American and Century U.S.A., both lauded for their reliability. The Century movement and glitzy case combination was marketed as a “Trading Watch”; before that definition included the installation of fake jewels covering the pivots on the top plate, and false movement markings claiming 17, 21, or 23 jewels and that the movement was adjusted.

Century movements were phased out of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog product line starting in the Fall of 1901 with the introduction of the Edgemere line; and Century was gone in the 1902 Fall catalog. Century movements were then seen for sale in the catalogs of A.C. Becken, Brooks Optical, Butler Brothers of New York, N. Shure Company, John M. Smyth Company, Holsman & Alter, Lapp & Flershem, Moore & Evans, W.H. Lasselle, and Otto Young & Co.

For an explanation of the research methodology related to Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers stamped on non-numbered Seth Thomas Century movements, see the FAT# Research Page.

Century U.S.A. with Locomotive Dial is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12.

Century U.S.A. with Locomotive Dial

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. Trading Watch – 18-size – Model 12 – 1159720 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. Trading Watch – 18-size – Model 12 – 1296754 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Chautauqua is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5 and 6-size Model 14. There is not one in this collection; but a Chautauqua, serial number 228528, can be found in the Pocket Watch Database Seth Thomas Image Gallery for Model 5.

Chautauqua (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – Chautauqua – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# xxxxxx – 15 Jewels - Grade 173

J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 3.

Jacob Jefferson Clemmer was a medical doctor and drug store owner in Cresco, Iowa from 1866 until his death in 1901. Please see the article and long advertisement (split) from The Times – Plain Dealer below.

J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa

EA 807 – J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 73283 – 15 Jewels - Grade 170

EA 814 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 813C – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial# COLONIAL12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 814A – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Colonial U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13.

Colonial U.S.A.

EA 813 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 814 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 813C – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial# COLONIAL12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 814A – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Colonial U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13.

Colonial U.S.A.

EA 813 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

It has been reported to me that my imagery of this watch has been placed on another Seth Thomas pocket watch website in violation of copyright law.

EA 820 – Columbia New York – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# X – 7 Jewels - Grade 35

Columbia New York is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 15 and Model 16.

Columbia New York

EA 819 – Columbia New York – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial# 154690 – 7 Jewels - Grade 5

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12C – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12E – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13B – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13C – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13A – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12 and Model 13.

Trade Marks – Watch Cases, Pocket Watches, and Precious Stones by Roy Ehrhardt identifies “Corona Watch Co., New York” as a trademark for “R. R. Fogel Co. – Retail” with watches manufactured by the Seth Thomas Watch Company.

The 1889 edition of the “New York City Directory” R.R. Fogel & Co. operated as the jewelry business of Ruben R. Fogel at 401 Broadway in New York City. Ruben R. Fogel lived at 143 E. 15th Street.

The 1910 United States Census reports that Ruben R. Fogel was a 40-year-old male jeweler, living at 157 Fort Washington Avenue in New York City. According to the 1912 edition of the “New York City Directory” R.R. Fogel & Co. operated as the jewelry business of Ruben R. Fogel at 177 Broadway on the corner of Maiden Lane (the center of the jewelry district) in New York City. This intersection is the focus of the 1905 postcard shown below.

New York City Death Certificate # 26811 indicates that Ruben R. Fogel died on November 30, 1927, in Manhattan New York.

A December 27, 1927 article in the New York Times disclosed that Ruben Robert Fogel had left the bulk of two-million dollars to the orphanage that had sheltered him as a child.

Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A.

EA 813 – Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial# CORONA10B – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12A – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

Cosmopolitan is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5. The movement is marked “The Accurate Timer” - “Cosmopolitan Watch Co. - U.S.A.” The dial is signed Morris Feinberg - Ironwood, Mich.

Morris Feinberg (1879-1929) immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1893. He was a watchmaker and jeweler with a shop located at 224 Suffolk Street in Ironwood Michigan. His business partner was Raphael Sloan. The shop at 224 Suffolk Street is in the first building on the right-hand side of the 1910 photograph below. A 1904 City Directory reports that his shop was also located at 112 Ellison Street in Ironwood. There is an excellent story by Steven Heifetz on Page 12 of the Daily Globe History Project, March 20, 2018 edition describing the experience of Morris Feinberg and other 1890’s Eastern European immigrants settling in Ironwood Michigan.

Roy Ehrhardt’s “Identification and Price Guide” reports that the Cosmopolitan Watch Co. movements were also produced by Illinois Watch Company.

Cosmopolitan Watch Co. - The Accurate Timer

EA 810 – Cosmopolitan – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number 225459 – 17 Jewels

EA 821 – Countess Janet – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 966625 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Countess Janet is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 18 manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their mail order catalog.

Countess Janet

EA 821 – Countess Janet – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 962426 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1905 Catalog No 115 and 1907 Spring and Fall Catalogs the Seth Thomas private label pocket watch, Countess Janet, was advertised. The Countess Janet movements were marketed as a “Trading Watch” in the way that we use that term today to describe 7-jewel movements that utilized fake jewels covering the pivots on the top plate, and false movement markings claiming 17, 21, or 23 jewels and that the movement was adjusted.

Bosill Couri is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5.

The combined information from the 1900 U.S. Census, the 1905 Death Record of Bosell Couri, and the Portland Maine City Directory tells us that after emigrating from Syria; Bosell Couri was a jeweler in Portland Maine until his death in 1905 at age 31. He was a jeweler with a close family member, probably a brother, Bshara G. Couri, with whom he shared a residence, and who continued to be a jeweler after the death of Bosell Couri.

There are pocket watches with locomotives on their dials bearing the signature “B. G. Couri Special” that were produced for his brother Bshara by other watch manufacturers. The first postcard below shows Soldiers’ Monument in downtown Portland Maine in 1905, the year of Bosill Couri’s death. The second postcard shows Congress Steet in Portland Maine in the early 1900’s.

Bosill Couri

EA 810 – Bosill Couri – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# 225562 – 15 Jewels - Grade 159

Cowell & Hubbard is a private label in the Seth Thomas 18-size Model 8 Companion travel timepiece.

Cowell & Hubbard Company was a jewelry store in Cleveland Ohio that was founded in 1861. It presently has 10 branch stores in Ohio; but the Cleveland store had to be closed because it was in a high-risk area. There is a November 1, 1891, Cowell & Hubbard advertisement shown below from the Leader and Herald, Sunday edition. The photograph below shows the Cowell & Hubbard Company store in Cleveland, Ohio.