Mens 1911 E. HOWARD BOSTON USA Vintage TITANIUM Watch

E. HOWARD & Co.
BOSTON
U.S.A.

UNIQUE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF TIMEPIECE
VERY BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE WATCH 1911
VERY BEAUTIFUL MECHANICAL WORK

I am pleased to offer for sale this 1911 timepiece that was made by most respected in the history of American horology “E. Howard Watch Company”. In 1868, an American engineer and watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones who had been a director of E. Howard & Co., in Boston, then America's leading watchmaking company, founded the IWC - International Watch Company with the intention of combining the craftsmanship of the Swiss with the modern engineering technology from the U.S. to manufacture movements and watch parts for the American market.

It is a registered design model that features a three piece TITANIUM new custom made case that provides with glass cover of back lid, ORIGINAL porcelain dial signed HOWARD and high-grade 17 Jewels mechanism, complete with FANCY DAMASKEENING on the top plates, SWAN NECK MICROMETER that dates to 1911. 

History:

Edward Howard, undoubtedly one of the most respected names in the history of American horology, started the Howard Watch Company after the failure of the Boston Watch Company (1853-1857).

His goal was to produce watches of the highest quality using interchangeable machine-made parts. With his financial partner, Charles Rice, Howard moved the tools, machinery and watches "in progress" from the defunct Boston Watch Company to their Roxbury factory in late 1857. During their first year of operation, the machinery was retooled for the production of a new watch of Howard's design, and the remaining Boston Watch Company movements were completed. These movements were signed "E. Howard & Co." on the dials and "Howard & Rice" on the movements.

By the summer of 1858, Edward Howard produced the first watch of his own design, a watch that was entirely different from previous watches. The top plate was made in two sections and had six pillars instead of the usual four found in a full-plate watch. This watch also introduced the more accurate quick-train to the American market. Balances were gold or steel at first, and later bi-metallic compensating balances with gold screws were used. Reed's patented barrel was used on early watches, but by 1868, Howard patented a new steel motor barrel which replaced the Reed's barrels in Howard watches. Howard also introduced the first stem-winding watch in 1868, and was probably the first to market such a watch in the USA. The manufacture of key-wind movements was discontinued altogether by 1878. Howard was first to use the Reed patented micrometer regulator, and was the first to offer watches adjusted to six positions.

Sizes of Howard watches were designated using the Dennison system of measurement (see table below). By 1869, Howard had progressed from the "N" size movements (approximately 18-size) to the smaller "L" size movements (approximately 16-size). Howard dials were always made of hard enamel, and bore the name " E. Howard & Co., Boston."

Edward Howard retired in 1882, but his company continued to sell watch movements in grades and styles established by Howard until 1903. In 1902, the company transferred all rights to the "Edward Howard" brand name to the Keystone Watch Case Company. Keystone manufactured a line of watches signed "E. Howard Watch Co., Boston, U.S.A." on the movement.

The Howard name was purchased by the Keystone Watch Case Company in 1902. There were no patent rights transferred, just the Howard name. The watches of the Keystone era are typically marked "E. Howard Watch Co. Boston U.S.A" and were sold as complete watches only i.e. they were cased and timed at the factory.

E. Howard Historical Dates

1842 E. Howard Clock Co. founded

1845 Howard Clock factory built in Roxbury

1850 Boston Watch Co. (Howard, Davis & Dennison Co.) founded

1850 Boston Watch Co. factory built in Roxbury

1857 Boston Watch Co. failed

1857 Howard Watch and Clock Co. founded

1858 Name changed to E. Howard & Co.

1861 Howard Watch and Clock Co. incorporated

1863 Company reorganized

1873 New plant completed

1879 Waltham Watch and Tool Co founded (U.S. Watch)

1881 Company reorganized as E. Howard Watch and Clock Co.

1882 Edward Howard retires

1888–1896 U.S. Watch Co. produces "Suffolk" and "Columbia" watches

1903 Howard Clock and watch manufacturing separated

1903 Clock manufacturing company becomes E. Howard Clock Co.

1903 E. Howard name for watches sold to Keystone Watch Case Co.

1903 U.S Watch Co. sold to E, Howard Watch Co. (and Keystone)

1903–1927 Howard watches produced in Waltham at U.S Watch factory

1927 Howard name sold to Hamilton Watch Co.

1927 Howard Clock Co. buys U.S. Watch factory from Keystone

1933 Howard Clock Products Co. incorporated

1933 to Present Howard Clock Products Co. manufactures clock and timer mechanisms

This gorgeous, men’s timepiece features an ORIGINAL perfect white porcelain enamel dial, featuring a 60 minute checkered outer track border with RED enamel Arabic numerals, original steel Spade style hands and a separate sunken seconds dial with 60 second outer track and "sweep" original steel seconds hand, elegant enamel Arabic numerals. Signed HOWARD in black enamel lettering below the 12.

It is a registered design model that features a three piece TITANIUM case that provides with glass cover of back lid. TITANIUM case, new custom made, fantastic, build specially for this excellent HOWARD movement.

Turning the watch over I note that the back lid is in good condition.

The new TITANIUM winding crown is in very good shape and operates properly.

Peeking inside via the glass lid I find a spotless and high quality, hunting model, manual wind nickel plated lever escapement 17 Jewels mechanism , complete with FANCY DAMASKEENING on the top plates, SWAN NECK MICROMETER, that is clearly marked E. HOWARD WATCH CO. – BOSTON. – U.S.A. – ADJUSTED 17 JEWELS – PAT’D ‘08 (is stamped below the balance wheel) with movement serial number 1,074,385. This serial number dates this watch to the end of 1911 but possibly early 1912, as per published production numbers.

This beautiful wristwatch has the original movement in an excellent status which was very well saved, considering age of this watch. Mechanism has been recently serviced to ensure it winds and sets smoothly while keeping great, accurate time.

It comes complete with a new 20mm black genuine leather strap with matching chrome steel buckle for a most excellent look.

Diameter (with crown):        55.00 mm
Diameter (without crown):   50.00 mm
Watch crystal diameter:      40.00 mm
Thickness:                          12.00 mm

This cleaned, oiled and regulated vintage watch winds and sets very smoothly while keeping very good, accurate time. Supplied without box.

 

Because of the vintage nature of the watch I cannot guarantee its absolute time keeping accuracy even if they are in good running condition and in some rare occasions may require additional adjustment.