Hi, I'm brand new to this forum (although I have casually browsed the forums for a while now.) and wondered if anyone could help. Basically, I've always loved watches, but never had the money to fund a collection (I'm a postgraduate student who owns a CW C7 rapide and not much else.) so this prompted me to search my parents house for any old watches etc I could find. I came across the Rotary shown below in a sock drawer.
I love it, however I want to know more about it and wondered if anyone could shed some light/point me in the right direction? There is no serial number that I can find on the piece - also, if the pictures are unsatisfactory (taken on my phone) I can upload some more later. Thanks in advance, Jack.
Not all watch manufacturers use 'model names', sometimes it's a reference number, like Seiko 6139 xxxx where 6139 is generic type, and xxxx varies with dial colours and so on.put seiko 6139 into ebay and you'll see how that works.:) TIMEX used model names plus a catalogue number, like 'Mercury' plus a reference. Vostok used names like 'kommanderski' - it all depends on the maker. Rotary probably did have model names, but tracing them would have a job laid out for an expert Rotary collector:lol: That could be you -your task, should you choose to accept (cue Mission Impossible music:lol: ):weed.
Rotary Mens Skeleton Automatic Watch with Leather Strap GS05035/03. Rotary Watches Portland Women's Quartz Watch with White Dial Analogue Display. The Rolex serial number of a watch is stamped between the lower lugs, where the bracelet is held in place. Up until the end of 1972, the ‘quarter’ of manufacture and year could also be found stamped inside the case back (eg iii 65 for 3rd quarter of 1965).
The United States Watch Company of Marion, New Jersey The United States Watch Company of Marion, New Jersey, also known as the Marion Watch Company, should not be confused with the U.S. Watch Company of Waltham, Massachusetts which was formed in 1885.
Watch Company of Marion, New Jersey was an offshoot of the Giles, Wales & Company jewelry importer that had been an importer of English and Swiss watches. In August of 1864, construction of the new factory began on 23 acres of land purchased in Marion. Gerry, the head machinist for the American Watch Company, was hired in 1863 to build the machinery for the new watch factory. Company records make mention of the following U.S. Watch Company employees:. Superintendent - James H.
Gerry,. Foreman, Pinion Finishing - John Gardiner,. Nickel Finishing - Walter Farnsworth, Chas. Berlin,. Flat Steel - William Sheppard,. Plate Room - George Hart,.
Escapement Room - E. Gerry,. Motion Room - Fred Lowell,. Stem-wind Room - D. Gerry,.
Balance Room - H. Cain,. Dial Room - E. Hull,. Jewel Room - William Smith.
SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENTS The first watch was produced by the United States Watch Company in 1867, and was an 18-size, 19-jewel, full-plate, expansion balance model called the 'Frederic Atherton,' which was the first mass production stem-wind watch made in America. The name for the first watch was chosen because 'Frederick' was the first name of Giles, and 'Atherton' was the second name of Wales. It featured a butterfly-shaped cutout in the top plate which allowed the escapement to be viewed. This cutout became a hallmark of U.S. Watch Company watches. Damaskeening, the application of decorative embellishment to the movement plates, which had become popular in Switzerland, was also first introduced on American watches by the U.S. Watch Company, which saw the process as a way of enhancing the beauty and quality of their watches.
By the end of 1869, the company had over 100 employees and was producing watches at a rate of 100 per day but was not able to operate the factory profitably. Marion Watch Company In 1872, the company was reorganized, and continued to operate under the name Marion Watch Company. Prices were reduced and lower-grade watches were offered, including many that had been reclaimed from the 'reject bins' of the U.S. Watch Company.
The company went bankrupt in 1874 after a total production of about 300,000 watches. The factory tooling was sold off to Auburndale Watch Company, the Fitchburg Watch Company and the Fredonia Watch Company.