- Posts
- 101
- Likes
- 64
TheNewOmegaMan
·Hello everyone! Super excited, yesterday I received my Rockford Watch Company Pocket Watch to wrist watch conversion. Really happy with how it turned out, looks very clean. Here are the watch specs, some pics and a brief history of the Rockford Watch Company for your reading and viewing pleasure. Leave a comment, looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks.
This is a Rockford 16s 17 jewel Hunter pendant set movement in a stainless steel wrist watch case with a ball stitch leather band. The movement Serial number is 783521 made in 1908 that makes it 112 years old and this was not a large production run.
Grade: 561
Manufacturer: Rockford
Manufacturer Location: Rockford, Illinois
Movement Serial Number: 783521
Grade: 561
Model: 4
Estimated Production Year: 1908
Run Quantity: 1,000
Grade/Model Run: 2 of 4
Total Production: 5,000
Size: 16s
Jewels: 17j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Movement Inlay Color: Gilt
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Double Roller: Yes
Standard Dial Type: Double-Sunk
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted to Position: No
Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
Railroad Grade: No
On March 4th, 1874 the Rockford Watch Company is organized in Rockford, Illinois with the capital of $150,000 by Hosmer P. Holland, Israel Sovereign, and George Troxell. The original equipment was purchased from the Cornell Watch Co. C.W. Parket and P.H. Wheeler, former employees at the Cornell Watch Company, were employed at the Rockford factory. Construction on their factory building was started in 1875 and finished in 1876 and was located on the 300 block of South Madison in Rockford (parts of the original factory building were later used by Rockford High School). Rockford watches were quite popular with railroad men, as 3 railroads went through Rockford, and the company advertised heavily to them. Many of the later Rockford watches are signed "RG" for "Railroad Grade".
The first Rockford watch, a key-wind, 18-size, full plate with expansion balance was released in May 1876. The company had 40 employees and was soon turning out 10 watches per day, all 18-size, in five different grades. By 1877, the company was producing 3/4 plate nickel movements. The company sold directly to retailers. The highest grades of early Rockford watches were signed "Ruby" or "Ruby Jewels" which later became a stylized letter "R" engraved next to the jewel-count.
By September of 1881, The Rockford Watch Company was producing 70 watches per day, well behind the market demand. Starting in 1888 Rockford Watch Company moved up to producing around 150 movements per day and employed nearly 350 people. Later that same year Hosmer P. Holland resigns from the Rockford Watch Company.
On January 25th, 1890 The Ottawa Free Trader newspaper reports that the Rockford Watch Company will relocate to another area of town to build a larger factory and hotel. May 15th, 1896 Stockholders declare insolvency and assign all assets and debts of the Rockford Watch Company to Mr. Irwin French. Then in May of 1901, The company reorganizes as the Rockford Watch Co. Ltd. and becomes a subsidiary of the Illinois Watch Case Company, headed by Jacob Franks and Max C. Eppenstein. In March of 1904, The Rockford Watch Co. lays off 75 factory workers due to slowing business. Finally, in 1915 After manufacturing nearly 1 million watches, the Rockford Watch Co. ceases operations and closes.
This is a Rockford 16s 17 jewel Hunter pendant set movement in a stainless steel wrist watch case with a ball stitch leather band. The movement Serial number is 783521 made in 1908 that makes it 112 years old and this was not a large production run.
Grade: 561
Manufacturer: Rockford
Manufacturer Location: Rockford, Illinois
Movement Serial Number: 783521
Grade: 561
Model: 4
Estimated Production Year: 1908
Run Quantity: 1,000
Grade/Model Run: 2 of 4
Total Production: 5,000
Size: 16s
Jewels: 17j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Movement Inlay Color: Gilt
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Double Roller: Yes
Standard Dial Type: Double-Sunk
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted to Position: No
Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
Railroad Grade: No
On March 4th, 1874 the Rockford Watch Company is organized in Rockford, Illinois with the capital of $150,000 by Hosmer P. Holland, Israel Sovereign, and George Troxell. The original equipment was purchased from the Cornell Watch Co. C.W. Parket and P.H. Wheeler, former employees at the Cornell Watch Company, were employed at the Rockford factory. Construction on their factory building was started in 1875 and finished in 1876 and was located on the 300 block of South Madison in Rockford (parts of the original factory building were later used by Rockford High School). Rockford watches were quite popular with railroad men, as 3 railroads went through Rockford, and the company advertised heavily to them. Many of the later Rockford watches are signed "RG" for "Railroad Grade".
The first Rockford watch, a key-wind, 18-size, full plate with expansion balance was released in May 1876. The company had 40 employees and was soon turning out 10 watches per day, all 18-size, in five different grades. By 1877, the company was producing 3/4 plate nickel movements. The company sold directly to retailers. The highest grades of early Rockford watches were signed "Ruby" or "Ruby Jewels" which later became a stylized letter "R" engraved next to the jewel-count.
By September of 1881, The Rockford Watch Company was producing 70 watches per day, well behind the market demand. Starting in 1888 Rockford Watch Company moved up to producing around 150 movements per day and employed nearly 350 people. Later that same year Hosmer P. Holland resigns from the Rockford Watch Company.
On January 25th, 1890 The Ottawa Free Trader newspaper reports that the Rockford Watch Company will relocate to another area of town to build a larger factory and hotel. May 15th, 1896 Stockholders declare insolvency and assign all assets and debts of the Rockford Watch Company to Mr. Irwin French. Then in May of 1901, The company reorganizes as the Rockford Watch Co. Ltd. and becomes a subsidiary of the Illinois Watch Case Company, headed by Jacob Franks and Max C. Eppenstein. In March of 1904, The Rockford Watch Co. lays off 75 factory workers due to slowing business. Finally, in 1915 After manufacturing nearly 1 million watches, the Rockford Watch Co. ceases operations and closes.
Edited:
