Description |
APW - Waltham, believed to be the personal watch of Edgar L. Hull, foreman of Waltham Watch Co.'s dial painting department, Riverside, 16J, Model 1874, 14S, heavy 18K gold original A.W.Co. OF case, gold cuvette, fancy white enamel SS impressed dial signed "E.L. Hull Waltham" with radial Arabic hour numerals each with alternating red and green glass insets, minute markers in red glass and gold foil, remainder of dial with extensive gold foil, silver foil, red glass, and green glass decorative elements, SW-LS, gilt mvt, s#781507. Gross weight of assembled watch 70.3 dwt (109.5 g).
An exceptional find for the Waltham collector, we believe this to be the personal watch of Edgar L. Hull, foreman of Waltham Watch Co.'s dial painting department. The dial of this watch is remarkable, exhibiting a striking degree of both elegance and beauty. The movement of this watch also appears to have been of special order, as it is from a run listed as 11 jewel in factory records.
An excellent account of Edgar L. Hull's horological life can be found in Henry G. Abbott's "History of the American Waltham Watch Company of Waltham, Mass" and reads as follows: "Edgar L. Hull was born in Sudbury, Mass., in 1848. He began work for the American Watch Company as a boy, in June, 1862, and remained with them for about four years, when he went to Marion, N. J., and spent a year in the employ of the United States Watch Company of that place. From there he went to the Howard Watch Company and remained about nine years. He then returned to the Waltham company, where he has been employed continuously up to this time. He was appointed foreman of the dial painting department in 1883. He was probably the first person to learn the art of dial painting in America, all other dial painters in the employ of the Waltham company previous to him being English workmen. Mr. Hull's department is a very important one and he has developed many new methods and ideas in order to turn out large quantities of plain and ornamental dials in a speedy and economical manner."
CONDITION: Mvt: Ticking sluggishly on a full wind, overhaul recommended, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, haze to gilt surfaces, some micro-fine scratches, some evident surface dirtiness; flawless dial; fine hands, hour and minute with oxide and finish loss; case shows light to medium wear, no dents or dings, reduced engine turning detail with full loss through rear shoulder; tight bow, crown shows medium wear; good glass crystal.
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