Posted 9 years ago
pw-collector
(297 items)
This is a re-post of a watch I feel has some historical significance. Earlier this year I deleted most of my postings (not a well thought out decision), so for some of you I hope I don't bore you with some repeats.
On August 27, 1864, a company was incorporated under the name of "The National Watch Company" of Chicago, Illinois, with a capitol of $100,000. The incorporators were:
Philo Carpenter
Howard Z. Culver
Benjamin W. Raymond
Geo. M. Wheeler
Thomas S. Dickerson
Edward H. Williams
W. Robbins
It was decided that the factory would be located in Elgin, Ill. and was completed in 1866. The first watch produced was an 18 size B.W. Raymond movement in April of 1867.
On July 16, 1867, a new watch was turned out and the movement was named the H. Z. Culver and began with serial number 1001.
This watch is a National Watch Co. watch, serial number 1731, H. Z. Culver movement, key wind & set, 15 jewel, 18 size, manufactured in 1867. It is housed in a coin silver hunting case with a presentation inscription on the cuvette ( inter dust cover). This is where the "historical significance" begins. The inscription reads:
Geo. D. Barnard
From
HIS FRIENDS
With
Culver, Page & Hoyne
NOVEMBER 22ND 1867
The Honored Recipient:
Geo. D. Barnard, born Oct. 6, 1846 in Bedford, Mass., commenced in the stationary business in 1860, went to St. Louis in 1868 and clerked in a manufacturing stationary house until 1872, when he started in the stationary business. When his two partners died the company was incorporated as Geo. D. Barnard & Co., of which he is president, also vice-president of Art Metal Construction Co., VP of Embree-McLean Carriage Co., and past-VP of the Merchants Exchange.
The Friends:
Culver, Page & Hoyne
Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co. were also Lithographers, Manufacturing Stationers in Chicago, Ill. In The New York Times dated Oct. 30, 1883 is an article titled An Old Firm Retires. It talks about the successes & difficulties of the Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co. beginning business in 1856 and was the oldest & largest business of its kind in the city. The original members were H.Z. Culver and D.W. Page who bought out a stationer named Stacy. Six months afterward, M.A. Hoyne was taken in and the name was changed to Culver, Page & Hoyne.
I believe that the Culver in this inscription on this watch is the same Howard Z. Culver, one of the original investors of The National Watch Co.
On May 12, 1874 the stockholders had a meeting and it was decided to change the name of the company to The Elgin National Watch Co.
Thanks for stopping by and reading about my watch,
Dave
very beautiful Dave !! happy holiday!!
Very nice pocket watch Dave! Thanks for re-posting this beauty!
Thank you for the comments & appreciation:
SEAN68
officialfuel
pops52
Thank you for the appreciation:
mikelv85
aghcollect
Very interesting, not bored at all!
I do miss looking at your pocket watches Dave. I would love for you to re-post them.
Ken
Thank you for the comments & appreciation:
Jewels
walksoftly
Ken, I will re-post more.
Thank you for the appreciation:
leighannrn
nutsabotas6
What an awesome story behind this watch, it sounds like you have done all the research to authenticate this piece. It's always good to have a great story with an item in this case an awesome watch. Happy hunting!!!
Trey, researching a item I have acquired is just as fun as the "thrill of the hunt", or in this case, an item that found me. A little more history:
H.Z Culver, after his initial investment was elected to the first board of directors.
Geo. D. Barnard was very successful with his business in St. Louis. In 1896 a tornado destroys the City Hospital and the emergency quarters were established in the House of the Good Shepherd. The cancer patients were turned away. In 1905 the St. Louis Skin & Cancer Hospital was founded & provided free cancer care to the poor. In 1908 Geo. D. Barnard donates $130,000.00 for a new building. In 1910 the new 44-bed building was erected and renamed Barnard Free Skin & Cancer Hospital. In 1915 Geo. D. Barnard dies and leaves the hospital much of his $2 million estate. In 1932 his widow dies and leaves $1 million in trust for the hospital.
Thanks Trey for the compliments and appreciation,
Dave
Dave I agree researching something just adds more wow factor:) When I have people over for parties or family reunions they want to hear a story with every item and it floors them when I tell it:)
Thank you for the appreciation:
AntiqueToys
egreeley1976
Thank you chrissylovescats for the appreciation.
Thank you luvpocketwatches for the appreciation.
Thank you petey for the appreciation.
Dave....brought this one back to the top of S&T page...great stuff
Kerry, thanks. This is one of my favorite history pieces. Thanks for the kind comment & appreciation.
Thanks for the appreciation:
desireehfloyd
ttomtucker
Thanks bb2 for the appreciation.
Thanks for the appreciation:
JFranca
MacDaddyRico
Thank you for the article. I found it very insightful and it does make watches with this movement of historical significance as long as the facts are correct. I assume they are. It helped me learn more and that’s all that matters.
Adam | AdamVintage.com
Adam, thank you for checking my post out and commenting on it.