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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Gents pocket watch

Waterbury Watch Co. Series J Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This gents pocket watch, registered under number ST 23767, was manufactured by the Waterbury Watch Co. of Waterbury, Connecticut, circa 1890. It belongs to the Series J line, which was produced by the company between 1888 and the mid-1890s. The watch features a metal case and a white enamel dial, which is marked "Waterbury" and includes black Arabic numerals for the hours alongside an outer track of five-minute intervals. A small sub-dial is positioned at the 6 o'clock mark for seconds. The movement is a stem-and-button wound design incorporating a duplex escapement with a speed regulation scale. The object was acquired by the museum via a donation from F. Schafer in 1954. Note that the watch currently lacks its hands and the back of its case is missing. The inner works cover is stamped with identification marks.

The obverse side of the Waterbury Watch Co. pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and sub-seconds dial, with missing hands and the winding stem at the top.
The obverse side of the Waterbury Watch Co. pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and sub-seconds dial, with missing hands and the winding stem at the top. — Museums Victoria. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.museumsvictoria.com.au
Category
Pocket watch · Gents pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Waterbury Watch Co
Reference
Series J
Catalogue / lot identifier
ST 23767
Source-reported date
circa 1890
Source-reported place
United States

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial Construction

The object is a gents pocket watch featuring a metal case construction. The white enamel dial is marked with the name "Waterbury" and features black Arabic numerals for the primary hour indications. A secondary sequence of numerals marks the 5-minute intervals from 5 to 60 around the perimeter of the dial. There is a small seconds sub-dial positioned at the 6 o'clock location.

The physical integrity of the piece is compromised, as both the hour and minute hands are absent from the center arbor, and the seconds hand at the 6 o'clock position is also missing. Furthermore, the back portion of the metal case is no longer present, exposing the movement mechanism within.

Evidence for this section
  • “Metal case. White enamel dial has black arabic numerals, and black arabic numerals 5, 10, 15....60 around dial.”
  • “Hands are missing. Back of case is missing.”

Movement and Mechanism

The watch is powered by a stem and button wound spring mechanism. It utilizes a duplex escapement to regulate the timekeeping. A scale is provided for adjusting the rate of the watch, designated as fast to slow.

Internal markings identify the specific manufacturing series. The works cover is stamped with the inscription: "The Waterbury Watch Co., Patented, Series J".

Evidence for this section
  • “Stem & button wound spring; duplex escapement. Scale fast to slow.”
  • “Works cover marked 'The Waterbury Watch Co., Patented, Series J'.”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch was acquired by the museum collection through a donation from F. Schafer on October 6, 1954. It is documented as a Series J pocket watch produced by the Waterbury Watch Co., which was based in Waterbury, Connecticut.

The Series J line was manufactured over a specific period spanning from 1888 until the mid-1890s.

Evidence for this section
  • “Acquisition: Donation from F. Schafer, 06 Oct 1954”
  • “Series J was produced between 1888 and the mid 1890s.”
  • “The Waterbury Watch Co was established in 1880 and reorganised as the New England Watch Co in 1898.”

Open research questions

  • What specific repair or restoration options exist for a Series J movement given the scarcity of original hand sets?
  • Does the missing case back indicate a specific historical failure mode for the Series J watch cases?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waterbury Watch Co. Series J Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerWaterbury Watch Co“Waterbury Watch Co”
SeriesSeries J“Series J”
Datecirca 1890“circa 1890”
EscapementDuplex escapement“duplex escapement”
Registration NumberST 23767“ST 23767”
Country of ManufactureUnited States of America“United States of America”
Dial InscriptionWaterbury“Dial is marked 'Waterbury'”
Works Cover InscriptionThe Waterbury Watch Co., Patented, Series J“Works cover marked 'The Waterbury Watch Co., Patented, Series J'”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and a peripheral 60-minute scale
  • Stem and button winding mechanism
  • Missing hour, minute, and seconds hands
  • Absence of the rear case cover

Research qualifications

  • The watch is listed with significant missing components, including all dial hands and the case back
  • The manufacturing date is provided as an approximation of the Series J production window

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Pocket Watch - Waterbury Watch Co, Series J, circa 1890

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 430820acae

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.