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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Lancaster, United States

Adams & Perry Watch Co.

Partially verified

Pocket watch movements

History

The Adams & Perry Watch Manufacturing Co. was established in 1874 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a factory built specifically for watch production.

The company was founded by John C. Adams, who partnered with patent-holder E. H. Perry to develop their unique watch movements. The venture struggled with cash flow problems from its inception and a dispute between the partners led to a split the following year. After producing only a few hundred watches, the company ceased operations in 1876.

The factory was subsequently reorganized in 1877 as the Lancaster Watch Company, which later became part of the firm that formed the Hamilton Watch Co.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Current watchmaking & later fate

  • The Adams & Perry Watch Co. is no longer in operation, having failed in 1876.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-11-03. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Major innovations

  • Edwin H. Perry patented a stem-winding and setting mechanism in 1871 that was incorporated into the firm's movements.

Known markings

  • The company used the trade name Adams & Perry Watch Co.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Adams & Perry Watch Co. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Macro view of the balance staff showing the notched safety roller and the wide roller jewel on the impulse roller table
  • Adams & Perry No. 3 20-jewel Lancaster Watch movement, serial 1369, seen through a display back

Sources & references

  1. Early Watch Companies of Lancaster, PA, NAWCC, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Time in Lancaster, PA, National Watch and Clock Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Histories, americantimekeeper.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. E.F. Bowman - History — RGM Watch Co., rgmwatches.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  5. Perry's Patented Stem-Wind and Pendant-Set Mechanism, blog.pocketwatchdatabase.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.