Springfield, Massachusetts, then Canton, Ohio, United States
Hampden Watch Company
Partially verifiedMid- and high-grade American pocket watch movements
History
Hampden moved from Massachusetts to Canton, Ohio, produced a broad range of grades including railroad-quality movements, and after closure its plant and machinery were sold abroad, where they contributed to the beginning of Soviet watch manufacture.
The Hampden Watch Company originated from the Mozart Watch Company, which was reorganized as the New York Watch Company in 1867 before being renamed the Hampden Watch Company in 1877. John C. Dueber acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1886, subsequently moving operations to Canton, Ohio. Following a merger in 1923, the firm operated as the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company until receivership proceedings began in 1927. In 1930, the firm's machinery and designs were sold to the Soviet government, establishing the foundation for the First State Watch Factory in Moscow.
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.
Timeline
Hampden Watch Company's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
1867 · Career
The Hampden Watch Company originated from the Mozart Watch Company, which was reorganized as the New York Watch Company in 1867 before being renamed the Hampden Watch Company in 1877.
1885 · Catalogued piece
1886 · Career
John C. Dueber acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1886, subsequently moving operations to Canton, Ohio.
1897 · Catalogued piece
circa 1904 · Catalogued piece
c1915 · Catalogued piece
1923 · Career
Following a merger in 1923, the firm operated as the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company until receivership proceedings began in 1927.
1930 · Career
In 1930, the firm's machinery and designs were sold to the Soviet government, establishing the foundation for the First State Watch Factory in Moscow.
1958 · Career
The Hampden brand was acquired in 1958 by the Wein family of Chicago and integrated into their Clinton Watch Company, where the brand name continues to be used into the 21st century.
2025 · Career
As of 2025, the brand remains active under family ownership, with media reports highlighting the release of the Model 1 "Sullivan."
Current watchmaking & later fate
- The Hampden brand was acquired in 1958 by the Wein family of Chicago and integrated into their Clinton Watch Company, where the brand name continues to be used into the 21st century.
- As of 2025, the brand remains active under family ownership, with media reports highlighting the release of the Model 1 "Sullivan."
As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.
Key models
- Type-1
- Introduced in 1931 by the First State Watch Factory using Hampden's former equipment, this movement is characterized by its distinct twin finger bridge layout.
- Model 1 Sullivan
- This model represents the brand's relaunch as documented in a 2025 design review.
- William McKinley Edition
- The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company manufactured this commemorative watch in 1905.
Major innovations
- Broad grade range built on a small number of plate layouts
- The company introduced the first size 16, 23-jewel watch movement produced in America.
Known markings
- 'Hampden Watch Co.'
- 'Dueber-Hampden'
- Grade names on the bridges
- The company also utilized markings such as John C. Dueber or the full Dueber Watch Co. name on their timepieces.
Serial numbers
Published serial ranges give approximate dates; the Springfield and Canton periods must be distinguished when dating a movement.
Collecting significance
Underappreciated relative to Hamilton and Elgin, which keeps high-grade Hampden movements comparatively accessible to researchers.
Identification and dating notes
- Watches produced after 1923 are typically marked as Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, reflecting the formal merger of the two businesses.
- Movement calibres transferred to the Soviet Union were manufactured by the First State Watch Factory under designations such as Type-1.
In the object catalogue
7 catalogued objects are recorded under Hampden Watch Company. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- Hampden 1885 18s Hunter Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · 1885
- Hampden Grade 206 Model 3 Hunting Cased Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1904
- Hampden Hunter Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · 1897
- Hampden Railway 16-size 19-jewel pocket watchRailroad watch · c1915
- Hampden Special Railway 16-size pocket watchRailroad watch · c. 1915
- Hampden Watch Co. Grade No. 65 18s Lever Set Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 1904
- Hampden Watch Co. Special Railway 23-Jewel MovementPocket watch movement
Provenance
Where the 7 catalogued pieces by Hampden Watch Company were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Auction houses · 2 pieces
Dealers & other listings · 5 pieces
Antiques Boutique
Dealer · 2 pieces
Hampden Railway 16-size 19-jewel pocket watchRailroad watch · c1915 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Hampden Special Railway 16-size pocket watchRailroad watch · c. 1915 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Auction history
| House | Sale & lot | Object |
|---|---|---|
| Davis Brothers Auction | lot 1146 | Hampden Hunter Case Pocket Watch |
| Pasadena Auction House | lot 2011 | Hampden Watch Co. Special Railway 23-Jewel Movement |
Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Hampden Watch, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Dueber-Hampden Watch Company, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-10-27
- NAWCC serial number references for Hampden
- Accounts of the sale of plant to the Soviet Union vary in detail between sources.
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.