Box, Box bottom, Box open, Inner box open, Inner box, Front of watch, Dial, Back, Movement, 2nd view of movement

This Waltham Deck Watch was a real enigma when I first saw it. The case for the watch is the standard case used for folding travel clocks sold by Waltham. The movement is a bit better than average with a patent regulator and 15 jewels, but it is not marked adjusted. According to the information in the Waltham 1954 serial number list, it is one of 10,000 pieces in the run 30,620,001 to 30,630,000 grade 809 with 9 jewels and material grade U. The serial number is 30623781.

According to Whitney's Military Timepieces, the pieces were made up under a navy contract by the Roth Brothers of New York City. They apparently used subcontractors for all elements of this item. The outer box is marked Seth Thomas. The inner box has no markings. It is possible and perhaps likely that the Roth Brothers upgraded this watch in their facilities. It is also possible that the contract pieces were pulled out of the large run and finished to contract specifications.

When I first saw this piece, I thought someone had mistakenly put a Waltham travel clock in the boxes for a Hamilton 36 size deck watch. I only later bought Whitney's book and happened upon the true story.