E. Howard & Co 21J
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This watch represents about the most elusive of the early Howard watches. It is one of a handful of watches that Howard produced with 21 jewel movements. The Howard production records list the first 21 jewel L size run at 700701 consisting of 20 watches finished on 7/1/1901. The serial number of this example is included in the previous run at 700001 to 700700 but the watch matches the description and other examples from the later run. It seems likely that the records are a bit in error and some watches from the prior run were finished to the new grade. The grade listed on both of these runs is mixed grade 8 and grade 10. These are the last two runs for which the grade numbers are listed. After these, only jewel counts are listed and for many watches above 800,000 the manufacturer was Waltham, not Howard. These watches were E. Howard & Company's final attempt to compete in the modernization and jewel competition that was sweeping the industry. Unfortunately it did not succeed and E. Howard & Co. sold the rights to the Howard name on watches to the Keystone Watch Case Co. The case is from a damaged 17 jewel split plate sn 700908 (7/31/1901 to 10/9/1902). The serial number of this 21 jewel example is 700287 (5/1/1897 to 2/21/1900) but as mentioned above it was very likely part of the first 21 jewel L size run finished on 7/1/1901. The patent dates under the balance are Learned's patents for the center pinion and center arbor. They do not refer to the interesting balance guard on which they are stamped. The patents are 496162 for the cannon pinion and 530345 for the arbor (with Mosher). |
