This watch makes an interesting comparison to the Robin escapement watch that DeLong worked on at the age of 20. DeLong was 26 and a few days when he signed this piece. According to Chamberlain, DeLong had been an instructor at Bradley for 3 years when this small project was completed. It was shortly after this time when he returned to Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was in Hot Springs until 1901 when he joined McIntyre in So. McAlester.
The watch started out as a high grade pivoted detent chronometer by Louis Matile. It was most likely a loose movement to which DeLong added a case and stem winding.
This watch works quite well although most modern collectors would consider this sort of upgrade inappropriate.
When I purchased this item, I did not know it was by DeLong, but thought it was a nice Swiss chronometer with an unfortunate recase and winding addition. My curiosity about the maker led me to remove the dial to see if it might have been made by Matile. I was delighted to see that it was a Matile and then noticed the lightly scratched handwriting on the plate. Since DeLong is a folk hero among American watchmakers and collectors, I was very happy to have an example of his work. Prior to this watch the only example I had seen was the Albany piece that belonged at that time to Len Dionne.