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Catalog of the NAWCC 2002 Seminar On-Site Exhibit of E. Howard & Co. - Related Watches & Artifacts

Text by: Clint Geller

Exhibit Contributors: D. J. Blackwell, George Collord, Hans Dahlke, Clint Geller, Larry Greenwald, Gerit Nijssen, Russel Schuh, Bob Skinner, Harold Visser, Ron Votta, Charles Wallace, and Don Wing

Theme #1: Howard's Earliest Watches

The first Howard watches not actually finished from material left over from the Boston Watch Company were based on Reed's innovative 1857 patent that described not only his new safety barrel, but also the broad outlines of the divided plate movement design. This design was given concrete form by the Dennison, Howard & Davis S# 5,000 prototype movement documented in [1]. Howard's divided plate Model 1858 watches were the first with quick train made in the US. All incorporated stopworks and were adjusted at least to isochronism. Together with the prestige borrowed from Howard's clock making endeavors, these watches established a sound reputation for Howard watches that would stand the company in good stead until near the end of the 19th century. Nearly all the very highest-grade examples of this historically important watch model originate with the First Run of fifty 17-jewel movements whose history recently has been discovered and reconstructed [1]. Items 1 through 6 in this exhibit document the major variations seen among divided plate (also called "Series I" and "Series II") movements.

1. S# 132 - Model 1858-C divided plate ("Series I") movement with Type C plates[1]. Compensated balance, ornately engraved pallet bridge, and 17 jewels in screwed-down settings. Of the First Run of fifty 17-jewel divided plate movements begun at S# 101, the first 31 were held back while replacements for their original train plates, that had been engraved "Howard & Rice," were being prepared. These movements eventually were incorporated into later serial number runs, and at least one had a standard top plate that reduced the jewel count to 16. (movement S# 131 later was finished as S# 381.) Approximately ten First Run 17-jewel divided plate movements, only three of which retain their original S#'s, have been identified to date. The dial is unsigned, like those of most Howard & Rice movements that were completed at about the same time. S# 132 was most likely the first divided plate movement to be completed by the factory. It is to be found in an 18K gold Baldwin reversible case, bearing Baldwin's 1858 patent date on an interior surface, and S# 132 matching that of the movement. The case also bears a retailer's name: "Ben. F. Crane, St. Louis." This case exemplifies the earlier version of Baldwin's invention, incorporating a separate release button for the movement ring in the rim of the case.

2. S# 133 - The consecutive S# to item #1, a Model 1858-O divided plate movement with unique, Type O [1] plates. It is also a 17-jewel First Run movement with an engraved pallet bridge (as only the First Run divided plate movements had). S# 132 apparently was Howard's first experiment with lenticular cutouts. The familair Type A plate, with the standard 5 cutouts, was not introduced until S# 151. S# 133 has a Type 1 [2] dial with an arched Howard signature, and original Howard teardrop style hands with polished spades and bosses. These First Run watches have all the train jewels in screwed-down settings, including those hidden beneath the dial. The Howard signature on S# 133 is engraved in a flowing script style, contrasting sharply with the severe block print style signature engraved on S# 132. The numerous finishing variations apparent on the same pair of consecutively numbered movements testify eloquently to the individual, craft nature of Howard's production practices. The movement is housed in an 18K gold Model 1858 open face case embossed "P.B." for Palmers & Batchelder.

3. S# 185 - Model 1858-A divided plate ("Series I") movement with Type A plates with 5 lenticular cutouts, uncut steel balance wheel, short regulator, and 7 jewels spun into the plate. This example is one of only two known 7-jewel Howard movements. The unusual location of its single case screw helped to unlock the mystery of the First Run.[1] 

4. S# 1,428 - Model 1858-B ("Series I") movement, circa 1859, with "Type B" plates with three lenticular cutouts[1], Reed's patent safety barrel, long regulator, compensated balance, 15 jewels in spun-in settings, and an escapement with upright pallets and a ratchet tooth escape wheel. The dial is Type 4 with a straight, script top line and block print bottom line signature. The watch is equipped with Howard's trademark polished "teardrop" hands. The 18K gold open face case is marked "J. L. R." 

5. S# 1,853 - Model 1858-D movement, circa 1859-60, with Type D plates (with cut-back barrel bridge), Reed's patent safety barrel, long regulator, 15 jewels in spun-in settings, compensated balance, and Type 2 dial. The 18K gold hunting case, S# 1,852, is embossed by "F. & Co.," for Fellows & Co., one of the consortium of five wholesale jewelry houses identified by Charles Crossman as having contracted to handle the factory's distribution for a period in the mid-1860's [3]. Howard made perhaps 200 movements with this style of cut-back barrel plate with S#'s between approximately 1,801 and 2,000. 

6. S# 2,861 - Model 1858-E ("Series II") movement, circa 1860-61, with Type E plates, compensated balance, Mershon's patented compound regulator, and 15 jewels in screwed down settings. Screwed-down settings (for the visible jewels only) are extremely rare in this S# range, and Mershon's regulators are at least scarce. While the level of adjustment is not engraved on the plate, and the factory records for this S# no longer exist, it is likely that this movement was adjusted at least to temperature as well as to isochronism, and possibly even to 6 physical positions.



Theme #2: Origin and Evolution of the Howard 3/4 Plate Movement

Three-quarter plate lot production was inaugurated at Howard at S# 3,301 in early 1862. After about 2,750 divided-plate movements had been produced, Howard switched to 3/4 plates. He may have decided that a 3/4 plate movement in which a thickened portion of the top plate supported Reed's barrel and the stopwork, was simpler and probably more economical to produce than a divided plate supported by six separate pillars. Howard's organization also certainly was aware of the growing prestige and quality of Waltham's 3/4 plate line that was styled after high quality English watches of the period, and may have decided to follow suit. In addition, the new design offered technical and promotional advantages in that the new 3/4 top plate gave better access to the escapement and both greater access and visibility to Reed's barrel. 

Items 7 through 20 in this exhibit document the early evolution of the Howard 3/4 plate movement design from the Model 1862-K, 1862-I, and 1862-N, through the models 1869, 1871 and 1874. This period saw the introduction and spread of stemwinding, the introduction first of nickel-plating and then solid nickel plates, the introduction of ladies' sizes, both advances and noble failures in escapement design, advances in regulation and safety barrels, and growing sophistication in finish. Howard's unique production philosophy, combining innovative and traditional elements (e.g., Cole's escapements with flat hairsprings), dictated numerous unique development choices illustrated herein.

7. S# 3,004 - Early Model 1862-K movement S# 3,004, circa 1862. Howard's one run of K Size movements was his first 3/4 plate production lot, preceded only by one experimental movement at S# 1,198. S# 3,004 is the fourth K Size movement to have been made, and the earliest surviving example known to the author. As such, it may also be the earliest surviving Howard movement with the balance wheel below the center wheel. Reed's safety barrel is partly covered by the top plate. Access to the clickspring locating screw is provided through a hole in the top plate. S# 3,004 illustrates the earlier K Size plate style, with a decoratively engraved pallet bridge. Later K Size movements had unadorned pallet bridges and a cut-back top plate showing more of the escape wheel. From 90 to 100 K Size movements were produced. S# 3,004, like other K Size movements, has a ratchet-tooth escape wheel, but this particular watch has exceptionally large, beveled pallets. All known original K Size cases are silver. 

8. S# 3,302 - The style of movement collectors have referred to as "Series III" probably was introduced at S# 3,301. S# 3,302, finished in early 1862, is the earliest known, surviving example of a Model 1862-N ("Series III"). It has the top plate design, eventually granted a design patent in 1866, with a thickened, protruding section carrying Reed's barrel and the stopwork. This early example has case screws on the dial plate, like the late, Model 1858 divided plate movements that immediately preceded it, and it also retains the late Model 1858 style of pallet bridge. It also features a Lange-style, hanging pin lever escapement, in which a single pin hangs down from the underside of one pallet arm and banks against the edges of a circular depression in the pillar plate. This borrowed idea was Howard's earliest experiment aimed at eliminating adjustable banking pins. The factory records indicate that this movement is fully adjusted to temperature, isochronism and positions, even though the factory did not begin engraving this type of information on watch plates until a few years later, after S# 12,000.

9. I Size # 3,406 - Model 1862-I movement, circa 1862, with figure-eight window for viewing the escapement. S# 3,406 is an early I Size example, featuring a solid gold balance. This limited experiment was Howard's only foray into the ladies' watch market until 1874. The Model 1862-I features a fenestrated top plate, not used on any other Howard Model, with a figure eight-shaped view port between the escape wheel and pallet arbor. The escape wheel and asymmetric pallet lever of this particular movement are unique. Later I Size movements with S#'s from 3,441 through 3,500 had compensated balances. According to the factory records, two additional I Size movements were completed with S#'s 3,801 and 3,802, for a total production of 102. This movement features a scarce, original Type 3 dial with a script, single-line signature, and very unusual trident-style hands. The 18K gold engine turned and engraved I Size Howard case, with pumpkin style pendant has no maker's mark.

10. S# 4,207 - Model 1862 movement, circa 1862. A rare, early appearance of screwed-down train jewel settings, combined with the early style of Mershon's patented compound regulator. This movement also features a Lange-style escapement in which a single pin, hanging down from the bottom face of the pallet arm, banks against the edges of a circular hole in the dial plate, thus obviating the need for adjustable banking pins screwed into the dial plate. The escape wheel teeth are "toe-ended" with most, but not all the lift on pallets. Hanging pin escapements were the first of a series of uniquely Howard experiments with the dual aims of eliminating adjustable banking pins and making the escapement tolerant of shock. Like S# 3,302, the balance wheel turns in a plane located above the center wheel. The 18K gold hunting case is embossed "C. F. & Co.," for Cooper, Fellows & Co., a prominent early distributor of Howard watches. 

11. S# 4,904 - An unusual early Model 1862-N movement with ray damascened finish - an early appearance for this style of finish. The factory ledgers suggest there were several ray damascened Model 1862 movements in the very first run of 100, beginning at S# 3,301. Other quality features on S# 5,703 include screwed down train jewel settings, a compensated balance, and Mershon's patented compound regulator. The factory ledgers also indicate that this movement was fully adjusted to temperature, isochronism and positions. The movement is housed in an original 18K gold hunting case with engine turned interior case lid and engraved bezel, stamped "J.M.H.," for J. M. Harper.

12. S# 15,703 - Model 1862 movement, circa 1866-67. Another fine example of asymmetric ray damascening, this time on a gilded, damascened Model 1862-N movement with the later style of Mershon's patent regulator and flush, screwed down jewel settings. The balance wheel has moved underneath the center wheel, enabling a reduction in the overall movement thickness of about 0.6 millimeters. The 18K gold hunting case is embossed "M. & B.," probably for Middleton & Brother.

13. S# 21,572 - Nickel-plated, damascened Model 1862 movement, circa 1868, Howard's highest grade movement of the period, costing $125.00 wholesale, with 15 jewels in white gold screwed-down settings and Mershon's patented compound regulator. Movement # 21,572 is one of four known examples of the first run of nickel-plated damascened Model 1862 movements that began at S# 21,561. Of the total of about 140 nickel-plated damascened Model 1862 movements, only this first run of just fewer than twenty had Mershon's regulator. These movements also have decoratively engraved balance cocks, whereas later nickel-plated runs have ray-damascened balance cocks. Only the damascened Model 1862 movements - both the gilded and the nickel-plated varieties - have ornately engraved pallet bridges. S# 21,572 is in its original, 18K gold, patented Baldwin reversible case, bearing the 1858 patent date engraved on an interior case surface. The dial and outer case surface have matching monograms: "S.B." The monogram on the dial shows a stylized "S" rotating around the central spoke of the "B," in an abstract representation of the Baldwin reversible case mechanism. These facts make it highly likely that this watch was owned personally by Samuel Baldwin, the inventor and patentee of the reversible case. This later example of the reversible case mechanism incorporates all locking and lifting functions into the motion of the crown. When the crown is depressed, the front lid is unlocked and lifted, and the movement ring also is released. This arrangement obviates the need for the separate release button on the case rim that was employed in the earlier version of the mechanism. 

14. S# 56,307 - Model 1869 L Size movement with swirl-damascened nickel plates, raised, screwed down gold jewel settings, patent regulator, and functional winding mechanisms for both a key and a stem, but key set only. (Note the small detent screw positioned above the winding arbor, present only on Howard movements with factory-installed stem winding mechanisms, to hold the stem in place within the movement.) S# 56,307 is the earliest of three known and complete surviving examples of a partial run of forty nickel KW/SW transitional movements beginning at S# 56,301, that were produced around November, 1876. This example is in an 18K gold hunting case embossed "W. P. & Co." (for Wheeler, Parsons & Co.) and "A1."

15. S# 33,090 - Model 1871 movement with nickel finish, Reed's whiplash record, 15 jewels in screwed down jewel settings, and adjusted to HCI&P. This rare nickel keywind variety of the Model 1871 that illustrates the early, asymmetric sun-ray damascening style centered on the barrel arbor, instead of the center wheel. This movement wholesaled for $150.00 in 1872. Only about 380 nickel keywind Model 1871 movements were produced, of which a possibly significant number later were converted to SW/LS via Abbott's attachment. The dial of this movement, which has threaded feet, bears the February 4, 1868 patent date for the steel safety barrel. The 18K gold Model 1871 hunting case has no maker's mark.

16. S# 37,850 - Model 1871 N Size movement with 15 jewels in flush, white gold settings, Reed's whiplash regulator, and damascened nickel plates. This watch also features Howard's (actually James Gerry's) patented steel safety barrel, and their stem winding and pendant setting mechanism. (The patent papers actually show a lever setting mechanism like that used on G Size ladies' watches and Prescott Models, not a pendant setting mechanism.) This movement was adjusted to temperature, isochronism and 6 physical positions. Wholesaling for $175.00, circa 1873-75, this movement exemplifies Howard's highest grade product of the period. The damascening is symmetric and radial, emanating form the center wheel, in contrast with earlier asymmetric patterns centered on the barrel arbor. 

17. S# 46,307 - This Model 1871 nickel, adjusted stemwind movement dates to approximately 1877. In this movement the pallet lever banks off the sides of the pallet bridge, rather than against adjustable banking pins. While this final method employed by Howard of eliminating banking pins became standard throughout the world in later years, other American makers were slow to embrace it at the time. Only Howard, who was prepared to lavish copious quantities of skilled labor on his watches, was prepared to accept the challenge of carefully tuning large numbers of escapements in this manner. The 18K case is incused "B.W.C. Co.," for the Brooklyn Watch Case Co.

18. S# 69,913 - A relatively late example of an L Size Model 1869 movement with damascened nickel plates, SW/PS mechanism, and fully adjusted to HCI&P. We can see several differences with respect to the earlier N Size Model 1871 examples. The hairspring stud has moved to the balance cock from the top plate, and the trademarked stag engraving, indicating a fully adjusted movement, appears on the top plate in addition to the "Adjusted" marking on the balance cock. As with S# 46,307, a butterfly pallet bridge also is in evidence, against which the pallet arms bank in lieu of banking pins. 

19. S# 100,085 - Model 1874 G Size keywind and set ladies' watch movement, with gilded plates, going barrel, and Reed's whiplash regulator. Some visible train jewel settings are spun in, whereas the third wheel setting is screwed down. Only the first 80 of Howard's approximately 4,650 Model 1874 movements were keywind. The others were all SW/LS. The original 18K gold open face case, one of three original G KW cases known, bears an elaborate escutcheon on the rear lid. The case interior is marked "Woltz Bros. & Co."

20. S# 100,221- Model 1874 movement. S# 100,221 is the twenty-first stemwind G Size movement to have been made, and one of only two known Model 1874 movements engraved as being adjusted to isochronism, temperature and positions. It was sold to the NY Office on November 2, 1874 for $145.00, and is the most expensive G Size movement listed anywhere in that section of the factory ledgers. Early G Size movements like this one incorporate a "false plate" under the dial that carries the lower train jewels.

Theme #3: Howard the Experimenter and "Perfectionist"

Howard's eccentric production philosophy involving skilled, individual finishing was relatively forgiving of inefficiency and hence enfranchised his notorious penchant for experimentation. While other manufacturers generally designed their watches to maximize assembly tolerances and minimize the need for hand adjusting, Howard's innovations often were motivated by loftier, even "perfectionist" ideals. Howard embraced, or at least flirted with a wide spectrum of ideas paid scant or nil attention by competitors. These ideas included helical hairsprings, chronometer escapements, and a series of experiments to obviate the need for adjustable banking pins and make the escapement tolerant of shock. Howard was also first with safety barrels and damascening, and was early (if not actually first) with stemwinding and pendant setting. Exhibit items 21 through 27 represent several of Howard's limited experiments.

21. Reed's pocket chronometer, S# 7, engraved "E. Howard & Co." This movement, one of about 100 pocket chronometers made by George P. Reed, is one of the few made prior to his departure from Edward Howard's employ. The unique top plate more closely resembles that of a Model 1871 than a model 1862-N movement, but is fenestrated to allow visual and functional access to the Reed's barrel. The movement is a half plate, with the escape wheel, as well as the detent, located in a separate circular bridge concentric with the balance wheel. The top plate is engraved with the patent date, "Aug 1st, 1865," as well as the Howard signature. The style of Reed's patented micrometer regulator is unique among "Howard" watches, and the few known Reed chronometers are the only Howard movements engraved with his regulator patent date, "Feb. 5, 1867." The dial of movement S# 7 is inscribed "E. Howard & Co., Reed's Chronometer, AD AHFF." The inscription "AHFF" is a coded date, 1866, reminiscent of Charles Frodsham's date code, except that the numerical values of Reed's letters correspond to their places in the alphabet, rather than Reed's name. Reed's chronometer escapement is an ingenious cross between a spring detent and a pivoted detent escapement in which the functions of the passing and the lift springs are combined in a single component. Watches featuring this escapement frequently run quite well and can keep excellent time, although Reed's escapement design may be open to the criticism that the detent is rather massive compared with those of more conventional pocket chronometers.

22. S# 3,120 - Experimental side lever movement with helical hairspring, bar-style plates, and 15 jewels in screwed down settings. The finish varies considerably on the eight surviving Howard helical hairspring movements currently documented. This particular example features elaborate damascening on the pallet bridge and the adjoining areas of the dial plate. Other examples are line damascened, and still others are neither damascened nor elaborately engraved. The earliest known helical hairspring example is 1,105. These bar style movements had no pillars but had hogged-out top plates, a nontrivial construction difference from the contemporary six-pillar movements that would have entailed different production methods. The mystique-laden serial number range between 3,101 and 3,300, most of which never was used, was reserved for special experimental movements like this one. How many others were there? The 18K gold hunting case, by Chas. Jacot & Bro., bears an 1870 owner's inscription, possibly added after the watch originally was sold, for the "Reverend G. H. Minor."

23. S# 3,840 - A second helical hairspring movement, this one with gilt damascened finish. S# 3,840 is the latest known example of its breed, and the only one with spun-in, rather than screwed-down jewel settings. The surface finish of this movement was nearly as experimental as the escapement and plate layout. The earliest damascened Howard watch known is S# 1,105, also with helical hairspring, but damascening did not become commonplace on Howard (or other American) movements until after S# 30,000. Howard was most likely the first American watch manufacturer to experiment with damascening. The extraordinarily well-preserved original 18K open face case of this movement is marked "B. & Co." Curiously, the original dial is unsigned.

24. S# 23,469 - Model 1862 movement S# 23,469, circa 1869, with Cole's resilient banking escapement. This invention vanquished two of Howard's pet peeves at one stroke - adjustable banking pins, which invited indifferent watchmakers to make unwise adjustments; and the tendency of watches to set when subject to shock. While the resilient escapement was a British invention, Howard alone daringly embraced it. S# 23,469 is also only the nineteenth Howard movement equipped with Reed's whiplash regulator, and only the ninth, $125.00 nickel-plated damascened movement so equipped. S# 23,469 is one of the three known damascened and nickel-plated, fully adjusted movements with Cole's resilient banking escapement (all of which appear in the same ten-lot). Thereafter, Howard used Cole's escapement exclusively on low to medium grade movements. Movement S# 23,469 is in a 4 oz., hand-engraved 18K gold hunting case engraved "L.B.," possibly for Lundgren & Bell.

25. S# 50,757 - Model 1869 ("Series V") gilded KW/KS movement with Cole's resilient banking escapement. This movement is adjusted to isochronism, and features a simple regulator, a threaded-foot dial inscribed "Patent February 4th, 1868," a trefoil escutcheon above the center arbor, and an early Model 1869 case screw configuration. Based on the most recent research, approximately 400 N Size Model 1862 movements were made that were not subsequently converted back to the usual form, and about 500 L Size Model 1869 movements retained their original Cole's escapements. Among the converted movements not counted in this total are included about 150 of the L Size Cole's movements that were reborn as SW/LS Prescott Model movements circa 1879-81. The gold Model 1869 case bears no maker's mark.

26. An interesting side note to Howard's Cole's escapement story is a solitary Waltham movement from a later period incorporating the same novelty. Twelve Size, Model 1894 (True Center Bridge) movement, S# 12,000,000, with 21 jewels and Cole's resilient escapement, was made circa 1902. The finish is austere, but nevertheless high-grade. It is more than likely that in 1902 someone at Waltham still remembered Howard's early experiments with Cole's escapement. As mentioned, Cole's invention was motivated by the desire to prevent a watch from setting in the event of the kind of shock that was commonplace during excursions on horseback. The lore that has been handed down with movement S# 12,000,000 is that it was made for the most illustrious "Rough Rider"of all, President Theodore Roosevelt, in his inaugural year. [Source: Irving Cooperman, "Pocket Time Pieces of NY Chapter Members," published by NAWCC Chapter #2 (NY), 1968] This story would indeed explain why Waltham might have made a watch with a Cole's resilient escapement in 1902, and had reserved for it such a special serial number. Alas, the original case that might conclusively have documented this important provenance is lost to the ages.

27. S# 150,002 - An experimental movement, one of two L Size movements made with going barrel and exposed winding wheels. The name "Eustis" appears in place of "E. Howard & Co.," after the name of a street adjacent to Howard's home, and suggesting that Howard regarded these movements as of lesser quality than his normal production (all of which, except for the ladies' movements, had safety barrels). Even the serial number is unusual, being one of a "run" of two, sitting astride a huge gap between the end of the normal Model 1874 production runs at S# 105,200, and the beginning of the Model 1881 production at S# 200,001. 

Theme #4: Moorhouse Dials

As uniformity and interchangeability crept into every corner of the American watchmaking industry, E. Howard & Company remained as the last beleaguered island of Old World craftsmanship and individual finishing in American watchmaking. Josiah Moorhouse, whose career threads right through the greatest part of the most historically important period of American watchmaking - from Appleton, Tracy & Co., to Nashua, to the American Watch Company, to Howard in 1886 and back to Waltham some time after 1896 [2] - personifies the craft aspects of American watchmaking as perhaps no other individual. It was no accident that in 1886, as his long time associate, Charles vander Woerd, fell from influence at Waltham and was replaced by creatures of the marketing department, Josiah Moorhouse arrived at the doorstep of perhaps the last American watchmaking enterprise still friendly to craft traditions. The 6 Moorhouse dials included in this exhibit showcase not only Moorhouse' skill, but showcase what was unique about E. Howard & Company. With their high craft content and individual persona, early Howard watches are the quintessential symbols of the transformation of American watch making in the late 19th century from a craft to a modern mass-production industry. 

28. G Size transitional dial - Stemwinding movements cannot be interchanged freely between hunting and open face cases, like keywind movements could. This is because a hunting case requires that a movement's winding stem and center wheel make a 180 degree angle, in order for 12 o'clock to appear beneath the pendant, whereas hunting cases require a 90 degree angle. Hence, when stemwinding was introduced in 1869-70, a small number of so called "transitional" dials were made with the seconds bit at 3 o'clock, so that a hunting case movement can be placed in an open face case retaining 12 o'clock at the pendant position. The example shown has a circular Howard logo at 9 o'clock, providing aesthetic balance with the seconds bit at 3. The logo is highly embellished, and the reverse of the dial is signed by Josiah Moorhouse. This dial appears on nickel stemwind G Size Model 1874 movement S# 102,034.

29. Model 1883 ("Series VIII") watch with Moorhouse dial. This example of Moorhouse's work exhibits exquisite calligraphy, including upward finials on the hour rule, a highly embellished Howard signature with a large, supernatant cartouche, decorative crosses at the quarters of the minute track, and an elegant double outer rule with embellishments at the 5-minute positions. The dial is to be found on nickel movement S# 307,287 engraved "Heat & Cold," within an 14K corrugated presentation case by Jeannot & Shiebler.

30. Model 1883 ("Series VIII") watch with Moorhouse dial. This dial features elegant, skeletonized hour numerals with gossamer lacework enhancements. The hour numerals appear to be gray at normal viewing distances, but are in fact filled in with finely spaced black lines drawn with a brush formed from a single camel's hair. The fully adjusted nickel 3/4 plate movement, S# 307,042, features a dazzling repeated swirl damascening pattern on its nickel plates, 15 jewels in raised gold, screwed-down settings, and Reed's whiplash regulator. The 18K gold open face case, signed by Boston retailer "H. N. Lockwood," features a fluted rim, an elegant Gothic monogram on the rear cover, and an interesting skew-reeded bezel. The presentation on the cuvette reads "From Associates in the Engineering Department, B & M RR [Boston & Maine Railroad], April 29, 1893."

31. S# 301,465 - Model 1883, 3/4 plate movement, circa 1884, with nickel plates, Reed's whiplash regulator, Howard's steel safety barrel, 15 jewels in raised gold screwed down settings, and adjusted to temperature, isochronism, and 6 positions. The watch sports a black dial with unique calligraphy, signed on the reverse by Josiah Moorhouse. This dial is one of two known black dials signed by Moorhouse. Both known examples, which have completely different calligraphy, are included in this exhibit.

32. Model 1871 watch with black, personalized dial signed by Josiah Moorhouse - A nickel keywind Model 1871 (Series IV) movement with a black, personalized dial signed by Howard's dial room foreman Josiah Moorhouse. This N Size, threaded leg dial features a highly unusual Howard signature in which the characters: "E," "H," "&," "C," and "o" appear superimposed. The name: "Thomas P. Drown" is spelled out in Gothic capitals. Thomas P. Drown was probably from the Rochester, NH area. The scarce nickel keywind movement is S# 40,671. It has screwed-down jewel settings and a micrometer regulator, but is adjusted only to isochronism.

33. Model 1881 watch with elaborately embellished dial in the style of Josiah Moorhouse - Movement S# 225,338, circa 1891, with strikingly and intricately damascened nickel plates, raised gold, screwed-down jewel settings, whiplash regulator, and engraved "Adjusted." The engraved and engine-turned 14K gold hunting case is embossed "E. H. & Co." The single sunk dial is adorned with 7 cartouches and other embellishments on the Howard signature, hour numerals and the outer minute rule. Moorhouse never signed the reverse of this dial, but his artistic fingerprints are all over the front. 

34. Model 1869 watch with personalized Moorhouse dial spelling the name "Hbrt [for either Hubert, or Herbert] Dalsimer" in ornate Gothic capitals surrounded by gossamer lacework of gray and orange. The first letters of the first and last names are accented in orange. The dial also features an embellished signature and decorations at the quarters of the minute track. It is to be found on a nickel stemwind, fully adjusted movement S# 66,785, circa 1885-87, in a 14K gold engine turned and engraved hunting case marked "E. H. & Co." with glass exhibition back.

35. A rare Waltham Moorhouse dial, elaborately embellished and personalized with the name "Ella F. Howard." The "Riverside" Grade movement, circa 1877, is an 8 Size Model 1873, with gold-flashed damascened finish, 17 jewels in raised gold screwed down settings, and engraved "American Waltham Watch Co., Riverside, 1,092,056." The 18K gold "A.W.Co." hunting case bears the monogram "E. F. H." The reverse of the dial is marked "$5," quite a tidy sum in 1877.

36. A promotional plaque for the American Waltham Watch Company featuring some highly unusual dial calligraphy signed by Josiah Moorhouse. The ad clearly dates to 1886, which was the last year Moorhouse was at Waltham prior to his departure for E. Howard & Company, and the year in which the company name "American Waltham Watch Co." was inaugurated. This framed plaque allegedly was part of Waltham's Columbian Exhibition display in Chicago in 1893.

Theme #5: Miscellaneous Howard Artifacts and Ephemera

Howard scales and clocks are even better known than Howard watches, and thus need no coverage here. However, less known and seldom actually seen are a range of other products, including bicycles, sewing machines, measurement instruments other than scales, and even fire engines. Items 35 and 36 exemplify two rare precision measurement instruments made by the company. Items 37 through 39 provide insights into the Howard watch factory's operations.

37. A small jeweler's micrometer engraved "E. Howard & Co,." the only item of its kind known. 

38. A protractor engraved "Made by the E. Howard Watch & Clock Company, Boston," and either retailed by, or made for A. C. Both C.E. [civil engineer?], of Portland Maine. It also bears a patent date of November 20, 1888. 

39. E. Howard & Co. watch movement assembly box. Disassembled, or partly assembled movements in progress were kept in boxes like this original factory example as they moved through the factory [Source: Dana Blackwell].

40. Photo of E. Howard with employees outside of factory building. The man with the top hat in front is Edward Howard. The date of this photograph is unknown, but it could have been taken no later than 1881, when Howard retired from management of the firm. 

41. An interesting volume of winding and setting patents compiled for Howard by the company's attorneys. The existence of such a volume strongly suggests that the frequent design changes in Howard's winding and setting mechanisms were motivated as much or more by the need to circumnavigate patents in the field, as by the pursuit of excellence.

Theme #6: Watches by George P. Reed

George P. Reed, who had worked with Howard at the Boston Watch Company, was a major player in Howard's watch making operations from their earliest incarnation as "Howard & Rice," in 1858. Crossman states that Reed "acted in the capacity of foreman or assistant superintendent" to Howard, until about 1865 [4], when Reed went into business for himself, making small numbers of watches for the luxury market under his own name. The original divided plate movement concept with which Howard launched his watch making enterprise originated with Reed at the Boston Watch Company [1]. All Howard watch movements until S# 30,001 were equipped with Reed's patented safety barrel, the earliest such mechanism on the American market, for which Howard paid Reed a royalty of $1.00 per movement [4]. Reed was one of a handful of known independent watchmakers working in the US in the 1870's, and was the most prolific American maker of pocket chronometers (including Item # 21, already discussed). He produced perhaps a hundred such timepieces, incorporating his own unique chronometer escapement, over his career. The name "G. P. Reed" appears frequently in the early Howard factory ledgers as a finisher. Reed was undoubtedly the springboard for many of Howard's early experiments, and probably finished all or most of Howard's helical hairspring movements personally. No catalog of E. Howard & Company watches would be truly complete without a discussion of Reed's contributions. Many of Reed's ideas and attitudes are embodied in items 21, and 40 through 42. 

42. S# 173, nickel half-plate lever escapement movement with winding reserve indicator, key wound and set from rear, with Reed's safety barrel ("Patent Nov. 24, 1857" engraved on mainwheel) and elegantly finished whiplash regulator ("Pat Feb. 5, 1867" engraved on balance cock). The movement has a compensated balance wheel located underneath the center wheel, 15 jewels in screwed-down settings, and simple axial damascening. The unusual exposed stopwork has a 15-toothes star wheel. The Roman numeral dial with sunk seconds has an up-down scale inscribed "G. P. Reed, Boston" on 2 lines at center, and is graced with a set of Howard-style umbrella hands. 

43. S# 268, nickel half-plate, stemwind and lever set, lever escapement movement with winding reserve indicator made for a retailer, engraved "Reed, Boston, No. 268, Currier and L'heureux." The nickel plates have straight line damascening embellished with a braid pattern, and a spotted pallet bridge. The movement features Reed's patented barrel and regulator (both marked), and a compensated balance located under the center wheel, 15 jewels in screwed-down jewel settings, and also has winding and setting squares above the main barrel and center wheel arbors. The dial, with upright Arabic numerals and up-down indicator indicator scale, is inscribed "G. P. Reed," and "Currier & L'heureux." The watch has a coin silver keywind case marked "C & L," presumably for Currier & L'heureux.

44. S# 326, Reed "Monitor" watch, stemwind/pendant set, damascened nickel three-quarter plate lever escapement movement with Reed's safety barrel (marked) and whiplash regulator (unmarked), fenestrated top plate, and 15 jewels in screwed-down settings. The movement is engraved "G. P. Reed, Monitor 326." The multicolor dial, signed "G. P. Reed," has sunk seconds at 4 o'clock and sunk winding reserve indications at 9 o'clock. A full-color American flag is featured at center, with six small rubies (or garnets) with surrounding multicolor decorations along the circumference. 

References for Howard Exhibit:

1. Clint Geller, "The Origin and Evolution of the E. Howard & Co. Divided Plate Keywind Watch Movement," NAWCC BULLETIN, February, 2002. 
2. Clint Geller, "E. Howard & Co. Watch Dials," NAWCC BULLETIN, August 1993.
3. Clint Geller, "A Guide to Cases of E. Howard & Company Watches," NAWCC BULLETIN, April, 1995.
4. Charles S. Crossman, The Complete history of Watch Making in America, reprinted form the Jeweler's Circular and Horological Review, 1885-87.