Rockford
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Rockford is an interesting watch company. In the very early period, they produced very high grade keywind and early lever set watches marked 19 Ruby Jewels and 15 Ruby Jewels in gilt finish and equally impressive 19 Ruby and 15 Ruby in nickel finish. Two of these are shown in the Other High Grade portion of the collection. They also produced a wide range of railroad grade watches with the 18 size and 16 size indicators being the most prized among railroad collectors. One of the railroad watches the grade 500/505 was significantly "over the top" and compares favorably with Waltham's model 72 American Grade or the Elgin grades 72 and 91. It was produced much later, of course, but the finish is outstanding and the watch is very interesting. In the small watches, Rockford produced the grade 300/305 which was nearly the equivalent to the grade 500/505. They also produced some very fine 0 size watches in the grade 140. Rockford not only produced the watches, but they also made (or had made) cases and they packaged the whole assembly in nice custom watch boxes with spring-up interiors. The grade 305 is an example of the very high grade small watch and the Iroquois is an example of a high grade, very complete set, missing only the original certificates. |