Let’s take a break from looking at individual watches to talk instead about one of the more collectible watch making companies…
In 1850, David Davis, Aaron Dennison, and Edward Howard founded the American Horologe Company to mass produce pocket watches. Fewer than 1000 watches were made under this name, as the company was renamed “The Boston Watch Company” three years later. Approximately 4,000 watches were made under this new name.
In 1857, he company ran into difficult financial times, and was sold in bankruptcy to Royal Robbins. It was renamed once again to “Appleton, Tracy, and Company”. Roughly 9,000 watches were produced under this name. In 1859, they merged with the Waltham Improvement Company to finally form the American Waltham Watch Company.
This company continued to produce high-quality watches in the US for nearly 100 years, finally transferring all production to Waltham International SA in Switzerland in 1957. Waltham International continues to this day to make top-quality watches, carrying on the tradition started 150 years eariler.
Early Waltham Pocket watches are sought after by watch and antique collectors the world over.