Birthday present

[Robertroadking]

My Son gave me a watch for my birthday,one I’ve wanted for a long time, American Waltham Watch Co. Made in Waltham in 1897.
A sad note is that monster factory that employed thousands is a condominium complex now.

[Longcolt44]

You have a very nice son. JYD will be along to comment on this as he collects pocket watches.

[Robertroadking]

Today and before
There were three and a half miles of cherry wood work benches, factory had three thousand employees.Thats the kind of enterprise that built America and was the foundation of making it great.
I also have a speedometer out of a ‘47 Ford what was made by Waltham Watch Co.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Beautiful dial on that one! By the late 1890's the watches inside and out had become very ornate, just look at the engine turning on that movement. This is a part of the watch that might only be seen by whoever serviced it once every couple of years, yet they took such pride in them that they embellished it anyway. Looks like an 18 size with hunter case, very nice

[awalker1829]

Any high grade American pocket watch post 1870 to 1950 is a fine machine. Waltham's premium pocket watches were the Vanguard and Crescent Street. Both were designed for the railroad watch market and were listed as approved watches by numerous railroads.

[GColloton]

I’m in the construction industry on the east coast. I see a lot of these factories, buildings, (even schools) with amazing history being turned into retail shops, coffee bars, and restaurants with condo’s on the upper floors. It’s interesting to see the transformation but sad to see that history disappear.
Nice timepiece!

[Robertroadking]

I worked for a demolition company in Boston and we did partial demolition on a lot of old factories and Interesting buildings including the one Alexander Bell invented the telephone, the underwater communications building where sonar was developed, and too many shoe and woolen works.