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When did Waltham watches go out of business?
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Waltham watches went out of business in 1957 when the original owners of the Waltham Watch Company filed for bankruptcy. However, that wasn't the end of the Waltham brand. Until the 1980s, a new owner produced Waltham watches in the Waltham Watch Company's former factory. Today, Waltham S.A. continues to manufacture mechanical watches that bear the Waltham name. Shop a variety of Waltham watches on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024
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Shop for Waltham Watches on 1stDibs
Antique 14k Solid Yellow Gold Waltham Pocket Watch Keystone Hunter Case Monogram
By Waltham
Located in Greer, SC
Beautifully crafted antique Waltham pocket watch in a stunning solid 14k yellow gold hunters case by Keystone. This pocket watch is circa late 1800's to early 1900's and features a monogram front with floral back, very ornately engraved. Hefty in size measuring 2 inches in diameter by half an inch in depth, 2.7 inches in total length with the bow and crown. This classic pocket watch winds up...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Pocket Watches
Materials
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Waltham Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Tonneau Shaped Watch Original Dial 1920
s
By Waltham
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tonneau Shape
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1920's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 41mm X Width 2...
Category
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
Waltham Gold Filled Art Deco Watch circa, 1940
s with Original Dial
By Waltham
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 36mm X Width 23mm
...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
1906-A MA, Waltham-Middlesex County, Waltham Colonial Series Pocket Watch
By Waltham
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
1906-A 43mm (across dial) pocket watch in a swing-out case, by Waltham.
25-year warranted gold-filled case.
The double-sunk metal dial bears Arabic numerals and hash marks in the hour chapter, and the seconds dial bears black Arabic numerals in 10-second intervals and hash marks.
The hands are blued moons.
The tip of the minute hand seems bent.
The face is inscribed Waltham and is hand-painted with a bleeding heart surrounded bound in thorns, and a flaming cross above.
Stem wind, stem set.
The dial is worn and stained.
The crystal bears a faint green cast.
The mechanism swings out of the case, allowing a view of it and the interior of the rear cover.
The rear cover is inscribed For Waltham/ Colonial Series...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Pocket Watches
Waltham Gold Filled Tortue Shaped Art Deco Watch with Flawless Original Dial
By Waltham
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tortue Shape
METAL / MATERIAL: White Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1930
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 37mm X Diameter 30mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 7 Jewels / Caliber 0-Size
DIAL / HANDS: Flawless Original Dial with Arabic Numerals / Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 16mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT
This great looking and all original watch was produced by Waltham in 1930, just after the 1929 banking collapse and the repercussions of that collapse were not yet to be felt.
It appears to be fitted with an original period strap and buckle. The strap is to fragile to wear on a daily basis, but it does indicate what fine condition the watch is in. It is also fitted with an original period buckle, which we have attached to the new strap supplied with the watch.
The watch has a flawless original dial, which we never see on watches this old. Also still has its original Blued Steel Hands as well. This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will give it a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course. You can really count on this watch as well and can wear it all the time. You will not see another like this one, I am sure of that.
The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The company's watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of “mass produced” products.
By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts.
Waltham’s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of “industrialization.” Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in “cottage” industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the “working class” that needed to know the time. The company's affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives.
The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association.
In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company.
Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The company's exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world.
Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham’s higher grade movements. The director of the factory said he would have them “adjusted” before they left, but they said it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate.
Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches.
The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW 1...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Stainless Steel
Waltham 14Kt. Solid Gold Art Deco Watch with Original Dial from 1910
By Waltham
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Military Campaign Style
METAL / MATERIAL: 14kt Solid Gold
CIRCA YEAR: 1910
DIMENSIONS: 30mm X 28mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels
DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Arabic Luminous Numerals / Blued Steel Luminous Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator 14mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement.
This classic American Military Style watch is actually 110 years old and can still be worn all the time and counted on. The watch and case are entirely hand constructed. The movement, beautifully finished has jewels set into bushings and beautifully damascened plates...
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