Hello Karyn,
Thank you for sending in your pocket watch to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that today
TITLE:
Gent’s coin silver, key wound, savonette hunting case pocket watch, with Presentation inscription, made by the American Watch Company, Waltham, Ma, USA circa 1865.
DESCRIPTION:
CASE - Size is not provided but most likely it is the full size 18. This is a four leaf coin silver hunting case pocket watch with engine turned outer covers, one side with a central shield with the owner’s name, “H. Kopp”. The inside of the case carries the four digit case number, 5654, and is marked ‘coin’. (Coin silver is an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper.) The covers also are engraved with foliate designs and ‘C’ scrolls. There is a silver ball pendant with push button and round bow placed at the three position (savonette) opposite the case hinge. The cuvette or movement cover has a Presentation inscription, Presented by Sauter, Grill, Haeberle and Goetz to H. Kopp, Brewer for P. Schemm, Philadelphia December 25, 1865”. (See History)
DIAL – White enameled dial with Roman hours, closed minute track to the outside, subsidiary seconds dial @6, American style steel Spade hands and the upper dial signed American Watch Company. (See History)
MOVEMENT: Not shown but would be a version of the model 1857 or 1859 full plate movements, key wound and key/lever set, usually 15-17 jewels, signed and numbered by the American Watch Company.
CONDITION:
Case – Moderate oxidation to the silver in the case has darkened the outside covers.
Dial – Good but with tiny speckle of mold throughout the dial surface.
Movement – Not seen, nor evaluated but assume to be original, genuine and functional.
HISTORY:
Peter Schemm Brewery, 25th & Poplar Street. Philadelphia. Peter Schemm (May 30, 1824-September 13, 1898). Born in Bavaria, Germany, he came first to Baltimore in 1842, and five years later moved to Philadelphia, where he worked at Dithmar & Bretz, brewers. Thereafter, he worked with Louis Bergdoll, and in 1855 partnered with L. Houser to form the brewery Houser & Schemm. After Houser’s death in 1863, it became the Peter Schemm Brewery, and eventually his son came to work with him, and it was renamed the Peter Schemm & Son Brewery, or the Peter Schemm & Son Lager Brewery. The brewery complex, originally built in 1855 and expanded between 1885 and 1887, operated as Peter Schemm & Son 1887-1908. The founder, billionaire Peter Schemm shocked the world on September 13, 1898, the day he committed suicide by jumping into Niagara Falls. . .
Waltham Company: This American Company was the first to produce watches by the machined use of interchangeable parts. This was the vision of the founders of the company; Aaron Dennison, David Davis and Edward Howard. The initial company was located at Roxbury, Mass. in 1851, and was called the Warren Manufacturing Company. The business moved to Waltham, Ma in 1854 and the name had just been changed to the Boston Watch Company. That business failed in 1857 and was sold at a sheriff's sale, reorganized and called Appleton, Tracy and Company. In 1859 the Waltham Improvement Company merged with Appleton, Tracy to form the American Watch Company. Between 1859 and 1885 the firm operated under that corporate name. These early watches were key wound. Stem winding was introduced in 1870. The last key wound watches were produced in 1919. In 1885 the name was changed to the American Waltham Watch Company. In 1906 it became the Waltham Watch Company and in 1923 the Waltham Watch and Clock Company. Production ceased in 1950.
MARKETPLACE:
This is a fairly early example of the Waltham product and the early model movements tend to elevate the price a bit. However, the use of coin silver keeps the price point fairly low. The Presentation brings into play the interesting story of Mr. Schemm and his Philadelphia Brewery. I do not know who Mr. H. Kopp was other than a brewer.
COMPARABLES:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7818531_348-american-waltham-watch-co-pocket-watch (sold for $100 in Sterling silver)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/19717076_291870-model-waltham-key-wind-key-set-pocket-watch (sold for $175 in coin silver)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/55890394_american-watch-company-pocket-watch (sold for $130)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/74827878_american-waltham-watch-co-18s-coin-silver-hc-pocket (sold for $120)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/65983947_american-waltham-watch-co-pocket-watch (sold for $60)
PRICING:
I believe that if you were to offer this watch at auction the fair market price range would be from $225-$275 with retail values being somewhat higher than that. It will bring slightly more because the watch dates from the mid-1860s.
I hope that helps you with your appraisal and your understanding of the watch and its place in the history of 20th century watchmaking and its association with the town of Philadelphia famous at one time for its breweries. Thank you again for choosing mearto.com for the appraisal.
My best,
David