

- #Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup serial numbers#
- #Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup full#
The Star Watch Case Company designed, manufactured and assembled watch cases for a plethora of watchmakers. Products įritz Baumgartner, Star's key hand engraver In 1943, the building was further enlarged with the addition of new office space bringing the overall size of the plant to three stories and 70,000 square feet (6,500 m 2). The addition was one hundred feet long by thirty feet in width and was three stories high. In 1927, the company added still another enlargement wing for tool, die equipment and machinery. North and south wings were added to the main building in 1920. The primary factory building was built on South Rath Avenue in 1905, and later expanded in 1910. The company's (sometimes referred to as Star Watchcase Company) employment reached its peak during World War II at 550 employees. By 1913 it had about 150 employees, which grew to 400 by 1925. Later in 1905 the company moved to Ludington, Michigan. In 1906 in Ludington, the company's key hand engrave was Fritz Baumgartner, assisted by hand engravers Emil Allemann and Otto Starke. Starke, president Fred Hermann, vice president Warren Antoine Cartier, secretary and Alfred W. Officers of the new Star Watch Case Company were Otto A. The company changed its name sometime between 19 to the Star Watch Case Company and incorporated on February 7, 1905. There were 27 employees in the business before the fire. The company was well insured, and it was able to recover.

In 1902 or 1903 a large fire destroyed the Illinois manufacturing facility. Starke had the specialty of being an engraver and steel hub cutter, while Hermann specialized in the mechanics of the tools and machines for making watch cases. Starke and Hermann were foremen at Illinois Watch before starting in business for themselves. To determine the approximate age of your watch, open the case and find the serial number, usually found engraved on the movement or the case back itself, then match it up with the list on this page.Ĭross reference the Movement number with the case number to find the time scale of when your watch was produced.The immediate predecessor of the Star Watch Case Company was the Illinois Watch Case Company in Elgin, Illinois, that was founded in 1898. Should you require a more conclusive valuation of your time piece then please do not hesitate to email us. Please remember that this is just an approximate guide and can not be used as a 100% accurate outlook as per how old your watch might be. At first, the company finished movements imported from Switzerland, made primarily by Leo Asbey.

Gruen would later become founder of the Gruen Watch Company with his son Frederick. The Columbus Watch Company was founded by Dietrich Gruen on Decemin Columbus, Ohio. It is important to note that the serial number on the movement and the watch case are different. To determine how old the pocket watch is, you must look at the serial number on the movement. The age of a pocket watch is also a significant factor in valuing this antique item. Sometimes, the watch case companies would mark the bezels with the last few digits of the case number using Roman numerals.
#Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup serial numbers#
You can usually tell if you have a complete watch case by seeing if these serial numbers match. The case serial number is printed on several parts of the watch case. Watch Company Hillside Waltham, Mass.1,147457.
#Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup full#
A gold full hunter pocket watch by Waltham, 18ct yellow gold, with engine turned outer case, white enamel dial, black Roman numerals, sub dial, key wind.
