National Watch Co. B. W. Raymond early railroad pocket watch, Pennsylvania Railroad
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1870
This early American railroad open face pocket watch was produced circa 1870 by the National Watch Co. of Elgin, Illinois, commissioned by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Designated as the B. W. Raymond model, it features a plain silver case measuring 59 mm in diameter with a silver cuvette. The white enamel dial is inscribed 'PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CO.' and features Roman numeral chapters, subsidiary seconds, and blued steel tulip hands. The watch is powered by an 18-size, 15-jewel gilt full plate first model lever movement with key winding and key setting. The movement includes jewels set in screwed chatons, a bimetallic compensation balance fitted with gold screws, a flat blued spring, and a polished index regulator.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Open-face pocket watch
- Hands
- Blued steel tulip hands
- Model
- B. W. Raymond, no. 125468
- Diameter
- 59 mm
- Commission
- Commissioned by the Pennsylvania Railroad
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- National Watch Co.
- Movement Specifications
- Gilt full plate first model 18-size 15-jewel lever movement, key wind and set
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial inscribed 'PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CO.' below the 12 o'clock numeral • Open plain silver case with a rounded bow and prominent spherical pendant • Blued steel tulip hands with a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock • Gilded full plate movement visible with open cuvette/caseback, engraved balance cock, blued screws, and regulator index
- Historical Context
- This 18-size pocket watch was produced by the National Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois. It is identified as a B. W. Raymond model, a movement line first produced by the company in 1867, bearing the name of Benjamin W. Raymond, an early investor. The watch is associated with the Pennsylvania Railroad, having been commissioned by the company in 1870. Contemporary documentation cited in the source indicates the railroad purchased approximately eighty of these 'Raymond movements' for its enginemen.
- Movement Specifications
- The timepiece is powered by a gilt full plate first model 18-size, 15-jewel lever movement. The movement features jewels set in chatons, a bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, and a flat blued balance spring. Regulation is managed via a long index arm and a polished calibrated scale on the backplate. The movement requires a key for both winding and time setting, as keyless work was not yet adopted at the Elgin factory during this production period.
- Dial and Case Description
- The watch is housed in a plain silver case measuring 59 mm in diameter, which includes a silver cuvette. The exterior features a rounded bow and a prominent spherical pendant. The white enamel dial displays Roman numeral chapters and a subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The dial is inscribed with 'PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CO.' and the watch is fitted with blued steel tulip hands.
Identification
- Serial number
- 125468
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Serial number 125468 is recorded by the auction house description but is not clearly legible on the movement plate at provided image resolution
- Research required: Movement operation and timekeeping accuracy are unverified