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Kelly Watch Co.

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Years of Operation: 1896-1896

Predecessor: Sterling Clock and Watch Co.

Manufactured 16s Aluminum Movements. Sold factory to the Western Clock Mfg. Company in 1898. Production from this factory is nearly non-existant. Movements are unserialized.

Production Sizes: 16s

Average Rarity:

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No known surviving examples from the Kelly Watch Company have been seen in quite some time. One was reported to be a part of the Paul M. Chamberlain watch collection, as detailed in "Watches: The Paul M. Chamberlain Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago."

Exhibit No. 271 is described as:
"No. 271 - 'Kelley Watch Company, Chicago, Patented.' This watch made about 1893 is an interesting exhibit of punch press work carrying out the general lines of traditional watch design. The size is bout 16, stem wind and set, paper dial."

This collection was once housed at the Michigan State University Museum, but many of the pieces have been lost or stolen over the years.

Company Timeline

Predecessor: Sterling Clock and Watch Co.

The Jewelers' Circular<br> March 27, 1895

March 1895

The Sterling Watch Co. reorganizes as the Kelly Watch Co. with a captial stock of $20,000.

The Chicago Chronicle<br> Chicago, Illinois<br> Friday, April 10, 1896

April 1896

Joseph Bachner files a bill accusing the stockholders of conspiracy, attempting to oust him from the company.