Size
18s
Model
[2] J.s. Townsend's Superior.
Jewel Count
15
Setting
Lever
Finish
Gold-Flash
Case Material
Gold Filled
Case Manufacturer
Dueber/Hampden Watch Co.
Case Serial #
None.
Case Details
Case is a Factory, Dueber-Hampden, 2-Hinged, Salesman's, Display Case., with Bow. It's Unusual in that it is Gold Filled instead of Silverine. Also it may be Original to the Movement because there are no extra Case Screw Marks. If it was intended for Townsend's Salesmen that might explain why the Back Plate is Engraved J.S. Townsend's "Superior" & the Dial is marked Hampden Watch Co., (as my other example is marked "Townsend" on both Back Plate & Dial). This watch dates from around the time John C. Dueber was having a falling out w/ Webb C. Ball over not having the Dueber-Hampden Logo on the watches Ball had ordered from him {though Dueber was very inconsistent about this on other "Private Label" movements}. The "Townsend" marked movement w/ a Hampden Dial my be a reflection of this.
Dial Material
Enamel
Dial Type
Doublesunk
Dial Style
Arabic
Dial Signing Name
Hampden Watch Co. (script)
Dial Details
This watch has the Hampden Dial rather than the "J.S. Townsend" marked Dial which does not necessarily mean it's a replacement as some of the J.S. Townsend listings in "The Hampden Watch Co." do not list Dial Names, while others are specific, i.e., "J.S. Townsend, 1554 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill." or "J.S. Townsend, Superior" & no mention is made of the "J.S. Townsend, 1554 Wabash Ave. Chicago", (No Ill.), Dial which is on another Townsend Watch of mine). Around 1881 John C. Dueber had a problem with Webb C. Ball changing the Dials on the Hampden/Dueber movements to say "Ball" instead of "Hampden". Up till then they'd been Ball's main supplier but after the quarrel he started ordering from "Hamilton" instead.
This "Fight" may have been blown out of proportions because The Dueber-Hampden Co. was still advertising "No Charge for Special Names on Dials" as of their 1917 Catalog & seemed to have no problem special engraving their movements & fitting them with Private Label Dials.
Movement Markings
J.S. Townsend's "Superior" 297430 Patent Pinion 1554 Wabash Ave. Chicago
