✅ SOLVED Gold filled/plated and Makers Mark

[smcdmc]

I found this pocket watch halfway between an old cellar hole and stream. I'm not sure whether it was gold plated or gold filled as I'm not sure how to tell the difference. There doesn't appear to be plating flaking off, so maybe gold filled? Also, does anyone have any info on the Makers Mark? I would love to be able to date it and maybe find out a little more about it.

 

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[Silver Searcher]

Nice watch. Have you cleaned it since you dug it, or is that how it was found, proberbly Gold Guilded, what does the base metal look like, I see no signs of any corrosion....interesting.

SS

 

[smcdmc]

Nice watch. Have you cleaned it since you dug it, or is that how it was found, proberbly Gold Guilded, what does the base metal look like, I see no signs of any corrosion....interesting.

SS

I cleaned it but mainly just dirt from being in the ground, no real corrosion or stuck on crud. There is a little bit of a dark greenish tint around the edges and stem so maybe brass?

 

[daroofa]

The arm and hammer logo is from the Philadelphia Watch Case Co., and it was on their "Perfection" line of cases.

Philadelphia Watch Case Co. - National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Message Board

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The arm and hammer logo is from the Philadelphia Watch Case Co., and it was on their "Perfection" line of cases.

Philadelphia Watch Case Co. - National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Message Board

Good ID. It says 14K Gold Plate.


They could be Solid Gold, Electroplate, Silver or Gold Filled. GF being just a heavier plating. It looks as if yours has a little plating left. It usually just wears off not in flakes like nickel plating..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Read this if you can from a 1909 Sears Roebuck mail order catalog on electroplated watches. It says they may last one month or six and these cases are often used by unscrupulous merchants. This pic is the right side of my first pic posted above. Its an interesting read.

 

[Mackaydon]

Great find !!
Some history: "MR. THEOPHILUS ZURBRUGG bought out the watch case company of Leichty & Le Bouba in 1884, in Philadelphia, Pa.

"About 1888 he changed the name to the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. He made various types of cases, using a crown as one trademark and an arm and hammer as another. ... The company moved to Riverside, N.J. in 1902. ...

"In 1904 this man managed a series of mergers, which brought together his own Philadelphia Watch Case Co., Bates and Bacon, Crescent and the Keystone Watch Case Co."

From page 7:
"... After a series of mergers in 1904 the name became the Keystone Watch Case Co., Riverside, N.J."
Source: Arm & Hammer Hallmark - Topic
Don.....

 

[smcdmc]

Thank you everybody! Awesome research! Will mark this one solved.

Shane

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Heres something on serial numbers Waltham/Philadelphia Watchcase Co.