Dollar watch
Encyclopedia
A dollar watch was a pocket watch
or later, a wristwatch, that sold for about one dollar.
The sale of such watches began in 1892 by the watchmakers Ingersoll Watch Company
, Waterbury Clock Company, and New Haven. Later, Western Clock (Westclox
) in 1899 and the E. Ingraham Company also began manufacturing them. Dollar watches were practical, mass-produced timepieces intended to be as inexpensive as possible. Trademarks of dollar watches were their simple, rugged design, movement (usually with a pin-pallet escapement, although sometimes with duplex escapements) which has either no jewels or just one jewel, width of about eighteen size (two inches), and sale price of about a dollar from 1892 until the mid 1950s. Many other companies made them, with literally hundreds of names on the dials.
To keep costs down, the watches were often sold in flimsy cardboard boxes, which are now highly collectible.
Pocket watch
A pocket watch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist. They were the most common type of watch from their development in the 16th century until wristwatches became popular after World War I during which a transitional design,...
or later, a wristwatch, that sold for about one dollar.
The sale of such watches began in 1892 by the watchmakers Ingersoll Watch Company
Ingersoll Watch Company
The Ingersoll Watch Company grew out of a mail order business started in New York City in 1882 by 21-year-old Robert Hawley Ingersoll and his brother Charles Henry. The company initially sold low-cost items such as rubber stamps...
, Waterbury Clock Company, and New Haven. Later, Western Clock (Westclox
Westclox
Westclox was a former manufacturer and is a current brand of clocks and alarm clocks.-Early history as United Clock Company:Charles Stahlberg and others from Waterbury, Connecticut originally formed as "United Clock Company" on December 5, 1885 in Peru, Illinois, intending to manufacture clocks...
) in 1899 and the E. Ingraham Company also began manufacturing them. Dollar watches were practical, mass-produced timepieces intended to be as inexpensive as possible. Trademarks of dollar watches were their simple, rugged design, movement (usually with a pin-pallet escapement, although sometimes with duplex escapements) which has either no jewels or just one jewel, width of about eighteen size (two inches), and sale price of about a dollar from 1892 until the mid 1950s. Many other companies made them, with literally hundreds of names on the dials.
To keep costs down, the watches were often sold in flimsy cardboard boxes, which are now highly collectible.