DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hampden, "Boston Watch Co" marked mvt and dial, mvt with very unusual regulator, 15J, 18S, HC model mvt cased in sidewinder orientation in nickel OF display recase, white enamel SS dial, finished by Hampden as KWKS but mvt now with an Abbott's patent SW-shift-locking-LS attachment, nickel damascene, s#69384. A very interesting piece for the early Hampden collector, this movement features an eye-catching regulator design that appears to be based on Frank C. Goold's regulator patent of October 17th, 1882 (U.S. Patent 266256). This is only the third example of this regulator style we have encountered, and notably all three examples we have seen have been with "Boston Watch Co." signed Hampden watches. The other two examples we had seen had been on somewhat lower grade movements, while the present example is notable for being a top quality early grade (presumably a "Railway" grade movement, based on serial number and features) with gold jewel settings, gold balance screws, mirror finish steelwork, and very attractive nickel damascene.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, good setting function though setting lever shifts stiffly in and out of engagement, excellent-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous surfaces with few small spots and mild fine to micro-fine scratches, patch of oxide to click, some pinpoint specks of oxide to steel disk around winding arbor escutcheon, case screw is a replacement which is very well matched other than a bit smaller head diameter than the original; excellent dial with fine scratch right of seconds-register at 4:30, few small edge flakes and other small edge flaws under bezel; fine hands, minute with finish loss; case front opens a bit wide of 90 degrees (approximately 105 degrees), case shows very little wear, dent to front adjacent hinge, dings to front adjacent crystal at 8 and 10:30, pinpoint nick to rear adjacent hinge; tight bow, crown shows very little wear; clean plastic crystals.
ESTIMATE:
$300
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$600
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