DESCRIPTION:
APW - M.S. Smith & Co, Detroit, mvt signed "Made by C.L. Hoyt Expressly for M.S. Smith Detroit, Mich." and is likely the personal watch of firm's founder Martin S. Smith, 19J, 18S, HC model mvt cased in sidewinder orientation in nickel OF display recase with "Dueber Hampden" marked front bezel, white enamel SS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, fausses-côtes pattern nickel damascene, s#76. A very rare maker, in total we believe that M.S. Smith & Co. produced in the range of approximately 60 to 70 watches. These watches were the creation of Charles L. Hoyt who was to later bring this same movement design to the ill-fated Freeport Watch Co. of Freeport, Illinois. We believe this particular example to be unique and to have been specially made by Hoyt to be the personal watch of Martin S. Smith himself. The reasons for this belief are the unique presentation signature "Made by C.L. Hoyt Expressly for M.S. Smith Detroit, Mich," the fact that this signature is addressed to the individual as "M.S. Smith" rather than in terms of the business as "M.S. Smith & Co." as is typical of all other examples we have seen, and as this watch features a fully capped lever escapement for a total jewel count of 19 rather than the 15 jewel count of all other examples made by this firm that we have encountered. Beyond this, we suspect that "No. 76" may have been chosen intentionally as the number for Smith's personal watch due to the significance of this number's association to the American centennial date of 1876.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, fair cosmetic mvt condition overall, plates with reflective sheen evident of polishing which has reduced definition of damascene detail, scattered small to tiny surface nicks and micro-fine scratches; dial with scattered fractures and hls which include some associated very small surface nicks or flakes, small edge chip at 6; fine hands of mismatched color, hour and minute are plum colored, seconds-hand is blue; case shows little wear, group of scratches to band between 9 and 10, good engraving detail to Dueber Hampden marking; tight bow, crown shows little wear; plastic front crystal with some fine scratches, good glass rear crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$3000
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$6000
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