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Standard/Standard American Watch Company, Pittsburgh Pa

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 Private label watches are a personal favorite to collect.  A while back, a Hampden appeared as well as a couple Illinois with labels from my hometown.  It has been a fascination ever since, about 2 years or so... probably longer.   Here is an introduction to the Standard (and Standard American) watch co of Pittsburgh Pa. Backround Information After a recent discovery thanks to a fellow NAWCC member and a bit of research, we know the proprietor of this fine enterprise.  James Hampton (J.H.) Johnston born December 16, 1836 and died June 28, 1917.  He grew up in Waynesboro Pa and learned the gunsmith trade from his father.  When he moved to Pittsburgh he was made master armorer at the Allegheny Arsenal during the Civil War.  Afterwards he opened "The Great Western Gun Works".  This was a mail order company that built and sold not only guns, but a wide variety of sporting goods. Included is ammunition, fishing tackle, targets and much more....
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National to Elgin National Watch Co name change.

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Through announcements in the Chicago Tribune, we can map out the exact date the name of the company changed from National Watch Company to Elgin National Watch Company. These clippings are courtesy of the Library of Congress.   Very early on the product of the National Watch Company became known as Elgin Watches.  Take notice of this first clipping, from 1872.  A couple years before the company became Elgin. The Chicago Daily Tribune, Dec 19, 1872 It would only make sense to actually call the company by that name.  They needed the stockholders approval.  A special meeting was scheduled to be held on February 28, 1874 to consider the name change. The Chicago Dialy Tribune, Feb 6 & 13, 1874 The stockholders obviously agreed that it was a good idea to change the name, and a meeting was set for April 4, 1874 to vote on the question of changing the name.  (Should they, or should they not) The Chicago Dialy Tribune, March 4 ...
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Tour of American watch companies, part 2! Illinois, Columbus, Aurora, Rockford.

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The next round of the tour took me through Illinois, Columbus, Aurora and Rockford.  All four of these companies offer a wide range of grades and fascinating research opportunities.  Keep in mind, I love Gilt... Sorry for the lack of nickel movements previously, a couple will be added here.     Illinois Watch Co The Illinois Springfield Watch Company was founded in 1869.  Their first movements completed in early 1872.  The great panic of 1873 made some hard times for the company which reorganized in 1875.  Then again in 1879 as the Springfield Illinois Watch Company, and finally settled on Illinois Watch Company in 1885.    Their early grades, like many other companies, carried the names of important people of the company.   Here is an 1878 price list detailing their movements.  A wonderful find courtesy of the Harvard Library. While I have a Stuart stemwind (which needs a good amount of restoration...
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A tour of earlier American watch companies part 1! Elgin, Hampden, American and New York watch companies.

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When you first start collecting, what do you collect? What era of watch production? How do you know what you like?  American? English? Swiss?  These questions prompted me to start looking into many different companies to find out just what is out there!   Right off the bat I loved American watches from before the turn of the century.  Many different watch companies trying to find their way in a market full of competition.   While the Elgin National Watch Company will always be #1 in the collection, the subject of this thread also led me to Hampden and the New York Watch Company.  These companies all have vast areas of unexplored content that make for incredibly interesting and fun research!    I'd like to share my experience with sampling various earlier watch companies with the hope that maybe someone will find interest in the subject.  This sub-collection started out as just finding a nice mid-grade example from each conpany to di...
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