Expert: Melvin Mills - 11/20/2009

Question
Dear Sir.
     I have aquired an interesting pocket watch, and would like to know sommething about it, The name on the movement and face is Thos J Thomas watch co. Aberredeen Washington, the case says cwc.co.  also it says cresent (trade mark ) warrianed 25 years
17 jewles adjusted, what is adjusted verses unadjusted anyway?
there is no kt marking but it looks like a very heavy plateing and i looked at some scraches under a 30 power scope and cannot see a different colered metal it is very heavy, also it is a lever set and a swing out movement  anything you can tell me would be helpful thanks Steve

Answer
Steven,

Here is what I can tell you for sure.

The watch is a private label watch.  That means that they had a manufacturer make the watch but put the Thos J Thomas watch co. name on it.  The watch was made by Elgin Watch Co.

The warranted 25 years means the case is gold filled.  It is  warranted not to wear through to
the base metal for 25 years.

adjusted means that the company adjusted the watch to make sure that it kept accurate time.
Yes, there were watches that were not adjusted.  Remember, when these watches were made, people were not as obsessed to know the time to the second.  So,  a little leeway was not a problem.

Kind regards,

Melvin