Expert: Melvin Mills - 8/27/2010

Question
Mr. Mills,
I have a gold Gentlemen's Pocket Watch made by the Rockford Watch Co. USA with the number 7490 engraved on the edge of the area showing the works of the clock. On the inside of all three covers are the numbers 1697490. The outer cover of the works also has the name C.M.C. Co., with their trade mark crescent and star. The inner cover of the works says: Warranted [Crescent] 25 years. The case has a floral/vine motif that is identical on both sides. Can you give me an idea as to its date and place of origin?
Thank you

Answer
Bill,

If you can get the serial number off the movement, I will be able to tell you when the watch was made.  The number on the case is different.

Here is the History of the Rockford Watch Co.

The Rockford Watch Company, located 93 miles from Chicago on the Rock River, began operation in 1873 using equipment purchased from the Cornell Watch Company. Two of Cornell's former employees, P. H. Wheeler (Wheeler's Patent, etc) and C. W. Parker became key employees of Rockford. Their factory building was built in 1875-76, and was located on the 300 block of South Madison in Rockford (parts of the original factory building were later used by Rockford High School).


Their first watch, a key-wind, 18-size, full plate with expansion balance was placed on the market on May 1, 1876. By 1877, the company was producing its own 3/4 plate nickel movements that fit standard size cases. The highest grades of early Rockford watches were signed "Ruby" or "Ruby Jewels" which later became a stylized letter "R" engraved next to the jewel-count. Rockford watches were quite popular with railroad men, as 3 railroads went through Rockford, and the company advertised heavily to them. Many of the later Rockford watches are signed "RG" for "Railroad Grade" The company had financial difficulties in 1896, and after reorganization the name was changed to Rockford Watch Co. Ltd. They finally closed their doors in 1915.

Rockford is one of the companies that produced a relatively small number of very high-quality watches, and as such they are quite collectible.