 About the Cover
The front cover merges two images from Waltham, Massachusetts. The top
"factory-scape" was taken from a booklet titled Workers Together
by Edward A. Marsh, published in 1916. The factory, which could have
then been the home of the Waltham Watch Company, is shown from the rear,
facing the Charles River. This circa 1910's image of the factory is
featured, along with several other views, in Tom McIntyre's chapter,
also titled "Workers Together," of Boston: Cradle of American
Watchmaking.
The watch detail shown on the bottom half of the cover is taken from
the exhibit CD included with Boston: Cradle of American Watchmaking.
This American Watch Co. watch is S/N 6,018,296. In explaining the
Waltham company culture, Tom McIntyre states that, "Employees were
encouraged to purchase discounted material from the production of
watches and use that material to produce unique pieces with their own
concepts of design or finish." This watch began as an 1883 Model
Crescent St. grade. The jewelling was increased from 17 to 20 jewels.
Diamond cap jewels were used on the balance. The damascening is not
unusual for the high-grade 1883 models, indicating that the employee who
finished it may have worked in the jewelling department. Craig Risch's
chapter on Charles Vander Woerd in the Boston book discusses the rack
and pinion regulator, developed by Woerd, that can be seen on this
watch.
Watch photography by Tom McIntyre |
