The Boston Watch Company was sold at auction in April 1857.

Sales dropped, debts climbed and bankruptcy became inevitable. The company produced gilded full plate pocket watches ranging from 7 to 15 jewels which found acceptance in the industry, the first pocket watch produced in America of standard interchangeable parts, fostering growth until the country began experiencing a recession in 1856. to Boston Watch Company in September 1853, and a new factory in Waltham, Massachusetts was opened in October 1854. In the spring of 1853 the first Dennison, Howard, & Davis watches were offered for sale to the public.

Based upon the experience of earlier failed trials, Howard and Dennison eventually perfected and patented their precision watch making machines and create the American System of Watch Manufacturing. In 1851 they moved to a new factory across the street from Howard's clock factory. They initially outfitted space for design and manufacturing in Howard's clock factory in Roxbury, Massachusetts, a community neighboring Boston. If it means that the owner will use a treasured timepiece instead of keeping it tucked away, that's an attractive reason for alteration.In 1849 Aaron Lufkin Dennison, Edward Howard and David Davis formed a company with a plan to use machinery to manufacture watch movement parts so precisely that they would become fully interchangeable. Some conversions of high-end brands still sell for a high value after conversion. In general, altering a watch will lower the value (and some enthusiasts are ardently against doing this type of conversion).

Wristwatch Conversion: Some pocket watches have been converted to wrist watches.

For instance, early Patek Philippe & Co. or Tiffany & Co. pocket watch examples will have greater value than many other brands. Brand Name: The brand of the watch can also greatly impact the value.

High jewel examples are fervently sought by pocket watch collectors. The higher the quality of the watch, the more jewels it will have. These minimize friction and subsequent wear on the inner watch mechanism.

Jewels: The term jewel refers to the industrial grade gemstones used as bearings for gears.

Adjustments: The number of adjustments (meaning the calibrations a watch has to keep it running accurately regardless of the position in which it is held) add to the watch's value.

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