George W. Ladd Gold Filled Drum Case/Waltham Pocket Watch

This pocket watch has the original scarce, George W. Ladd gold filled drum case with the original crystal. What makes it so unique is that the case back cover and crystal are perfectly symmetrical. The case is stamped G.W. Ladd patent date June 11, 1867 under the bezel. Ladd's patents do not refer to the cases layered construction, but to the use of reinforcing gold in strategic positions. The gold filled Ladd cases often contained more pure gold than the average gold filled cases offered at that time.

The movement that is housed in this G.W. Ladd drum case is an 18 size Waltham P.S. Bartlett 1857 model. It was made in 1873 making it 142 years old. It is key wind and key set with 11 jewels and a full gilt plate. The Waltham Model 1857 is a watch made by the American Watch Company, later called the Waltham Watch Company in the City of Waltham, Massachusetts. The Waltham Model 1857 was first made in the year 1857. Prior to that year, pocket watches were not made of standard parts and there was a difficulty in repairing and making the watches on a cost effective basis. All of this work in design and development led the American Watch Company to create and market the first successful industrialized watch.

Thanks for looking!