1936 Skeezix Pocket Watch by Ingraham | ||
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Posted 12 years ago
geo26e
(154 items)
Skeezix is a character from the 2nd longest running comic strip in the US, 'Gasoline Alley', created by Frank King in 1918 (King's signature is on the dial). Ingraham made a series of 3 character pocket watches in the 30s, namely, Moon Mullins, Rudy Nebb and Skeezix.
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George, what's the date code on the movement?
Kerry, I have just posted a picture of the movement. Not signed or dated.
George, Dave(pw-collector) might helps us out, I don't recall a Ingraham movement with the main-spring cover like this one, looks like an Ingersoll LTD movement to me. Maybe Dave is still on and can verify if it is and Ingraham.
Kerry, I got this from Hakes Auction and they described the movement is by Ingraham. It will be great if Dave can help to check it out.
The casing and hands look like the Nebb watch, it's probably right, I'm just getting old and jumpy anymore. :-)
Thank you Kerry, Dave, Manikin, Mustangtony, Officialfuel, filmnet & ttomtucker for the 'Love' clicks. Best wishes to you all for 2013!
geo26e,
George & Kerry, I will look closer when I get back home, but I think it is a New Haven movement. The back plate on this New Haven Sports Timer is a close match.
Dave
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/66275-new-haven-sports-timer?in=collection-735
Thanks Dave for checking this out.
George, here are a couple more I posted.
New Haven
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/61481-new-haven-handbag-watch?in=collection-724
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/65135-new-haven-bull-dog-watch?in=collection-724
Dave
Thanks Dave. The movement on my watch is definitely a New Haven.
All the reference books (although there are only one or two I know of and they do not have any pictures of the movement) I have come across says this Skeezix watch is by E Ingraham. Similar to Kerry's Superman watch that he posted yesterday http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/77926-look-up-in-the-sky-its-a-bird-no-its?in=user, all the reference book says it is a New Haven watch but it fact it has an E Ingraham movement.
I think this going to be a difficult one to determine whether the book is correct unless I can find another Skeezix watch for comparison.
George,
Like you, all the references I have seen say these Skeezix pocket watches are manufactured by Ingraham, but none show the movement. George Townsend's book on Dollar Watches does not make any reference to the Skeezix watch.
I have a CD on dollar watches from Chapter 149, but no reference to Skeezix on it either.
The Ingraham Co. marked the back plate of their movements with patent dates or manufacture dates. None of the drawings of movements for Ingraham in Townsend's book show a main-spring cover like this one. This movement does match the drawing of the New Haven movement, Plate 58 on page 22.
Was this the description on the listing when you bought yours?
"Item Description
1-7/8" nickel-plated case surrounds bright, clean dial with colorful full figure of "Skeezix" with name of character at lower left and name of strip creator "King" at lower right. Below is a second wheel. Most silvering is off the front bezel and also off the outer edge of the case back but these areas simply show as a nice brassy metallic tone mixed in with the remaining silvering. Dial is clean and bright with just the very slightest hint of cloudiness to what seems to be the original crystal which could easily be replaced. Watch is running and we've had it keep accurate time over an 18-hour period. Unmarked but likely by Ingraham. Rarely seen and first we recall offering in 39 years."
If so, the statement, "Unmarked but likely by Ingraham" would have thrown up a red flag for me. There are only two drawings in Townsend's Ingraham drawings that doesn't have their name on it, but does have either patent dates or a manufacture date on it.
I agree with you in that until you find another Skeezix watch and compare movements we are not sure who actually manufactured it.
Dave
Dave, the description was like this :-
2" dia. nickel finish. Ingraham. 1930s. Has full body image of Skeezix on dial along w/his name and creator Frank King's last name facsimile signature. Case has lt. wear w/tiny indent on back. Near full luster remains. Original crystal is yellowed w/age. Dial is totally clean. Running and VF. Rare. Part of a series by Ingraham (see Moon Mullins pocket watch #1757) and among the earliest known comic character watches.
No movements pictures shown. I also made a bid on the Moon Mullins watch but did not win it. If I had won, I could compare the two as they are from the same series.
Dave, where did you paste the description above? It appears that the Skeezix watch for sale there also has an unmarked movement .....like mine..... which is a good sign!! Happy New year to you Dave!
George,
It was a Hakes auction 2005. You said you bought it from Hakes. I didn't post the link because it had winning bid price and thought better to keep it private. If you want, I can post the link if still available.
Dave
George,
After looking closer to the closed 2005 auction photo, the dial is different than yours posted. Sub-seconds dial is different and the printing of Skeezix & King is different & in a different place. I'm not sure if the dial on this auction is original.
http://www.hakes.com/item.asp?Auction=185&ItemNo=33042
Dave
Thanks very much Dave. Got mine from Hake's Sept. 12 Auction. The one sold in 2005 has the correct hands and numberings except for Skeezix and the letterings reduced by 40%. Hake's are usually quite good at spotting modern reproduction dials. This could be an early prototype version! We will never know.....and the mystery continues. Thank you for spending your time on the research, very much appreciated.
George, I'm glad to help. If you ever identify it for sure, please let us know, and thanks for showing it.
Dave
Thank you snoopy, clockerman, AR8Jason & inky for the 'Love' click & appreciation.
Dave, I found this article on Wikipedia which mentioned the Skeezix watch (under the Anglo-Celtic Company Ltd section) -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingersoll_Watch_Company
I have also noticed that your New Haven 'Bull Dog' watch has the exact movement and 'HANDS' as the Skeezix. http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/65135-new-haven-bull-dog-watch?in=collection-724
Just wondering if these hand are exclusive to New Haven pieces. (The hands on my Skeezix are correct when compared to all the pictures I have seen).
In addition to Ingraham and New Haven debate, now we have got Ingersoll involved according to Wikipedia!
George,
Good eye on the matching hands. I was concentrating on the movement match & didn't notice the hands.
I also have The New Haven Sports Timer (Patent Pending) http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/66275-new-haven-sports-timer?in=611,
a New Haven Elm City & a New Haven True Time Teller Foot Ball Timer That have the same hands.
Ingersoll-Waterbury has hands very similar, but still different.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/68484-ingersoll--waterbury-co?in=611.
In George Townsand's book on Dollar Watches, the only ones I saw with these type of hands are New Havens (page 67, 70, 71, 73, 75, 80, 81 to name a few).
Ingraham has a similar one also, but the diamond is thinner & longer.
I think the thing I fear most on rare character type watches, are replacement dials placed on different movements.
Dave
Here's some more , In Collin's 2011 watch guide, the have the Moon and Skeezix watch side by side and the Moon is Ingersoll and The Skeezix as Ingraham, the Moon has the same Hands as yours, mystery goes on. :-)
Kerry, the 'Complete Price Guide To Watches' by Engle & Gilbert also says the same! I have a little 'Theory' here lol - why all the New Haven & E Ingraham character pocket watches are NEVER signed on the dial (except for the New Haven Lone Ranger watch but the actual graphics are on the back of the watch, not on the dial)? Could it be Ingersoll/Anglo-Celtic Company Ltd were the people ultimately responsible for the production of all these watches and for convenience, they only manufactured the dial and sub-contracted New Haven/E Ingraham to put the watch together with their own movement.
See Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingersoll_Watch_Company - (under the Anglo-Celtic Company Ltd section). This article mentioned for example the Popeye and Buck Rogers watch but never mentioned New Haven or Ingraham.
Thank you BELLING68 and thisoldwatch for the appreciation.
George your theory appears sound. The article on the link seems to back it up. I'll keep on with researching this subject, just because I love a mystery. I've contacted several people I know, with no diffenative answers, yet. :-)
I'm sure it's original and not a "fantasy" piece, but would love to know the whole story. Again "GREAT" character timepiece
Thank you bobogal & miKKoChristmas11 for the 'Love' click. Much appreciated.
Top of the day George. Found another mis-info in the Brown & Thomas book. Just proves everyone makes mistakes and just because it's in print somewhere, is might be wrong. Again I love this piece, We'll all find the "Whole Story" sometime and maybe, we'll be the ones with the full info. :-)
Kerry, hopefully we will know the whole story.....eventually!
I have no doubt about that. I'm sure an original advert will appear and the maker's name on it.
Thank you misikchoo for the appreciation.
Thank you steller.
excellent watch geo, love it
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