Antique Waltham Pocket Watch, 1908, Freemasons

An antique Waltham open faced pocket watch, freemasonry.

The watch has a stem-winding movement, grade 625, which is working nicely. The movement is fully signed and the serial number 16846167 dates it back to 1908. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has a 1923 inscription relating to NIOF, which would have been a friendly society such as the National Independent Order of Foresters. Friendly societies were a kind of "poor man's freemasonry" and were very big in Victorian and Edwardian times. They were part trade union and part a benefits and sickness club into which members paid regular sums and were

able to borrow from when they fell on hard times.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is gold plated and was made by the Dennison Watch Case Company, the founder of which, Aaron Dennison, had close associations with Waltham. There is some unevenness to the back of the watch but other than that, it is in good condition.

The watch glass is in good condition.

The signed white enamel dial is in beautiful condition and has blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

The freemasonry jewels shown in the photo are not included.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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