Eastern times., 1855-04-19
American Watch Company.

&AAASA ASSA w OWN SSAAP
We have occasionally during the past year,
made illusions in these columns to the Amer
lean Watch Company, and to their manufac-
ture of watches. No one can avoid feeling an
interest in project which opens new field
for industrial occupation, and localizes SO i'm
portant manufacture in our very midst. De-
pendent as we have been entirely upon Eng
land and Switzerland for these little indispen-
sable monitors of time, every American will
take pride in knowing that Yankee ingenuity
backed by Yankee enterprise, has succeeded
In establishing a concern which is able to
compete with foreign productions, and though
in its infancy, promises ere many months to
supply at least portion of the daily demand
for watches.
We had the qualification this week of visit
ing the mandatory at Waltham, and there
witnessed with some little surprise. the result
of many years labor, and the promise as we
think of an establishment which is destined
to attract no little attention. from the fact that
it is the only watch-manufactory in the United
States.
During the war of 1879, few watches of
the Bulls eye pattern were made in Concord,
but they were of course inferior to the i'm
ported ones, and though individuals have since
then attempted on small scale to do some
thing in this way, no permanent establishment
was ever founded.
Some five years since, Messrs. Howard &
Davis, in connection with A. l.. Dennison,
commenced branch of this business in Rox-
bury, and though the most serious obstacles
were in the way, they have per.evered, slow
ly gaining knowledge BY experience, and
slowly obtaining the object of their Desires,
The want of machinery and the inexperience
OF Iaborers have been great drawbacks, but
they have gradually overcome these, and have
now every convenience for the successful pros
ecution of their business.
Their establishment in Roxburv, situated on
East street, was so surrounded by dusty To-
calties, that it was found impossible TO obtain
perfection in works, which were liable to this
inconvenience, and location for building
was selected in Waliham, which is most ad-
mirably adapted to the purpose. The site is
on the very banks of the Charles river, and
surrounded by lawn, the structure stands re-
moved from any general travel. The build
ing itself, occupying third of an acre, is a
curiosity, for it is the first structure erected
in this vicinity, of the gravel wall, or 'con-
crete MATERIAL which has been brought 10
public notice by that practical progressionist,
Mr.. o. S. Fowler. The concrete consists
simply of lime stones and sand mixed together
as we do mortar, and then by simple pro-
cess piled up in layers, which become hard,
and in the lapse of years are as solid as stone.
The building thus constructed at an expense
OF one-thlrd of what it would cost to erect a
brick edlfce, and which is comparatively fire
proof, has stood the cold of the present severe
winter, and established beyond a doubt its
adaptability to ordinary uses.
The mandatory at Waltham is two story
! building built in the form of a square. Mr.
A. l.. Dennison, assisted by Mr.. N. p STRAIT.
ton is superintendens Of the works, and a
twelve horse engine. furnishes motive. power
for the machinery, heats the entire building
and carries water from the river to the reser.
voir, which supplies every part of the build
ing with water. The different department.
are separated, and each gang of mechanic.
have distinct portion of the watch to manu-
facture. In one room the plate is cut. in an
other the jewels are reduced to proper size
while the second hands, minute hands, ths
jewel screws, the wheels, the springs, ths
cases, the engravings and The poIishings re
quire each distinct process, in which differ
ent classes of operatives are engaged TIL,
operatives at present number about fifty,
quarter of whom are females who are fount
well adapted to the business, and it is fac
worthy of note that these American watches
are the production OF American OPT ratves
The Locle and other Swiss towns, wher.
watches are made, the parts are manufacture.
In the cottages of the workmen, and are theI
carried to head quarters and put together lit
tie machinery is used here under one roo
the watch is completed, and by the aid of ma
chinery, hands less skilful are enabled TO brinl
each part to high degree of nicely. Th
} American watch therefore, we think must b
; superior, and those manufactured here are pro
nounced oy experts, to be superior finish an
most excellent tin,e-keepers. One Of the old
est ana oest known watch dealers in this city
! recently observed that if the American Watc
: Company had produced in ten years an instru
, ment every way so perfect, they might hav
! felt proud, but this has been attained in Les
time, and the watches which will shortly B
in the market are confidently expected to eau.
any that can be produced. In few monfhs