The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-24
A VERY OLD WATCH.
Some Persons Say It is the Oldest
Watch In the World.

WobSG Al b4O w OEAQs
From the st. Louis Republic.
Seth Longabaugh, prospecsor and mine
owner of Butte, has in his possession proba-
bly, one OF the most valuable relics in the
world. 1t is q timepiece 10 the shape of a
watch, and bearing the name and date OF
"Joseph Davis, 1921" The genulneness of
the article is unquestioned, and its great
value lies in the fact that the earliest record
Of pocket timepiece is of 1894 and of Swiss
make. The Davis watch has been an heir
loom of the Swan family for nearly 200
years. 1t finally came into tho possession
of Frank Swan, one of the family, who
lives in Nevada. He did not appreciate the
value of the watch and gave it TO his chill
dren to play with, and whom Longabaugh
first saw it about fourteen years ago the
hands had been broken off and one of the
three cases within which the works were
enclosed was lost.
He recognized its value and secured it
from Swan. The watch was examined by
Mr.. Tucker. the San Francisco ieweler,
and, after making researches, he pronounced
it genuine. More recently Hight & Fair
field of Butte made search into the misty
past, but the earliest date they could find in
the existence of watches was in 1900.
The watch in question doubtless repre-
sents the labor of many years, as it was
made early by hand, and the tool marks
throughout all Its parts are plainly visible,
and toe watch was probably the only one
made by Mr.. Davis of London. The
machinery consists Of a large steel BALANCE
wheel, which works with a pendulum like a
lever, and in place of the modern hairspring
is a long steel chain which winds and I'M
winds upon pulley. Another large wheel,
the purpose of which Is not apparent, looks
like belt wheel on threshing machine.
The works are protected and he'd together
by q fine ornamental net work of brass
carved out by hand and held together by
brass rivets, which show plain hammer
marks.
On the back of the works is a polished
steel face similar to the second dial on a
modem watch, but with the figures rum
ming from l to 6. The object of 1t has
never been figured out by any Of the jewell
lers who have examined it. The face OF the
watch is of polished steel, and the hours are
marked by raised Roman numerals.
Around the edge Of the face are figures
from to 60 TO represent either seconds OF
minutes. In the center Of the dial is the
British coat-of-arms in raised brass, con-
sistiug Of the crown, lion and unicorn. The
whole works are enclosed In silver heml-
sphere, the silver being hammered and
sbapened by hand, the indentures Of the
hammer showing distinctly. On the out
outside Of the silver case is another OF ham =
mered brass, and the evidence is plain that
at one time there was still third case on
the outside OF these two.
The watch was wound up with some
kind Of key, the keyhole being protected
by a rude trap or sliding door. The watch
has a stem nearly inches long, with a ring
ON the end large enough TO hitch horse 70.
The stem is OF solid silver ana in the middle
Is nearly half worn away. which alone Is a
slight indication Of its extreme ago The
watch Ia said % have been In running order
up 70 about twenty years ago. II weighs
about four ounces, aud in shape looks like
baseball cut ia halves. Mr.. Longabaugh
has at different times been offered several
small fortunes for bis relic, but be says IL Is
not Tor sale. He will have II on exhibition
az the worlds fair.