The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-09-21
OLDEST WATCH IN THE WORLD.
1t Was Made in London and Is Owned by
an American.

Seth Longabaugh, prospector and
mine owner of Butte, has in his pos
session probably one of the most val
liable relics in the country, says the
Anaconda (Mont.) Standard. 1t is q
timepiece in the shape of a watch and
bearing the name of Joseph Davis
London, 1921" The genuineness OF
the article is unquestioned, and its
great value lies in the fact that the
earliest record of pocket timepiece is
1894 and is of Swiss make.
The Davis watch has been an heir
loom of the Swan family for nearly
200 years. 1t finally came into the
possession of Frank Swan, one of the
family, who lives in Nevada. He die
not appreciate the value of the watch
and gave it to his children to play
with, and when Mr.. Longabaugh first
saw it, about fourteen years ago. the
hands had been broken off, and one o1
the three cases within which the cases
were enclosed was lost. He recog.
nized it's value and secured it from
Swan. The watch was examined by
Tucker, the San Francisco jeweler
and, after making researches, he pro-
nounced it genuine. More recently
Hight & Fairchild, of Butte, made &
search in the misty past, but the ear
lest date they could find of the exist
ence of watches was 1910.
The watch in question doubtless re
presents the labor of many years, as il
was made entirely by hand, and the
tool marks throughout all its parts are
plainly visible, and the watch was
probably the only one made by Mr.
Davis of London. The machinery
consists of large steel balance wheel
which works with pendulum like 8
lever, and in place of the modern hail
spring is a long steel chain, which
winds and unwinds upon pulleys. An
other large wheel, the purpose of which
is not apparent, looks like a belt whee
on a thrashing machine.
The works are protected and helC
together by fine ornamental network
of brass, carved out by hand and riv
ete& together with brass rivets which
show plain hammer marks. On tht
back of the works is a polished stee
face similar to the second dial on
modern watch, but the figures running
from l to 6. The object of it has never
been figured out by any of the jewel
ers who have examined it. The fact
of the watch is of polished steel, ano
the hours are marked by raised Roman
numerals. Around the edge of tn,
faces are figures from five to sixty, t.
represent either seconds or minutes
In the center of the dial is the British
coat of arms in raised brass, consist
ing of the crown, lion and unicorn.
The whole works are inclosed in s
silver hemisphere, the silver being
hammered and sharpened by hand
the indentures of the hammer showing
distinctly. On the outside of the sill
yer case is another of hammered brass
and the evidence is plain that at ONT
time there was still third case on the
outside of these two. The watch wa,
wound up with some kind of a key
the keyhole being protected by rud,
trap or sliding door.
The watch has a stem nearly TIVE
inches long, and ring on the enc
large enough to hitch horse to. Th'
stem is of solid silver and in the mid
die is nearly half worn away, which
alone is a slight indication of its ex
treme age. The watch is said to havt
been in running order up to abou
twenty years ago. 1t weighs abou
four ounces, and in shape looks like
baseball cut in halves. Mr.. Tonga
baugh has at different times beer
offered several small fortunes for hi
relic, but he says it is not for sale
He will have it on exhibition at tn,
worlds fair