Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18
A Watch coo Years Old.

From the Omaha Bee.
Seth Longabaugh, a prospector and mime
owner at Butte, Mont, has in his possessios
probably one Of the most valuable relics in the
country. 1t is a timepiece in the shape Of =
watch and bearing the name and date -
"Joseph Davis, London. 1921" The genuine
ness 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 heirloom Of tbs
Swan family for nearly 200 years. IL finally
came into the possession of Frank Swan. one "
the family, who lives in Nevada. He did nos
appreciate the value of the watch and gave IL q
his children 70 play with. and when Mr.. Long
abaugh first saw it, about fourteen wears ago.
the hands had been broken off and one Of tha
three cases within which the works were in
closed was lost. He recognized its value ani
secured it from Swan.
The watch was examined by Tucker, the Saa
Francisco ieweler, who, after making researches
pronounced II genuine. More recently Hight
Fairfield of Butte made a search into the
misty past, but the earliest date they could finl
in the existence of watches was in 1900.
The watch in question doubtless represents
the labor Of many years, as il WAS made entirely
by hand and the tool marks throughout all iis
parts are plainly visible, ana the witch wa
probably the only one made by Mr.. Davis a
London. The machinery consists of a large
steel balance wheel. which works with penduz
lum like lever, and In place Of the modern hair
spring il long steel chain, which winds ana
unwinds upon pulley. Another large wheel
the purpose Of which Is not apparent, looks
like q belt wheel on threshing machine. 1Ls
works are protected and held together by a fire
ornamental network Of brass, carved out b.
hand and riveted together with brass riveta.
which show plain hammer marks.
On the back Of the works IL polished ste'i
face similar TO the second dial on a modern
watch, but the figures running from &
six The object Of il has never been figured
out by any Of the jewellers who have examined
it. The face Of the watch is Of polished stee..
and the hours are marked by raised Bomaa
numerals. Around the edge OF the face ale
figures from five TO sixty. 10 represent either
minutes or seconds. In the center Of the did
II the British coat OF arms in raised bras.
consisting Of the crown, lion and unicorn
The whole works are inclosed in silver hem
isphere. tine silver being hammered and shaped
by hand, the indentures Of the hammer shOs-
ing distinctly. On the outside of the silver
case is another Of hammered brass, and the
evidence IL plain that at one time there
still Q third case on the outside of these two.
The watch was wound up with some kind Of
key, the keyhole bein" protected by q rude trsp
or sliding door. The watch has a stem nearly
two inches long, with a ring on the end large
solid silver and In the middle 10 nearly half worh
away, which alone IL a slight indication of IL
extreme age. The watch Is said to have bees
In running order up TO about twenty years ago.
IL weighs about four ounces and IN shape looks
like base ball cut in halves. Mr.. Longsbaugh
has ut different times been offered several small
fortunes for his relic, but he says it 10 not fof
sale. He will have IL on ohibition ct the
worlds fair.