Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-04
MAYBE THE OLDEST WATCH,
Dated Nearly a Century Before the Earliest
Record of Matchmaking.

Dated Nearly a Century Before the Earliest
Record of Matchmaking.
From the Carson Appeal
Sam Longabaugh Of Empire has in his pos
session probably one Of the most valuable relics
in the country. 1t is a 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 Swiss.
The Davis watch has been an heirloom 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 did not
appreciate the value Of the watch, and gave il
to his children to play with, and when Mr.
Longabaugh first cav it, about fourteen years
ago. the hands had been broken off and one Of
the three cases within which the works were
aud secured it from Swan The watch was
examined by Tucker, the San Francisco jeweler.
and. after making researches, he pronounced
it genuine. More recently Hight & Fairchild
OF Butte made q search in the misty past, but
the earliest date they could find Of the exist
ence Of watches was 1900.
The watch in question doubtless represents
the labor OF many years, as it was made en-
tirely 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 pendu-
lum like lever. and in place Of the modern
hair spring ia long steel chain, which winds
and unwinds upon pulleys. Another large
wheel, the purpose OF which is not apparent.
looks like belt wheel on a threshing machine.
The works are protected and held together BY
q fine ornamental network Of brass carved out
by hand and riveted together with brass rivets
which show plain hammer marks. On the back
OF the works is o polished steel face similar to
the second dial on . modern watch, but the
figures run from ono to six. The object of it
has never been figured out by any Of the lew
elers who have examined it. The face of the
watch IL OF polished steel and tho hours arc
marked by raised Roman numerals. Around
the edge Of the face are figures from Ave to
sixty to represent either seconds or minutes
In the center Of the dial is tho British coat-of-
arms In raised brass, consisting Of the crown
lion and unicorn.
The whole works are inclosed in silver hem
isphere, the silver being hammered and shaped
by hand, the indentures OF the hammer show
ing distinctly. On the outside Of the silver
case is another Of hammered brass, and the evil
dence is plain that At one time there was still a
third case on the outside Of these two. The
watch was wound up with some kind Of kew.
the keyhole being protected by rude trap or
sliding door.
The watch has stem nearly two inches long
and ring on the end large enough to hitch q
horse to. The stem is Of solid silver and in the
middle Is nearly half worn away, which alone Is
a slight indication of it's extreme age. The
watch is said to have been in running order M
to about twenty years ago. 1t weighs about
four ounces and in shape looks like q base bali
cut in halves.