Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1893-01-01
OLDEST WATCH TIE WORLD
n.
It was Made in London and is Own
ed by an American.

Sam Longabaugh, of Empire, has
in his possession probably one Of the
most valuable relics in the country.
1t is timepiece in the shape Of a
watch and bearing the name Of "Jos
eph Davis, London 1921, The gen
uineness of the article is unques-
toned, and its great value lies in the
fact that the earliest record Of a
pocket timepiece is 1894 and is Of
Swiss make
fhe Davis watch has been an heir
loom Of the Swan family for nearly
200 years. 1t finally came into the
possession of Frank Swan, che Of the
family, who lives in Nevada. He
did not appreciate the value Of the
wa-ch and gave it to his children to
play with, and when Mr.. Longa>
ba lgh first saw i, about fourteen
years aso, the hands had been brok-
en- off, and one Of the three cases
within which the cases were enclosed
was lost. He recognized its value
and secured it from Swan. The
watch WIS examined by fucker, the
San Francisco jeweler, and, after
making researches. he pronounced it
genuine. More recently, Hight &
Fairchild, Of Butte, made search
in the misty past, but the earliest
date they could find Of the exist
ence of watches was 1900.
The watch III question doubtless
represents the labor Of many years,
as it 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 a
pendulum like lever, an.l in place
of The modern hair spring is a long
steel chain, which winds and un
winds upon pulleys. Another large
wheel, the purpose Of which is not
looks ike q belt wheel on a
thrashine machine.
Tha works are protected and held
by fine ornamental net
work of brass, carved cut by hand
and riveted together with brass riv
cts which show plain hammer marks. !
On the back Of the works is polish
steel face similar to the second dial /
on modern watch, but the figures
from l 70 &, The object Of
1t has never been figured out by any |
Of tn jewelers. who haze examined /
it. The face of tie watch is Of pol |
shed steel. and the hours are mark i
ed by raised Roman numerals.
Around the edge Of the faces are
figures from five to sixty, to repre-
sent either seconds or minutes. In
he center CT the dial is the British
coat OF arms in raised brass, consist
NJ Of the crown, lion and unicorn.
The whole works are inclosed in
silver hemisphere, the silver being
and sharpened by hand,
he indentures of the hammer show
ng distinctly On the outside Of
he silver case is another Of hammer
ID brass, and the evidence is plain
hat at one time there was still a
bird case on the outside. of these
wo, The watch was wound up with
ONE kind of key, the keyhole be-
ng protected by rude trap or slid
ne door,
he watch has stem nearly two
inches long, and a ring on the end
arge enough to hitch horse to. The
tenn is Of solid silver and in the mid
lie is NEARLY half worn away, which
lone is a slight indication Of It's ex
rene age. The watch i said to /
.
ave been in running order up to
bout twenty years ago. It weighs
bout four ounces and il shape looks
Ike base ball cut in halves Mr..
'ongabaugh has at different times
cen offered several small fortunes i
II his relic, but he says it IS no. fer =
lie. He viii have it on exhibition
! the world fair r
----e-e.-e s---- r