For Elgin watches, case serial numbers on solid gold watches will usually be only 10% or less of the serial number on the movement. So, if someone is selling a watch as solid gold, and it has a movement serial number of, say, 3,870,123 and it has a case serial number of 1,073,678, a red flag should go up in your mind and you should be even more. Serial numbers began at 1001 and have a DER or LDR suffix. Manufactured 1970-1973. Serial numbers 49201 DER to 60201 DER were shipped in 1976. Serial numbers with LDR suffix were shipped in 1970-1972. Total production (DER suffix) about 48201. Total production (LDR suffix) about 10450. Colt 1849 Pocket. Year / Serial Number.
Also called: Dueber-Hampden Watch Company
Including Dueber-Hampden Watch Serial Numbers and Production Dates
Springfield, Mass then Canton, Ohio
1877 - 1930
Donald J. Mozart produced his three-wheel watch in 1864, and with the assistance of Samuel Rice formed the New York Watch Company in 1866 in Providence, Rhode Island. It was moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1867 and two grades of watches were produced. The company started with an 18s 3/4 plate model signed 'Springfield.' and a 16s 3/4 plate 'State Street' model that featured steel parts and gold-plated balance and escape wheels. The company became the Hampden Watch Company in 1877.
Dueber-Hampden Advertisement
Langendorf Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
John C. Dueber had been manufacturing watch cases since 1864 and bought controlling interest in a case company in about 1886. At about this time an anti-trust law was passed and the watch case manufacturers formed a boycott against Dueber. In order to remain in business, Dueber bought the Hampden Watch Co. in Springfield in 1888, then moved it to Canton. By 1890, the company was producing 600 watches a day, had 1000 employees, and possessed net assets of $2,600,000. Hampden produced some very fine quality watches, and introduced the first 16 size, 23 jewel movement made in America.
Dueber controlled all aspects of the company from manufacturing to sales. Dueber sold the company to Walter Vrettman in 1925. Vrettman went bankrupt in 1927 and sold all of the company's equipment to Amtorg, a Russian purchasing company. Nearly 30 boxcars of machinery left Canton in 1931 with 21 former Dueber Hampden employees who contracted for one year to teach the Russians the craft of watchmaking. Conflicting information exists about the fate of the Russian enterprise, but Henry Fried, a horology professor at New York University, reported seeing Dueber-Hampden machinery being used in China in 1986.
Hampden / Dueber Watch Company
Total Production: Approx. 4.6 Million Watches
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1877 | 59,000 |
| 1878 | 70,000 |
| 1879 | 100,000 |
| 1880 | 140,000 |
| 1881 | 180,000 |
| 1882 | 215,000 |
| 1883 | 250,000 |
| 1884 | 300,000 |
| 1885 | 350,000 |
| 1886 | 400,000 |
| 1887 | 480,000 |
| 1888 | 560,000 |
| 1889 | 640,000 |
| 1890 | 740,000 |
| 1891 | 805,000 |
| 1892 | 835,000 |
| 1893 | 865,000 |
| 1894 | 900,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1895 | 930,000 |
| 1896 | 970,000 |
| 1897 | 1,000,000 |
| 1898 | 1,120,000 |
| 1899 | 1,255,000 |
| 1900 | 1,384,000 |
| 1901 | 1,512,000 |
| 1902 | 1,642,000 |
| 1903 | 1,768,000 |
| 1904 | 1,896,000 |
| 1905 | 2,024,000 |
| 1906 | 2,152,000 |
| 1907 | 2,280,000 |
| 1908 | 2,400,000 |
| 1909 | 2,520,000 |
| 1910 | 2,650,000 |
| 1911 | 2,700,000 |
| 1912 | 2,760,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1913 | 2,850,000 |
| 1914 | 2,920,000 |
| 1915 | 3,000,000 |
| 1916 | 3,100,000 |
| 1917 | 3,240,000 |
| 1918 | 3,390,000 |
| 1919 | 3,500,000 |
| 1920 | 3,600,000 |
| 1921 | 3,700,000 |
| 1922 | 3,750,000 |
| 1923 | 3,800,000 |
| 1924 | 3,850,000 |
| 1925 | 3,900,000 |
| 1926 | 3,950,000 |
| 1927 | 3,980,000 |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| - | - |
Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch. Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Can’t find your serial number in the table? Click here for an explanation and example of how to use our serial number tables.
Need help finding the serial number on your watch? Click here for instructions on how to identify and open most common case types.
At Renaissance Watch Repair, we are experts in the repair and restoration of Dueber and Hampden watches. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair of your vintage Hampden watch.
This webpage is designed to enable the user to rapidly access movement characteristics of 4 different American Pocket watch Manufacturers that are no longer in business, by serial number query entry.
Langendorf Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
The Manufacturers' Databases are:
Illinois
Hamilton
Hampden
Rockford
South Bend
Langendorf Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
Some Special Projects by Chapter 149 Members:
Elgin Private Label Watches by John Fogarty
Elgin Parts List by Clinton Kleen
Rockford Private Label Full List by John Fogarty
Howard Serial Number List by Dave Chaplain
Waltham Model 83 Private Label Observations by Steve Mercer
Waltham Production Dates by Jon Hanson
Review of the Rockford Watch Company and its watches by Darrah Artzner
Rockford Watch Company Catalog - 1913 and its watches by Darrah Artzner
Hampden 16 Size - 23 Jewel listing by Henry Burgell
Hampden Jewel listing by Henry Burgell
Hampden Adjustment listing by Henry Burgell
Hampden Tu-Tone listing by Henry Burgell
Illinois Washington Watch Company (Private Labels) by Fred Hansen Jr.:
Potomac by Fred Hansen Jr.
Army & Navy by Fred Hansen Jr.
Lafayette by Fred Hansen Jr.
Liberty Bell by Fred Hansen Jr.
Greenwich by Fred Hansen Jr.
To my knowledge this is the first FREE interactive lookup table for the Rockford