ROCKFORD WATCH CO., ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS (1873-1915)
1883 ROCKFORD 18 SIZE MODEL ONE #9845, KEYWIND AND KEYSET, 9 JEWEL, HUNTER TRIPLE-HINGED OPEN FACED COIN SILVER CASE, FULL PLATE GILT MOVEMENT, SINGLE SUNK PORCELAIN DIAL WITH POCKET CHAIN AND WIND KEY
REPUTED TO HAVE BELONGED TO BREVET CIVIL WAR GENERAL HENRY LAWRENCE BURNETT
THE ROCKFORD WATCH COMPANY STARTED IN ORGANIZATION IN 1873-74 AFTER THE COMPANY PURCHASED EQUIPMENT FROM THE DEFUNCT CORNELL WATCH COMPANY. AFTER THE BUILDING OF THEIR FACTORY IN 1875-76, THIS FIRST MODEL WATCH BEGAN PRODUCTION. THE SERIAL NUMBER EGRAVED ON THE GILT MOVEMENT PANEL, #84565, INDICATES FROM AN EXTANT COMPANY CATALOGUE TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN 1883, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 114,000 OF THIS MODEL TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCED.Â
ROCKFORD WATCHES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR HIGH QUALITY AND RELATIVELY LOW PRODUCTION NUMBERS AND ROCKFORD WATCHES BECAME VERY POPULAR AS RAILROAD TIMEPIECES FOR THEIR ACCURACY AND FEATURES.
THE WHITE PROCELAIN DIAL ON THIS POCKET WATCH HAS ROMAN NUMERALS WITH HINGED ACCESS BEZEL, A SECOND HAND INSET AT BOTTOM, AND THE COMPANY NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS.
THE COMPANY STRUGGLED WITH FINANCIAL WOES IN 1896, REORGANIZED BUT FINALLY CLOSED IN 1915.
THIS WATCH WAS REPUTED TO HAVE BELONGED TO HENRY LAWRENCE BURNETT (1838-1916), WHO WAS A BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE THREE ASSISTANT JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERALS ASSIGNED BY SECRETARY OF WAR EDWIN STANTON TO HEAD THE TRAILÂ OF THE CONSPIRATORS ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENTÂ IN THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
AFTER THE WAR, BURNETTÂ MOVED TO NEW YORK TO PRACTICE LAW AND WAS A COUNSELOR TO THE BUFFALO &Â ERIE ROALROAD UNTIL HE WAS APPOINTED IN TURN BY PRESIDENT McKINLEY AND PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT AS A FEDERAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
ALTHOUTH THE PROVENANCEÂ OF THIS WATCH CANNOT BE VERIFIED OR AUTHENTICATED, THE WATCH IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FAMILY OWNED SINCE BURNETT'S PASSING.
WATCH CASEÂ MEASURES 55 MM IN DIAMETERÂ AND IS 19 MM DEEP; FROMÂ HINGES TO TOP OF RING IT IS 85 MM IN LENGTH; CHAIN IS AROUND 1 FOOT, 3 INCHES IN LENGTH
CONDITION OF DIAL AND CASEÂ IS EXCELLENT (EXCEPT FOR 2 VERY MINORÂ DINGS ON THE BACK COVER),
FINE WORKING CONDITION
