Vrettman went bankrupt in 1927 and sold all of the company's equipment to Amtorg, a Russian purchasing company. Dueber sold the company to Walter Vrettman in 1925. Hampden produced some very fine quality watches, and introduced the first 16 size, 23 jewel movement made in America.ĭueber controlled all aspects of the company from manufacturing to sales. By 1890, the company was producing 600 watches a day, had 1000 employees, and possessed net assets of $2,600,000. in Springfield in 1888, then moved it to Canton. In order to remain in business, Dueber bought the Hampden Watch Co. At about this time an anti-trust law was passed and the watch case manufacturers formed a boycott against Dueber. Dueber had been manufacturing watch cases since 1864 and bought controlling interest in a case company in about 1886. The company became the Hampden Watch Company in 1877. 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. It was moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1867 and two grades of watches were produced. 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. Hampden Pocket Watch Repair I specialize in the repair and restoration of early American and Swiss pocket watches, including Hampden pocket watches and am happy for your visit here today.ĭonald J.Hampden pocket watches are a testament to the interesting and long history of the company that later revolutionized Soviet Union's watch making industry when it transferred all its resources to the USSR in 1930.
To get the correct serial number you will need to open the back of watch and you will find the serial number on your watch's movement/works. The serial number you are giving me is most certainly from the case, it exceeds the number of watches produced by Dueber-Hampden.