The Models 8 and 9
1902 to 1913
The New Eagle Series was yet another 3/4-plate design, starting where the Old line left off, and again the two models were mirror images for hunter and open-face. The reasons for the change are unclear, but the newer versions were more accurate watches. The Model 8 and Model 9 were nearly identical to their respective forebears, but with two differences - the balance bridge alignment pins were inverted, and they were significantly thinner, allowing them to fit into the new snug cases. Jewel choices were still 7 to 17 and the plate finishes remained the same.
Grade Assignment
Grade assignments applied to both the Old and New Eagle models. The patterns were nickel and two-tone, and the runs were lever-set early on and entirely pendant-set by the end. No gilt examples have turned up, but private labels have been reported.
* The 12-jewel Grades 110 and 111 are assigned and so far have been reported exclusively on the Edgemere named grade.
* Grades 216 and 217 are also assigned and apply to the Adjusted variants of the established 17-jewel Grades 210 and 211.
The 1904 Parts Catalog
Montgomery Ward
20th Century
Montgomery Ward was a mail-order company founded in Chicago by traveling salesman Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872, who noticed that his rural customers wanted items that were only available at city retailers. His first catalog was a single sheet of paper, but by the mid-1890s had grown to over 300 pages when Richard Sears launched Sears Roebuck & Co.
The Montgomery Ward grade carried a matching "20th Century" dial, and has been reported in both Models 8 and 9 during the entire run of the New Eagle Series. They were apparently ordered from the factory in one count of 11 jewels, screw-set early on and press-fit later. 20th Century examples without the Montgomery Ward name have been reported.
The 1908 Trade Price List
The Companion
Travel Clock
Seth Thomas offered a simple 7-jewel travel clock containing either a Model 6 with a flat hairspring or a Model 8 with a Breguet hairspring in a leather-wrapped metal case that was available in several color choices. The factory listed its top-grain leathers as lizard, alligator and seal with second-quality hides of pig and morocco in half a dozen colors.
The movements that were used for the Companion were not standard pendant-set or lever-set movements right off the production line. They were a true pin-set movement, which is what the push button on the left side of the case was for. The pillar plate underwent several more milling procedures, using additional components from a separate parts list. The standard yoke was used under the dial but without a shuttle of any kind on the right side.
Example shown below contributed by Jacobe C of Garland, Texas
Setting Lever
Milled Pin Slot
Milled Pin Slot
A circular depression was milled for a cam-shaped lever, which disengaged the yoke from the ratchet wheel when pushed.
Milled Pin Slot
Milled Pin Slot
Milled Pin Slot
A slot was machined on the left side of the pillar plate as a guide for the setting pin, which was held in place by a set screw.
Setting Pin
Milled Pin Slot
Setting Pin
The spring-loaded setting pin in place at rest, allowing the yoke to mesh with the ratchet wheel in winding mode.