Colby & Johnson partnered around 1878 to introduce a celluloid watch case to the market that was patented by Caleb K. Colby.

Advertisements described the celluloid cases as "simple, durable, beautiful, economical." The center stem and bow was constructed from silver while the coevers were made from celluloid. These specialty cases were advertised as early as 1878 and as late as 1884.

The company also imported watches and sold a line of fine jewelery in addition to the ambitious celluloid watch case.

In 1879, Colby & Johnson adapted their use of celluloid to construct show cases. By the next year, The Celluloid Show Case Company had been organized with Robert A. Johnson serving as president and Caleb K. Colby as secretary and treasurer.

In early 1885, the firm was dissovled, and the case business was continued by Mr. Colby under the name "C.K. Colby." Johnson devoted himself to the Celluloid Show Case and Molding Company that had been started in 1880. Colby became vice president of the show case company.

Later, the Waterbury Watch Case Compnay would use the Colby & Johnson patent to manufacture celluloid watch cases.