Pocket Watch Database

Philadelphia Watch Case Co.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Riverside, New Jersey

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Riverside, New Jersey

Years of Operation: c.1889 - 1953

Predecessor: H. Muhrs Sons

Successor: Keystone Watch Case Co.

Moved from Philadelphia to Riverside, New Jersey in 1892. Merged with the Keystone Watch Case Company aournd 1899.

In 1884, Theophilus Zurbrugg formed a partnership with Daniel Leichty and Jacob Ott to manufacture cases in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Theophilus Zurbrugg & Co. manufactured cases at 140 South Third Street.

Within a few years, Zurbrugg acquired the interests of the other members and organized the Philadelphia Watch Case Company around 1889. As the business expanded, Zurbrugg began looking for a location for a new factory.

In 1892, the company was relocated to Riverside, New Jersey.

In March 1898, Zurbrugg was able to absorb the case operation owned by H. Muhr's Sons, representing one of many consolidations implemented by Zurbrugg to commandeer market share. As explained in a public letter announcing the sale, Zurbrugg's original intent was to continue manufacturing gold-filled and silver cases at the Muhr plant while producing "base metal" cases (silver-filled, electro-plate, and nickel) at the Riverside factory. However, in July 1898, reports circulated that the Muhr case operation was being moved to a newly-completed expansion at the Riverside factory.

Surprisingly, that expansion was not enough to house Zurgrugg's growth. By December 1898, the company was exploring the expansion of the factory again to accommodate new manufacturing.

At this time, he formed the "T. Zurbrugg Company" to manage the case manufacturing subsidiaries of Philadelphia and Muhr.

Following the death of George W. Child in 1894, the Keystone Watch Case Company was left without its largest shareholder. On July 1 1899, T. Zurbrugg & Co. merged with a reorganized Keystone Watch Case Company and was appointed Zurbrugg president. Based on reports, it is believed that George William Childs-Drexel was the man behind this deal, with Zurbrugg acting on the front lines.

The Muhr brands were absorbed by the Philadelphia Watch Case Company, and the existing Keystone Watch Case Company continued its line of cases. Despite the perceived market division of these two companies, they were both part of Zurbrugg's expanding empire.

Soon after, the Philadelphia Watch Case Company was incorporated again with a capital of $25,000. The incorporators were listed as Theophilus Zurbrugg, E.T. Stotsbury, J. Lowber Welsh, Caleb F. Fox, and Howard L. Roberts.

The syndicate acquired other case companies to add to a growing portfolio, including Bates & Bacon, the Cresent Watch Case Company, and the American Watch Case Company of Toronto.

In December 1899, the conglomerate made a move into the watch movements manufacturing industry, absorbing the New York Standard Watch Company for $752,000.

Then, in May 1901, the company purchased the United States Watch Company in Waltham. Around this time, rumors began circulating that the company would also acquire the American Waltham Watch Company.

Eventually, the Philadelphia Watch Case Company was reorganized as the Riverside Watch Case Works (of the Keystone Watch Case Company).

In 1912, due to the massive consolidation of companies, an anti-trust suit was brought against the Keystone Watch Case Company.

Case Grades

Note: This chart is not intended to be a comprehensive list of grades. Some grades changed traits over time and other grades may not be listed. This chart will be improved as additional information is studied.

Image Name Case Material Gold Content Gurantee Source Catalogs Trademarked
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Alaska Silver: Alaska Silver Alaska Silver Nickel Alloy
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Crown: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Crown Crown Gold-Filled 20-Year 1907ACB Nov 13, 1900
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Crown 10K/20YR: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Victory in Pointed Ribbon Guaranteed Twenty Years Crown 10K/20YR Gold-Filled 10K 20-Year 1902BB, 1903BAC, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904ACB, 1904BA, 1904LB, 1905ACB, 1905FNCS, 1905BAC, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907NAC, 1907NBC, 1907JVF, 1909BAC, 1910ACB, 1911OY, 1912HA, 1912COC, 1913FDW, 1914ELD, 1915ON, 1917BA, 1923CBN, 1923ON Nov 13, 1900
Crown 14K White GF Gold-Filled 14K 1928ON, 1932ON Nov 13, 1900
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Crown 14K/25YR: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Guaranteed Twenty Five Years in Circle Crown 14K/25YR Gold-Filled 14K 25-Year 1899BHIA, 1899ACB, 1900BA, 1900BHIA, 1901OY, 1901BAC, 1902BB, 1902ACB, 1903BAC, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904ACB, 1904BA, 1904LB, 1905ACB, 1905FNCS, 1905BAC, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907NAC, 1907ACB, 1907NBC, 1908ACB, 1910ACB, 1911OY, 1912HA, 1913FDW, 1915ACB, 1915ON, 1917BA, 1923ON, 1925ASJ, 1890BA, 1900LMC, 1902MF, 1903ON, 1907JVF, 1909BAC, 1912COC, 1912SFM, 1914ELD Nov 13, 1900
Crown Nickel Nickel Alloy 1917BA Nov 13, 1900
Crown Silver Silver 1899ACB, 1900LMC, 1900BHIA, 1902BB, 1907NBC, 1917BA Nov 13, 1900
Crown Sterling Silver 1900BHIA, 1901OY, 1902ACB, 1903ON, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1904ACB, 1904LB, 1905ACB, 1905FNCS, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907NAC, 1907ACB, 1907NBC, 1908ACB, 1911OY, 1912HA, 1912SFM, 1913FDW, 1915ACB Nov 13, 1900
Eclipse Jan 31, 1905
Electro Gold Plated Electro-Plated 1905BAC
Excelsior Gold-Filled 1912COC May 22, 1906
Excelsior Silverode Nickel Alloy 1908ACB, 1910ACB, 1911OY, 1914ELD, 1915ON
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Ideal: Philad'a Watch C.Co. Ideal Ideal Gold-Filled May 21, 1889
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Jefferson: Jefferson Gold-Filled 20-Year
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Lion: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Lion in Pointed Ribbon 20 Years Lion Gold-Filled 20-Year Nov 13, 1900
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Paragon: Philad'a Watch C.Co. Paragon Paragon Gold-Filled
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Paramount: Paramount Rolled Gold Plate 1-Year 1904PWC
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Perfection Arm and Hammer: Arm and Hammer Arm Holding Hammer in Diamond. 1904PWC: "Each Perfection Case Contains This Trade-Mark" with illustration of arm and hammer in diamond. Perfection Arm and Hammer Electro-Plated 14K 1900BHIA, 1901OY, 1902ACB, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904PWC, 1904ACB, 1905ACB, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907ACB, 1908ACB, 1912COC Feb 11, 1902
Philadelphia Rolled Gold Plate 2-Years 1899BHIA
Philadelphia Electro Plated Electro-Plated 1899BHIA, 1899ACB, 1900LMC
Philadelphia Nickel Nickel Alloy 1899BHIA, 1904PWC
Philadelphia Silver Silver 1899BHIA
Philadelphia Silver Filled Silver-Filled 1899BHIA
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Phoenix: Philad'a Watch C.Co. Phoenix Phoenix Gold-Filled 15-Year May 21, 1889
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Premier: Premier in Pointed Ribbon Premier Rolled Gold Plate 5-Years 1899BHIA, 1900BA, 1900BHIA, 1901OY, 1904BA, 1905FNCS, 1908ACB, 1910ACB, 1915ACB Feb 6, 1906
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Premier: Premier in Pointed Ribbon Premier Gold-Filled 10K 5-Years 1899ACB, 1900LMC, 1902ACB, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904PWC, 1907ACB, 1913FDW Feb 6, 1906
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Premier: Premier in Pointed Ribbon Premier Gold-Filled 5-Years 1903BAC, 1904ACB, 1905ACB, 1905FNCS, 1905BAC, 1907NAC, 1909BAC, 1911OY, 1913FDW Feb 6, 1906
President Gold-Filled 3-Years 1904PWC
Progress Feb 7, 1905
Puritan Aug 29, 1905
Regal Gold-Filled 10-Year
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Silverode: Crown Silverode Silverode Nickel Alloy 1901OY, 1902BB, 1902BATM, 1902ACB, 1903ON, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904ACB, 1904LB, 1905FNCS, 1905ACB, 1905BAC, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907NAC, 1907ACB, 1907NBC, 1908ACB, 1909BAC, 1910ACB, 1911OY, 1912HA, 1912COC, 1912SFM, 1913FDW, 1915ACB, 1915ON, 1916LCM, 1917BA, 1923CBN, 1923ON, 1928ON, 1914ELD
Unique May 21, 1889
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Victory: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Victory in Pointed Ribbon Warranted Ten Years Victory Rolled Gold Plate 10-Year 1899BHIA, 1903ON, 1903BAC, 1904BA, 1905FNCS, 1905BAC, 1908ACB, 1909BAC, 1910ACB, 1912COC, 1915ACB, 1915ON, 1917BA, 1923ON, 1925ASJ, 1928ON Jan 1, 1901
Watch Case Marking for Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Victory: Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Buckle Crown Victory in Pointed Ribbon Warranted Ten Years Victory Gold-Filled 10K 10-Year 1899ACB, 1900LMC, 1902ACB, 1903N76, 1903ACB, 1903FDW, 1904ACB, 1905ACB, 1905FNCS, 1905ON, 1906ON, 1907NAC, 1907ACB, 1907NBC, 1907JVF, 1910ACB, 1911OY, 1912SFM, 1913FDW, 1914ELD, 1916LCM, 1923CBN Jan 1, 1901
Waldorf Feb 6, 1906

Company Case Trademarks & Hallmarks