Wadsworth Watch Case Co.

Newport, Kentucky; Dayton, Kentucky

Location: Newport, Kentucky; Dayton, Kentucky

Years of Operation: 1892-1953

The first cases at the Wadsworth factory were finished in June 1890 under the name "H.A. Wadsworth & Co." (gold-filled) [JC, 1890] The company was incorporated was the Wadsworth Watch Case Company in January 1892.

The Wadsworth Watch Case Company was started as H.A. Wadsworth & Co. in 1889. The first cases at the Wadsworth factory were finished in June 1890 under the name "H.A. Wadsworth & Co." [JC, 1890].

The factory specialized in manufacturing gold-filled cases, advertising "handsome designs," "perfect workmanship," and "superior quality" [JC, 1891]. It is unclear how these early cases were marked.

The company was incorporated was the Wadsworth Watch Case Company in January 1892.

Around 1902, the company expanded its product line to offer a 14K solid gold case.

Wadsworth became one of the leading case manufactures in the country, arranging deals with watch factories to provide cases for "factory-cased" watches as trends developed.

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.

Name	Case Material	Gold Content	Gurantee	Source Catalogs
14K	Gold	14K		1913FDW, 1915ACB
Pilot	Gold-Filled	10K	15-Year	1897BB
Pilot	Gold-Filled	10K	25-Year	1912HA
Pilot	Gold-Filled	10K	20-Year	1902BB, 1904LB
Rambler	Rolled Gold Plate		5-Years	1897BB
Referee	Gold-Filled		20-Year
Wadsworth 10K White GF	Gold-Filled	14K		1928ON
Wadsworth 10K Yellow GF	Gold-Filled	14K		1928ON
Wadsworth 10K/15YR	Gold-Filled	10K	15-Year	1895OY, 1896OY, 1896MF
Wadsworth 10K/20YR	Gold-Filled	10K	20-Year	1899BHIA, 1901OY, 1906SRC, 1912HA, 1913FDW, 1915ACB
Wadsworth 14K	Gold	14K
Wadsworth 14K While Gold	Gold	14K		1925CPS
Wadsworth 14K White GF	Gold-Filled	14K		1928ON
Wadsworth 14K/20YR	Gold-Filled	14K	20-Year	1895OY, 1896OY, 1896MF, 1897BB, 1903N76
Wadsworth 14K/25YR	Gold-Filled	14K	25-Year	1899BHIA, 1901OY, 1902BB, 1903N76, 1904LB, 1906SRC, 1913FDW, 1915ACB, 1925ASJ
Wadsworth Nickel	Nickel Alloy
Wadsworth Permanent	Gold-Filled		Permanent	1912HA, 1915ACB, 1916LCM
Wadsworth Rolled-Gold Plate	Rolled Gold Plate		5-Years	1895OY, 1896OY