Pocket Watch Database

Trenton Watch Co. Image

Location: Trenton, New Jersey

Years of Operation: 1887-1908

Predecessor: New Haven Watch Co.

Purchased by Ingersoll, 1908

Production Jewels: 7-19 Jewels

Production Sizes: 18s, 16s, 10s, 12s, 6s, 0s

Total Production: ~2,000,000

Average Quality:

Average Rarity:

Serial Number Lookup

Company Timeline

1886

After finding investors in Trenton, New Jersey, the company is moved to Chambersburg, a small suberb of the town, and capital is increased to $250,000.

August 1886

After a failed attempt at a watch factory in New Haven, Connecticut, the company decides to move the operation to Trenton, New Jersey. The company is reorganized as the Trenton Watch Company with a capital stock of $200,000.

1887

The Trenton Watch Company factory is turning out 100-200 watches each day. The company sells watches directly to the "legitimate jewelry trade" exclusively.

1887

The New Haven Watch Co. is renamed the Trenton Watch Co.

1888

More than 200 workers are employed at the Trenton Watch Company factory. The company begins using gold-filled and silver plated cases in addition to the standard nickel cases and decides to sell directly to the retail trade.

1888

The Trenton Watch Co. is manufacturing roughly 18 movements each day and employs 200 people.

1889

The company opens an office in New York City to better distribute their watches.

February 15, 1890

According to The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review, the company plans to place a new 18-Size hunting movement on the market, available in nickel and gilt.

November 1890

S.F. Myers & Co. purchases 35,000 watches from the Trenton Watch Company in a deal that was described as "the largest single purchase of cheap watches ever made in this country."

February 1891

Trenton introduces a new model with Grade 40, 41, 60, and 61. The movement design allows the barrel to be removed without disassembling the rest of the movement. However, this model was discontinued on July 11, 1891, only a few months after introduction to the trade.

1893

The company offers $100,000 in bonds to raise capital.

October 1894

The Trenton Watch Company introducing a new line of 16-Size movements.

1895

The Trenton Watch Company introduces a cyclometer to the market.

April 1897

The company introudces a 1/5 second chronometer to the market.

1902

In 1902, the Trenton Watch Company introduced their 6-Size train-bridge plate "Fortuna" movement.

1903

After the success of the "Fotuna" line, the Trenton Watch Company makes plans to enlarge the factory.

1905

Trenton expands their product line by offering 16-Size and 0-Size movements derived from the popular 6-Size "Fortuna" movements.

1908

The Trenton Watch Co. is purchased by Robert H. Ingersoll & Bros.