Rare Howard Series 0 Railroad Pocket Watch c.1910 | 23 Jewel | Hooked Bridge | 16 Size

Offered here is an exceptionally desirable Howard Series 0 Railroad Pocket Watch dating to 1910, featuring the scarce 23 jewel hooked-bridge, jeweled-barrel movement variation. With just over 4,000 examples of this variation produced, this is an important and difficult-to-find Howard for the advanced collector of American railroad watches.

Howard watches have long occupied a special place in American horology. Known for relatively limited production, exceptional movement finishing, and uncompromising quality, Howard produced some of the finest American pocket watches of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Series 0 is particularly admired for its distinctive bridge-style movement architecture.

The highlight of this example is its 23 jewel nickel movement with the hooked bridge and jeweled barrel configuration. The unusual curved or "hooked" bridge gives the movement an immediately recognizable appearance, while the jeweled barrel represents the high level of construction expected from Howard's premium railroad watches. With production numbering only slightly more than 4,000 watches, this variation is considerably scarcer than many of the familiar railroad models encountered from Hamilton, Elgin, Waltham, and Illinois.

The watch is housed in a 16 Size yellow gold-plated open-face swing-out case. The swing-out construction provides access to the movement while eliminating the conventional removable case back, creating a secure and distinctive case design often associated with quality railroad watches of the period. The plain exterior keeps the presentation appropriately understated and professional.

The classic white double-sunk porcelain dial features bold black Arabic numerals, a railroad minute track, subsidiary seconds, and traditional spade hands. The dial remains in very good condition, with only slight scratching noted on the subsidiary seconds dial.

Powering the watch is the signed 23 jewel Series 0 movement, featuring a lever escapement, lever setting, jeweled barrel, and distinctive hooked-bridge layout. The nickel movement remains in very good condition and provides a beautiful mechanical presentation when swung out of the case.

For the serious railroad watch collector, this Howard combines everything that makes the brand desirable: low production, exceptional movement architecture, 23 jewels, railroad configuration, and one of the most visually distinctive movement variations Howard produced.

Details:

MAKE
Manufacturer: Howard
Model: Series 0
Country: USA
Type: Man’s
Serial #: 1086699
Circa Date: 1910
CASE
Size: 16 Size.
Style: Open Face, swing out style.
Material: Yellow gold plated.
Decorations:  Plain.
Conditions:  C  3  (The case is in Very Good condition)
DIAL
Color: White.
Type: Double sunk porcelain dial.
Numerals: Arabic Numerals.
Hands: Spade Hands.
Conditions:  D  3-40  (The dial is in Very Good condition – slightly scratched on the subsidiary seconds dial)
MOVEMENT
Jewels: 23 Jewels.
Setting: Lever Set.
Escapement: Lever Escapement.
Material: Nickel.
Layout: Bridge Style Layout.
Signed:  Yes.
Conditions:  M  3  (The movement is in Very Good condition) 

Condition Notes

This rare Howard Series 0 railroad pocket watch remains in very good antique condition.

• Yellow gold-plated swing-out case remains in very good condition with age-appropriate wear.
• Double-sunk porcelain dial remains very attractive, with slight scratching noted on the subsidiary seconds dial.
• Signed 23 jewel nickel movement remains in very good condition.
• Desirable hooked-bridge and jeweled-barrel movement configuration.
• Lever-setting mechanism operates as designed.
• Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and accurately represent the watch's condition.

What Makes This Howard Series 0 Special?

The most important feature of this particular watch is its scarce 23 jewel hooked-bridge, jeweled-barrel movement.

The hooked bridge is immediately recognizable by its unusual curved architecture and gives the movement a dramatically different appearance from conventional American ¾-plate railroad movements. Combined with the jeweled barrel, the design demonstrates the attention Howard devoted not only to precision but also to sophisticated movement construction.

Most importantly for collectors, just over 4,000 examples of this variation were produced. That limited production makes it a significantly more difficult Howard railroad watch to acquire and provides a compelling point of distinction when compared with the much larger production numbers of many well-known railroad watches.

Its combination of 23 jewels, lever setting, hooked bridge, jeweled barrel, double-sunk porcelain dial, and swing-out case makes this an especially appealing example for an advanced American railroad watch collection.

Why Collect Howard Railroad Watches?

Howard occupies a unique position among America's great watch manufacturers. Production was considerably smaller than companies such as Waltham, Elgin, and Hamilton, while the company's emphasis remained firmly on high-quality movements and precision timekeeping.

Railroad-grade Howard watches are particularly prized because they combine the historical significance of American railroad timekeeping with the distinctive engineering and movement finishing for which Howard became famous.

For collectors who already own the more familiar Hamilton 992/992B, Waltham Vanguard, Elgin B.W. Raymond, or Illinois railroad models, a scarce 23 jewel Howard Series 0 represents an excellent opportunity to add a substantially less common railroad watch to the collection.