Classic Watch Case Co., USA (CWCCO, USA), was form March 18, 2018. It is US based company with manufacturing facility in Taiwan. The idea started in April of 2015 with designing 16S salesman cases. Effective April 1, 2018, we will required all authorized distributors and resellers to disclose the make and model of the cases sold. This blog entry is on the markings on the case back of the G10 field watch issued by the British Ministry Of Defense. This is based on my readings and on the case back of my small collection of G10 watches. I have G10 watches made by CWC and Precista.
Please do not call us for antique pocket watch information and/or values. |
Cwc Co Pocket Watch Case Serial Number Lookup Model
Including Serial Numbers and Production Dates
Columbus, Ohio
1874 - 1903
The Columbus Watch Company. The small building at the rear (with the chimney)
housed the company's steam engine, which supplied power to the rest of the
factory via an elaborate system of belts and pulleys. A portion of the front building
is still standing.
The Columbus Watch Company was founded by Dietrich Gruen on December 22, 1874 in Columbus, Ohio. Gruen would later become founder of the Gruen Watch Company with his son Frederick. At first, the company finished movements imported from Switzerland, made primarily by Leo Asbey.
In 1882, the company attracted a number of new investors, and moved to a newly-built factory on Thurman Street, in the 'German Village' section of Columbus. It was here that the company began to manufacture movements locally under the leadership of Gruen and W. J. Savage. Savage was the elder son of William M. Savage, one of Columbus' most prominent businessmen. The younger Savage sold his share in his father's wholesale jewelry business in order to raise investment capital for the Columbus Watch Company.
The company's new movements were made primarily in 18-size, but Columbus also pioneered the development of the smaller and thinner 16-size movement. All told, Columbus produced 18s, 16s, 6s and 4s movements during their years of production.
In 1894, the company went into receivership and operated with new management. From 1894 until 1903, the company produced watches under the names Columbus Watch Company and New Columbus Watch Company. The 'new' company produced primarily named grades such as the 'Time King' and 'Columbus King,' 'Railway King,' 'North Star' and 'Champion.' These new higher grade watches were issued with a special block of serial numbers, starting at 500,001 as shown below. Several models with 25 jewels were produced.
In 1903, the Columbus Watch Company was sold to the Studebakers and became the newly formed South Bend Watch Company. All machinery, production material, unfinished movements and most of the company's 150 employees moved to South Bend, Indiana to help in the establishment of the new company. South Bend finished many of the Columbus-signed movements in their early years, and examples of Columbus watches with dials made in the South Bend style may be found.
Columbus Watch Company
Total Production: Approx. 380,000 Watches
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1874 | 1 |
| 1875 | 1000 |
| 1876 | 3000 |
| 1877 | 6000 |
| 1878 | 9000 |
| 1879 | 12,000 |
| 1880 | 15,000 |
| 1881 | 18,000 |
| 1882 | 21,000 |
| 1883 | 25,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1884 | 30,000 |
| 1885 | 40,000 |
| 1886 | 53,000 |
| 1887 | 75,000 |
| 1888 | 97,000 |
| 1889 | 119,000 |
| 1890 | 141,000 |
| 1891 | 163,000 |
| 1892 | 185,000 |
| 1893 | 207,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1894 | 229,000 |
| 1895 | 251,000 |
| 1896 | 273,000 |
| 1897 | 295,000 |
| 1898 | 317,000 |
| 1899 | 339,000 |
| 1900 | 361,000 |
| 1901 | 383,000 |
| - | - |
| - | - |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1894 | 500,001 |
| 1896 | 501,500 |
| 1898 | 503,000 |
| 1900 | 504,500 |
| 1902 | 506,000 |
Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch. Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Can’t find your serial number in the table? Click here for an explanation and example of how to use our serial number tables.
Case Serial Number Identification
Need help finding the serial number on your watch? Click here for instructions on how to identify and open most common case types.
Cwc Co Pocket Watch Company
In recent years, parts for Columbus watches have become very difficult to find. Some repairs are simply no longer possible. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair of your Columbus watch.