Bridgeport Watch Co. Pocket Watch by Gallet 1886

Description: YOU ARE BEING OFFERED: a Bridgeport Watch Co. pocket watch by Gallet 1886 Gallet is the oldest ongoing manufacturer of watches. Gallet is considered one of the top names in Swiss Watches. Although not running, this is a rare and fine example of one of their brand names used for import in the US in the late 19th Century. My study of the Gallet Watch Company has been that although Gallet was willing to use an American sounding name like Bridgeport, that their watches with the company logo stamped on the movement were not meant to be in the category of a “Swiss Fake.” Movement is engraved with “Bridgeport.W.Co.”, serial number 85729, and a company stamp with the initials J G. which represents Julien Gallet. CONDITION: The movement is not in running condition and as such is being offered “AS IS” and “NOT IN RUNNING CONDITION.” The balance seems to move freely, but does not keep going on its own power. The screw that holds the movement to the watch case is missing. I do not repair watches. And this watch is being offered in the condition it came into the collection I am selling. DIAL: The dial is 46mm +/- There are hairline cracks on the dial. Please see photos. CASE: Keystone Watch Company Silveroid serial number 8086696. The case appears to be in typical condition showing normal “wear and tear.” As such you can expect the normal defects from an antique of this age. VERFICATION OF BRAND NAME: If you check out the Gallet web site you will find that Bridgeport Watch Co. listed: Bridgeport Watch Co. (reg. 17 Dec 1886, pocket watches). According to the web site mikrolisk.de: Julien Gallet & Cie. Kleinuhren, Uhrwerke, Gehäuse, Zifferblätter; La Chaux-de-Fonds, Schweiz; registriert am 17.11.1886HISTORY taken from Wikipedia: Gallet is a historic Swiss manufacturer of high-end timepieces for professional, military, sports, racing, and aviation use.Gallet [pronunciation: gal-ey / ˈgæl.eɪ] is the world’s oldest watch and clock making house with history dating back to Humbertus Gallet, a clock maker who became a citizen of Geneva in 1466. The Gallet & Cie (Gallet & Company) name was officially registered by Julien Gallet (1806–1849) in 1826 who moved the family business from Geneva to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Prior to this date, operations commenced under the name of each of the Gallet family patriarchs. For the Gallet family of watchmakers, the relocation to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1826 after 350 years in Geneva proved to be a most advantageous move. With the resources available in the “Watch Valley”, family patriarch Julien Gallet (1806–1849) was able to expand the new company’s distribution of its pocket watches to all of Europe. In 1855, Julien Gallet’s son Léon (1832–1899) purchased Grumbach & Co., complete with factory and equipment, to address the need for greater manufacturing capabilities. With this increase in work area, Gallet was able to bring together under one roof many of the Jura Region’s watchmakers to help meet Europe’s increasing demand for watches.Léon Gallet allowed his watchmakers to benefit through the registration of patents in their own names. This unique approach inspired innovation with Gallet's artisans and allowed the company to offer a very extensive range of watches. With innovation came growth and Gallet & Cie grew to become one of the largest timekeeping manufacturers in Switzerland. Léon Gallet set his sights on the rest of the world markets. In 1864, Léon's brother, Lucien Gallet (1834–1879), established the company's first US location in Chicago, with a New York City office following soon after. Together with Jules Racine, a cousin of the Gallet brothers living in the US, the company began its expansion into the American market. Due to the American consumer’s preference for domestically styled products, the Gallet Company created numerous new lines to accommodate this. Not including watches privately labeled for established jewelry retailers, Gallet introduced thirty-seven new brands. While the names that appeared on the dials and the overall appearance and function of these watches were tailored to American tastes, all cases and movements continued to be produced in Gallet’s La Chaux-Fonds workshop.Each of the numerous brands were designed to target a different demographic. Lower priced watches were supplied to the average working man, as well as expensive high-grade and complicated timepieces in solid gold cases for the wealthy. Gallet’s finest pocket watches, hand-built in the classic Swiss tradition and retaining the family flagship and Electa names, were always available. Although not initially successful, included with the company’s American offerings in 1895 were the world’s first wrist-worn watches produced for mass consumption. By the end of the 19th century, the Gallet family was manufacturing and selling over 100,000 timepieces per year. When the worldwide economic downturn of the 1930s caused international trade to plunge by as much as two-thirds, it suddenly became unprofitable for the Gallet Company to continue production of many of its recently established brands. Gallet chose instead to consolidate its efforts back into its primary area of expertise, that of the manufacture of high quality professional-use timepieces. Under the family name, the Gallet Company continued to flourish by providing hand-held timers and chronograph wristwatches to allied military and industrial clients during the years leading up to and through World War II. During this period, the Gallet’s sales again surpassed 100,000 units annually. A wartime Gallet timepiece of particular renown was the Flight Officer time-zone chronograph (1939–present). Commissioned by Senator Harry S. Truman’s senatorial staff in 1939 for the United States Army Air Force, this wristwatch made it possible to calculate changes in the time as a pilot flew across lines of longitude. After the war, Gallet’s renewed worldwide popularity with civilians and professionals in the fields of aviation, sports, medicine, and technology eliminated the necessity to manufacture numerous secondary brands. With the exception of the few brand names that the company retained for its sports and industrial stopwatch lines, most of Gallet's previously held trademarks went back into circulation.Although I have had an interest in watches and horology for years, I am not a watch repair expert, but I do have a long history of the study of horology. I try to provide the most complete and honest information possible and accurate descriptions in my listings about each watch. This can include conclusions based on my research and general knowledge. However, it is up to any potential buyer to review the information and be satisfied that it is accurate before offering to purchase. All watch material is sold as is. It may take a while but there is more watch material coming. ThanksTERMS OF SALEGENERAL: We try very hard to please our customers. Please contact us if you have questions.EMAIL: Any questions, please email. We try responding to email within 24 hours, excluding holidays and weekends. If you do not receive a timely reply, please try again. Sometimes, due to no fault of anyone, email can get lost.RETURNS: You can return goods for any reason if you notify us within 7 days and return the item within 14 days. We will provide a full refund, including the original shipping costs within the US States. The cost of returning goods to us shall be borne by you.SHIPPING: No shipping outside USA. For international shipping, please use GLOBAL SHIPPING PROGRAM offered by eBay. We try to ship within 1 business day of receipt of payment and combine shipping when possible. PAYMENT: Only PayPal and we ship only to a PayPal verified addresses. 7009

Price: 125 USD

Location: Hillsborough, North Carolina

End Time: 2025-01-18T11:08:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8.35 USD