The E. Howard Pocket Watch Company
Look up your Howard serial number here.
Edward Howard gained financial backing from Charles Rice in 1857 to construct a pocket watch company from the failed Waltham Watch Co. Unable to purchase the entire company, he secured the parts in production and all the tools and machinery, moving everything to Roxbury, Massachusetts.
E. Howard & Co — Innovations
In December 1858 Howard set up his own company — E. Howard & Co — introducing significant innovations:
- New "fast" or "quick-beat" train
- Top plate in two sections with 6 (instead of 4) pillars
- Compensated balance
- Size 18
- First American stem-wind movement
These movements were marked with the letter "N" for recognition purposes. Howard movements made until the early 1900s all had enamel dials and were marked "E. Howard & Co., Boston."
Keystone Watch Case Co
The company never produced its own watch cases. In 1902 the rights to the "Edward Howard" name were assigned to the Keystone Watch Case Co, which produced complete Howard watches bearing "Howard" on the dial and "E. Howard Watch Co, Boston, U.S.A." on the movement. Complete Howard watches as manufactured will therefore only be found from the Keystone period.
Company Chronology
- Warren Manufacturing Company, Boston — 1851–53
- Boston Watch Co, Boston — 1853–54
- Boston Watch Co & Waltham — 1854–57
- Howard & Rice, Boston — 1857–58
- E. Howard & Co, Boston — 1858–1903
- Keystone Watch Case Co, New Jersey — 1902–30