1927 Advertising Friedman Shelby & Red Goose Shoes TRENCH WATCH by Ingersoll U.S.A.

With a capital of $100,000 by W. E. Doolittle, the New Haven Watch Co. is incorporated in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1884, a building is rented and the manufacturing operations began. By 1885-86, the company moved to Chambersburg and the capital increased to $250,000.

In 1887, the firm changed its name to Trenton Watch Co., with around 200 employees, the company manufactured roughly 18 movements per day. Finally, in 1908, the company was sold by Robert H. Ingersoll & Bros.


INGERSOLL

Ingersoll Watch Company, one of the oldest American watchmakers, founded in 1882 by the two brothers Robert H. and Charles Ingersoll. Pioneers of industry and invention in the field of watchmaking, they devised and followed an ambitious plan: "to offer Ingersoll watches to the general public at an affordable price, whilst maintaining real quality and credibility."

Initially, each Ingersoll watch was handcrafted until 1892 with the intervention of Henry Ford, Ingersoll succeeded in fabricating an automated production line for wristwatches and pocket watches. Also, a mail order catalog was created, and Ingersoll watches were available to the public and not just whosale to dealers.

In 1896, Ingersoll introduced a groundbreaking timepiece called the "Yankee" or the "Dollar Watch." The first watch to be priced at one dollar, the cheapest watch available at that time. Also, the watch was cheaply mass-produced by the company, and the materials used were sourced from stamped parts and without jewels so that the watch would be affordable to everyone.

Quickly, the dollar watch developed a reputation for quality and precision and in the the middle of 1899, they were producing 8,000 of the Dollar watches per day. At the same time, Ingersoll commenced advertising to the public that 10,000 dealers carried their Dollar watch. In 1910, they were manufacturing 3.5 million dollar watches per year.

The great success, Ingersoll utilized an efficient system of distribution which ensured consistent availability and maintained an unvaried price in all their retail outlets. In over twenty years of production, nearly forty million dollar watches were sold. This made Ingersoll coin the popular phrase, "The watch that made the dollar famous!". Even, President Roosevelt was famously described as "the man from the country where Ingersoll watches are made" during one of his hunting expedition to Africa. The company was very successful at this point.

In 1919, the company invented the first glow-in-the-dark pocket watch called the Radiolite which had a simple illumined dial. It was widespread during the WWI, and it was said to be used by tankers. This watch marked a great achievement in the history of watch making.


Friedman Shelby "All Leather Shoes" & Red Goose Shoes
- TRENCH WATCH -

A VERY UNIQUE timepiece, a vintage trench watch advertising Friedman Shelby & Red Goose Shoes. Both companies based in St. Louis, Missouri and owned by the International Shoe Company which was founded in 1911. This is an advertising trench watch feathering both companies logo on the dial and it was made around 1927 by New Haven - Ingersoll Watch Co.

It is a manual wind watch with an Ingersoll movement, sub-second, U.S.A. made.

With the desirable offset dial/crown design, this is a very nice 35.8mm octagon case shape, wire lugs design.

After +90 years, it still the original silver dial with the companies logo, still in almost perfect condition, bold Arabic Numerals, minute marks and matching hands. The sub dial is located at 6.

This watch is coming with a vintage brown one-piece canvas strap.

This watch is still in lovely condition, runs very well, keeps great time! It is a very good looking watch.

Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or respectful offers.

Measures (mm):
Case Diameter 35.8
Case Lug to Lug 41
Case Thickness 15.8
Lug Width 15
Band Width 15

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men's watches typically measure between 29-36mm (some larger, some smaller) wide excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women's watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than todays offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.

We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust light when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.

The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended.
See all the photos, feel free to ask questions if you have any.

It will be carefully packed.
 
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Thanks for looking!

WA-2059