Pocketwatcher Antique Pocket Watches Information about Ingersoll Watch Company

Information about Ingersoll Watch Company

Information about Ingersoll Watch Company

Ingersoll Watch Company, based in NY city, was known as the company who made "The Watch that Made the Dollar Famous". They operated from 1892 until 1922. They ordered their first 10,000 watches from Waterbury Clock Company to sell in their mail order catalog.

In 1896 Ingersoll produced the popular "Yankee" watch that sold for $1.00. They were producing 8,000 per day by 1899, and started advertising that 10,000 dealers carried their dollar watch. These dollar watches were mass produced from stamped out parts, so that everyone could afford to carry a dollar watch. They made many different names and grades, and some are quite collectible.

Ingersoll bought Trenton Watch Company in 1908 and the New England Watch Company in 1914. In 1917 they produced another popular watch with 7 jewels called the "Reliance".

Waterbury Clock took over Ingersoll in 1922 and continued to use the Ingersoll name. In 1944 U.S. Time Corporation acquired Waterbury and continued the Ingersoll watch.

The following are the estimated serial numbers and production dates
The following date is provided for determining the approximate age of your Ingersoll Watch.
Date -----Serial Number

1892 150,000

1893 310,000

1894 650,000

1895 1,000,000

1896 2,000,000

1897 2,900,000

1898 3,500,000

1899 3,750,000

1900 6,000,000

1901 6,700,000

1902 7,200,000

1903 7,900,000

1904 8,100,000

1905 10,000,000

1906 12,500,000

1907 15,000,000

1908 17,500,000

1909 20,000,000

1910 25,000,000

1911 30,000,000

1912 38,500,000

1913 40,000,000

1914 41,500,000

1915 42,500,000

1916 45,500,000

1917 47,000,000

1918 47,500,000

1919 50,000,000

1920 55,000,000

1921 58,000,000

1922 60,500,000

1923 62,000,000

1924 65,000,000

1925 67,500,000

1926 69,000,000

1927 70,500,000

1928 71,500,000

1929 73,500,000

1930 75,000,000

1944 95,000,000