Variation 1 (CRE21-O-V1) Occuring in the 7007001-7018600 Range
The first 21 Jewel Crescent Streets appear in run 7007001-8000, a run of open face movements. The Gray Book lists 2 runs of 21 Jewel open face Crescent Streets within the range of Serial Number Position 1 (SNP1) movements. The Handwritten Records indicate that a few were made in run 7018001-600 along with several other grades. The Gray Book lists this run as being 21 Jewel Vanguards. To date, no Crescent Streets have been reported from this run. There are 3 runs of SNP1 21 Jewel hunting case movements.
Variation 2 (CRE21-O-V2) Occuring in the 7023501-9519000 Range
The first movements made with the serial number next to the barrel bridge, Serial Number Position 2 (SNP2), are 21 Jewel Crescent Streets. These movements appear in run 7022001- 5000 which the Gray Book states is a run of Vanguards. The Handwritten Records indicate that 7023501-4000 are Crescent Streets. This is born out by the reports of 10 Crescent Streets in the range of 7023618-7023901. This writer has 4 photographs and two movement in his possession that show the serial number in SNP2. The run begins and ends with SNP1 Vanguards so it prompts one to wonder why it was done in this manner. Another Waltham mystery.
Variation 3 (CRE-O-V3) Occuring in the 10019001-10092000 Range
The original Model 1892 movements were built with 2 screws in the barrel bridge. It is certain that movements up through run 9525901-9527500 were made this way. This run is followed by 3 runs of 100 watches each. The first, 9544501-600 is listed as a run of 21 Jewel Crescent Street hunting case movements but to date, only private label movements have been reported. The next run, 9544601-700 is listed as a run of 21 Jewel open face Crescent Street movements but only one Pennsylvania Special has been reported. The third run, 9544601-700 is listed as a run of 17-19 jewel Crescent Street and Appleton Tracy & Co. movements. Once again, only private label movements have been reported. Existing photos of a few of the movements from these runs show that they have 3 screws in the barrel bridge but none of these movements are Crescent Streets. It can be stated with certainty that the 10019001-10020000 run of 21 Jewel Crescent Streets contains movements with three screws in the barrel bridge.
The first 21 Jewel Crescent Streets with the serial number on the barrel bridge are movements from the 10517801-10518500 run.
Movement Markings
At the same time that Waltham changes the Serial Number Position to 3, on the barrel bridge (10517801-10518500) it also stops using the “Safety Barrel” marking. Waltham continues using the safety barrel but stops marking the movements. There are several changes that occur in this run.
Hairspring Stud
The 10517801-10518500 run also marks the first run of 21 Jewel Crescent Streets that use the patented Waltham stud.
Version 5 (CRE21-O-V5) Occurring in the 11071001-12673500 Range
Upper Balance Jewel Screw Orientation
Initially the upper balance jewel screws are positioned in a north-south or up and down direction. The first 21 Jewel Crescent Street movements with the jewel screws positioned in an east-west or left and right direction are from the 11071001-11071500 run. Hunting Case Movements
Approximately 10,000 21 Jewel Crescent Streets hunting case movements were made from run 7010001-7011000 through 12673001-12673100 at which point no more were made. They occur in the same movement variations as open face movements. Version 6 (CRE21-O-V6) Occurring in the 14125601-16081000 Range
Case Screw Position
In the 14 millions, Waltham changes the position of the case screws. Originally they are found with one between the winding wheels and the other directly opposite it. When the location is changed, the screw on the barrel bridge is moved to the left to the edge of the bridge and the opposite screw is moved an equal distance to the right. The movements from the 14125601-14126500 run are the first 21 Jewel Crescent Streets to reflect this change. To make referencing the position easier, the first position is termed Between (Bet) and the second Edge.
Version 7 (CRE21-O-V7) Occurring in the 16127001-1617000 Range
Regulator
The first regulator used on the 21Jewel Crescent Street is generally referred to as the “Star” Regulator. The actual star portion of the regulator is the same that is found on the Vanguard and 845 grades. It is gold and has a Celtic look to it. Waltham changes the regulator to the ’08 or Ohlsen Patent Regulator on movements in the early 16 millions. There are three runs of 21 Jewel Crescent Streets, 16036451-16036950, 16056701-16057000 and 16079701-16081000 that have movements with the ’08 regulator used with an interesting adaptation. The recessed area on the balance cock which is meant to receive the Star, is plugged and the ’08 Regulator installed over it. Detecting these movements is fairly easy in that the post on which the Star would turn is still present. Movements from serial number run 16127001-16127800, listed in the Gray Book as a run of 19-21 Jewel Crescent Streets, have the ’08 Regulator and the solid balance cock. The next run, 16169001-16170000 contains movements with solid balance cocks and ‘08 Regulators.
The Click
The Click as it is called in watchmaking also goes through a change. The original click is a solid piece whose spring is found on the underside of the barrel bridge. At about the same time that Waltham changes the regulator it also changes the ratchet. The second version is made with the spring visible from the top of the movement and called the “split” click. Movements from serial number run 16127001-16127800, listed in the Gray Book as a run of 19-21 Jewel Crescent Streets, use the split click. The next run, 16169001-16170000 contains movements with the split click. The last run listed in the Gray Book is 20036001-20036500 and one would certainly assume that these movements would be made with the split but, as stated above, no serial numbers from this run have been reported to date.
Version 8 (CRE21-O-V8) Occurring in the 20036001-20036500 Run
The Groove
The last alteration to the movement that occurs on all Model 92s is the addition of a groove on the outer edge of the movement next to the balance wheel. The Groove begins to appear on Model 92s in the 16 millions. Some, but not all of the movements from the 16127001-16127800 and 16169001-16170000 runs, have the groove. From the 17 millions to the end of production, the groove is consistently found on Model 92s. The last run of 21 Jewel Crescent Streets listed in the Gray Book is 20036001-500 but to date, no movements have been reported from this run. This table shows the dwindling production of both the 21 jewel Crescent St and Vanguard.
|
Grades > Crescent St >