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Plugged Vanguards

                                                                                   Appleton Tracy Versions


At times Waltham altered the jewel count on Vanguards.  This was accomplished by milling out the original number that indicated the number of jewels and inserting a plug, the top of which was marked with the new jewel count.  This along with the appropriate jewelling alteration allowed retrofitting a movement according to need.  To date only 21 and 23 Jewel plugs have been reported.  In the case of the 21 jewel plug, the examples reported so far would lead one to the conclusion that the plugged movements were originally 23 jewel movements.  It would also appear that the 23 Jewel plugs were made from both 19 and 21 jewel movements.  The plugs have been reported in brass, gilt, nickel and steel.  Further research is needed to determine the actual materials used for the plugs.  Originally it was thought that plugging was only done on other Vanguard movements and not in any other grade but after years of research, it came to light that 2 movements found in Appleton Tracy & Co runs had been plugged and converted to 21 jewel Vanguards. Hopefully the reader can get a feel for the difficulties in determining production figures for these movements by examining the tables below. First of all, we can only say with certainty that eleven 21 jewel plugged movements have been reported.  Because some collectors are not aware of the plugged movements, it is possible that reports have not always included information about a plug.  It may be safe to assume that any 21 jewel movements found in these runs is plugged but, who knows?  The most interesting run is 12540501-12541200.  The current research would suggest that other runs contain either 21 or the 23 Jewel plugged movements.  Photographs from this run show that it contains BOTH the 21 and 23 jewel plugged movements.  For the record, eleven 21 jewel plugs,  and thirty eight  23 jewel plugs have been reported suggesting the 21 jewel movements are more scarce.
 21 Jewel Plugged Movements
 
 
 
Runs with 21 Jewel Plugs
  
 10565501  10566500    10574501  10575000    10584001  10584500
 Gray Book  = 23 Jwls    Gray Book  =21-23 J    Gray Book  =21-23J
 10565533 23  10574567 21 Plug  10584001 23
 10565539 23  10574574 23  10584002 23
 10565563 23  10574604 23  10584064 23
 10565564 23  10574612 23  10584073 23
 10565566 23  10574685 23  10584108 21 Plug
 10565573 23  10574691 23  10584127 21 Plug
 10565645 23  10574697 23  10584175 23
 10565805 23  10574758 23  10584192 23
 10565830 23  10574794 23  10584196 23
 10565837 23  10574845 23  10584206 21 Plug
 10565911 23  10574850 23  10584283 23
 10565976 21 Plug  10574906 23  10584293 21 Plug
 10566004 23  10574906 23  10584306 23
 10566015 23  10574938 23  10584373 23
 10566016 23     10584379 23
 10566067 21 Plug     10584417 23
 10566147 23     10584493 23
 10566163  21 Plug            
 10566179 23      
 10566210 23      
 10566222 23      
 10566254 23      
 10566273 23      
 10566277 23      
 10566316 23      
 10566436  21 Plug            
 10566448 23      
 10566468 23      
 10566497 23      
 
 
 12540501

 124541200

 Gray Book  =21-23 J
 12540606

 21

 12540612

 21 Plug

 12540666

 21

 12540693

 21

 12540701

 21 Plug

 12540710

 23

 12540728

 21 Plug

 12540848

 23

 12540944

 23 Plug

 12540965

 23 Plug

 12541089

 23

 12541118

 23



Run 10575001-10575500  Gray Book=ATC
 10575122 ATC  
 10575203   ATC  
 10575217ATC  
 10575318ATC  
 10575420 Vanguard 21 Plug 
 10575460 Vanguard 21 Plug 






23 Jewel Plugged Vanguards
 
 
 
 
 Runs with 23 Jewel Plugs

Van23PlugRuns



Note 1-Run 12500001-12502500 is listed in the Gray Book as a run of 21-23J hunting case          movements.  Both hunters and open face movements have been reported from the run and the  breakdown listed here is according to the pattern into which these movements fall.

Note 2-Run 12540501-12541200.  There have been 2 21 Jewel plugs reported in this run.

Note 3-Run 17077001-17077500.  Although not indicated in the Gray Book, this run contains Wind Indicator movements.  Of the 27 movements reported, 21 are Wind Indicators.
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