Watch Description
What makes the Boston Railroad 004 unique: Today we are proud to introduce our latest Railroad Grade wristwatch conversion, the Boston Railroad 004. This watch is made with a 23 jewel Waltham Watch Company pocket watch inside of a machined titanium case, with a titanium crown, a natural leather strap and gold-plated gears. This stunning timepiece is a perfect combination of classic and modern style, and is sure to turn heads wherever you go. The machined titanium case is strong and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear for any occasion. We love this incredibly clean and elegant enamel dial, with crisp and bold dark numerals that stand out nicely with a very modern feel. The bezel on the front of the case twists off to give you access to the lever beneath that allows you to change the time, a safety mechanism that was required on all Railroad Grade watches to prevent the owner from accidentally changing the time while winding. The titanium crown adds an elegant touch, while the natural leather strap is soft and supple, ensuring a comfortable fit. The gold-plated gears and spectacular jewels add a luxurious finish to the watch, giving it a timeless look. We take pride in creating unique and beautiful timepieces built to last and continue to be passed down to future generations. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or a classic timepiece, this wristwatch is sure to become a treasured heirloom.The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Waltham Watch Company. We call this model "The Boston" because of the company's proximity to the city.
Also known as American Watch Company and American Waltham Watch Company, Waltham was one of the leaders in attempting an entirely new concept, machines making machines. Prior to this, a watchmaker would hand-make each part of a movement one-at-a-time. Operating from 1851-1957, Waltham called its product the "Scientific Watch." Waltham's innovative, precise machining techniques made parts interchangeable, and their early version of the assembly line made high-quality watches efficient to produce. Legend has it that Henry Ford drew inspiration for his assembly line production from a visit to Waltham's factory. Located on the bank of the Charles River in "Watch City" (Waltham), Massachusetts, the factory has since been converted to apartment lofts.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 49mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Waltham Watch Company
- Serial Number: 27538401
- Manufacture Year: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind, Lever-Set
- Jewels: 23 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: Railroad
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Waltham National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Waltham, Massachusettes in 1918. In this same year, the United States Congress passed the Esch-Cummins Act, which was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry. This act was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States, as it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to set maximum railroad rates and gave the government power to approve or reject railroad consolidations. The Esch-Cummins Act was named after its primary sponsors, Senator Edwin Esch of Wisconsin and Representative James Cummins of Iowa. Senator Esch was a Republican and Representative Cummins was a Democrat, but they were able to work together to pass this important legislation. The act allowed the government to regulate the railroad industry, which was essential for the development of manufacturing and transportation in the United States. It also helped to ensure that railroads could not take advantage of their customers by charging too much for shipping goods. Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the Esch-Cummins Act, which was a major milestone in the history of manufacturing in the United States.
Let customers speak for us
The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.