Waltham Regulator Types
This page is an attempt to give insight into the various types of Waltham Regulators.
Please note that the tables have “EA” reference numbers. These numbers, as well as the descriptions, have been borrowed from Roy Ehrhardt & William “Bill” Meggers book “American Pocket Watches Identification and Price Guide Beginning to End…1830-1999”.
Half Whiplash
The Half Whiplash was used early on some higher grade and special order Waltham watches. Later they appeared on many other types as other more advanced regulators came into being. The basic idea uses a simple regulator with a “whiplash” or what is better known as a “swan neck” which provided tension against the spring. The micrometer screw which goes through the base of the spring pushed the regulator against the spring.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 42 | 1908 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set 3/4 Plate |
EA 42A | 1944-1947 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate-23 Jewels-8 Adj. |
Full Whiplash
The Full Whiplash is based more or less on the same principle as the Half Whiplash but as the name imples the “Whiplash” goes completly around the simple regulator
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
none | 1883 | 18 | Various Grades such as 836 for example |
EA 44 | 1899 or 1908 | 16 or 17 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant Set 3/4 Plate |
EA 79 | 1894 | 12 | HC-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate-True Center Bridge |
EA 83 | 1924 | 12 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate-Colonial B |
none | 1900-1907 | 0 | Private Label Watches |
Ohlsons / 08 / or 1908 Regulator
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 28 | 1892 | 18 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set |
EA 29 | 1892 | 18 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant Set |
EA 39A | 1899 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set 3/4 Plate-Premier Maximus-True Center Bridge |
EA 42B | 1908 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Lever Set 3/4 Plate-Lossier Inner Terminal Hairspring |
EA 43 | 1912 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-Sweep Second-3/4 Plate-Lossier Inner Terminal Hairspring |
Star Wheel Regulator
There where several different types of star wheel regulators all based on the same principle. The majority used a star wheel that engaged a toothed rack on the regulator. When the star wheel, which was center fixed, was turned, it allowed for fine adjustment. Another variation of the star wheel involves a small star wheel that is attached to the regulator arm and rolls along a fixed track. It is easy to say that next to the Simple Regulator the star wheel regulator was the second most common type to be found on Walthams.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 20 | 1870 | 18 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-Full Plate |
EA 21 | 1870 | 18 | Pin Set-Full Plate-Short Ralance Cock Notch |
EA 22 | 1870 | 18 | HC-Gilt-Nail Set-Full Plate-Short Balance Cock Notch |
EA 23 | 1870 | 18 | HC-Gilt-Lever Set-Full Plate-Short Balance Cock Notch |
EA 26 | 1883 | 18 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Key Set-Full Plate- Long Balance Cock Notch |
EA 26A | 1883 | 18 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set-Full Plate- Long Balance Cock Notch |
EA 27 | 1883 | 18 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Key, Pendant or Lever Set-Full Plate- Long Balance Cock Notch |
EA 36 | 1888 | 16 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Detent Stem Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 37A | 1888 | 16 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Detent Stem or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 38 | 1899 | 16 | HC-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate-True Center Bridge |
EA 39 | 1899 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate-True Center Bridge |
EA 40 | 1899 or 1908 | 16 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set |
EA 41 | 1899 or 1908 | 16 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set |
EA 77 | 1894 | 12 | HC-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 80 | 1894 | 12 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set- 3/4 Plate-True Center Bridge |
EA 81A | 1912 | 14 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-Model Colonial |
EA 98 | 1890 | 6 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset Set- 3/4 Plate |
Regulator Cam, Foggs Patent (Short Tadpole)
The basic principle of the “tadpole” type regulators is the use of a cam that fits within a fork found on the regulator arm. Fogg’s regulator uses a round cam whereas the other (Long Tadpole, Heart etc.) uses a heart-shaped cam with a longer tail. Either cam is fixed on an off-center axis so that as it is turned the circumference shifts to one side or the other, moving the forked regulator arm with it. Movement of the pointer, long or short, on the cam results in a very small, controlled movement of the regulator arm.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 14 | 1862 | 20 | Keywind-1st Series-Gilt-Key Set-3/4 Plate-Nashua |
EA 33 | 1872 | 16 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pin or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 34 | 1872 | 16 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pin or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 34A | 1872 | 16 | OF-Stone-Crystal Plate-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 35C | 1872 | 16 | HC-Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate-Snap on Dial-Unique Case |
none | 1888 | 16 | any information would be appreciated |
none | 1884 | 14 | any information would be appreciated |
Regulator Cam, Patent, Heart (Long Tadpole)
The basic principle of the “tadpole” type regulators is the use of a cam that fits within a fork found on the regulator arm. Fogg’s regulator uses a round cam whereas the other (Long Tadpole, Heart etc.) uses a heart-shaped cam with a longer tail. Either cam is fixed on an off-center axis so that as it is turned the circumference shifts to one side or the other, moving the forked regulator arm with it. Movement of the pointer, long or short, on the cam results in a very small, controlled movement of the regulator arm.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
none | 1872 | 16 | any information would be appreciated |
EA 54 | 1874 | 14 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 55 | 1874 | 14 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Lever or Button Set-3/4 Plate |
Simple Regulator
The Simple Regulator had no mechanism to allow for precise movement in small increments. At the most it was often (although not always) seen with a somewhat pointed tip which lay over increment notches on the plate or cock so that at least some type of estimate in terms of adjustment could be made. As can be seen this type of regulator appeared on many of Walthams watches.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 1 | Model 1 | 19 | Adam & Perry-HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant Set-8 Day |
EA 5 | 1907,1910, & 1926 | 37 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant Set-8 Day |
EA 8 | 12809 TD 12-21 Tank Clock | 37 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-8 Day |
EA 11 | 22809 | 22 | Nickel-Pendant Set-8 Day-Watchmans Clock |
EA 12 | 228XX | 22 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-8 Day-Sweep Second |
EA 19 | 1859 | 18 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset- 3/4 Plate |
EA 24 | 1877 | 18 | HC or Keywind-Gilt or Nickel-Key or Lever Set-Full Plate-ShortBalance Cock Notch |
EA 25 | 1879 | 18 | OF or Keywind-Gilt or Nickel-Key or Lever Set-Full Plate-ShortBalance Cock Notch |
EA 30 | 1860 | 16 | Keywind-Gilt or Nickel-Keyset- 3/4 Plate |
EA 31 | 1868 | 16 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 32 | 1872 | 16 | OF-Keywind -Gilt-Some with Sweep Second-Slide Stop-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 32A | 1872 | 16 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 46 | 1899 or 1908 | 16 or 17 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 47 | 1899 or 1908 | 16 or 17 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 48 | 16-43TA | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-Time-3/4 Plate |
EA 49 | B16 | 16 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set |
EA 51 | 1870 | 14 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 53 | 1876 | 14 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 54A | 1874 | 14 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 56 | 1874 | 14 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 57 | 1884 | 14 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set |
EA 58A | 1884 | 14 | OF-Gilt or Nickel-Pendant or Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 58B | 1884 | 14 | HC-Gilt-Lever Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 59 | 1895 | 14 | HC-Gilt-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 60 | 1895 | 14 | OF-Gilt-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 61 | 1904 | 14 | HC-Gilt-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 62 | 1904 | 14 | OF-Gilt-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
EA 71 | 1874 | 14 | HC-Gilt or Nickel-Back Chronograph H.A. Lugrins Patents |
EA 76A | KW-12 | 12 | Keywind-Gilt or Nickel-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 78 | 1894 | 12 | OF-Nickel-Pendant Set-3/4 Plate |
Drop Down Regulator
The Drop Down Regulator is basically the same principle as a Simple Regulator and also has no mechanism to allow for precise movement in small increments. The difference, as the name implies, that instead of laying over the plate it “dropped down” over the balance wheel in the other direction. Here too are increment notches so that at least some type of estimate in terms of adjustment could be made.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 13 | Model 1 | 20 | Howard Davis & Dennison-Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-2 Barrels-8 Day |
EA 14A | 1862 | 20 | Keywind-2nd. Series-Gilt-Keyset-3/4 Plate |
EA 15 | 1857 | 18 | Keywind-Gilt-Keyset-Full Plate |
EA 16 | 1857B | 18 | HC-Gilt-Keyset-Full Plate |
EA 17 | 1857C | 18 | HC-Gilt-Key, Lever or Pendant Set-Full Plate |
EA 18 | 1857D | 18 | Keywind-Gilt-Chronometer-Keyset-Full Plate |
EA 25 | 1879 | 18 | OF-Keywind-Gilt or Nickel-Key or Lever Set-Full Plate-Short Balance Cock Notch |
Odd Regulators
As always there are many variations to a theme. Here are some examples of odd type regulators found on Walthams.
This one is interesting as the adjustment arm is under the balance wheel. This watch dates to 1863.
EA-# | Model | Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EA 13 | 1857 | 18 | WM. Ellery-#74011-Full Plate-Steel Balance Wheel |
This description has been “stolen” from Tom McIntyre whose site you can link to below American Watch Co. KW16 with Fogg’s Patent Vibrating Hairspring Stud. The vibrating hairspring stud was fitted to a small number of KW16 and KW20 watches. The combination of American Watch Co grade and the vibrating hairspring is quite scarce. The upper pivot of the vibrator is jeweled, but the bottom pivot is not. The watch has a total of 20 active jewels.
The idea behind the vibrating hairspring stud was to give isochronous performance to the hairspring and balance without the need for a Breguet overcoil. When these watches were made, the overcoil was just beginning to be understood and it required considerable skill to make one correctly. By providing a long arc for the attachment point, the form of the hairspring could be maintained during the entire arc of the balance and the balance would be immune to the amount of force driving it on each impulse. Once Eduard Phillips’ work was widely distributed, producing an overcoil became much less of a mystery and the need for devices such as the vibrating hairspring stud disappeared.
Several English makers also experimented with similar mechanisms. In most cases they used a long extension of the hairspring and pinned it to the base of the balance cock. Dent used this on quite a few watches and some chronometers.
Although the balance appears to be free sprung, it actually is not. The arc of the vibrator is controlled by a screw and a cam fitted to the balance cock. When the cam is turned the arc of the vibrator is increased and decreased. Changing the arc of the arm effectively changes the active length of the hairspring just as curb pins normally do.
Author: Louis J. Russo
I would just like to thank everyone at the NAWCC Message Board which you can link to by clicking HERE. A great place to “hang out” and gather the information on the topic we love. In addition a hello and thanks to Jerry Treiman, who provided great amount of information and pictures and Tom McIntyre who also provided great information and whose web site http://www.awco.org/AWCo/ I invaded for information. In addition I would like to thank Jon for their help. – Louis J. Russo
« How To Wind A Pocket Watch | Qte Mole Pocket Watch » |