Rockford 16S 15J lever set (LS) grade 585 pocket watch #581740, attractive nickel split plate movement with an unusual plate layout, screw-down jewel settings and a fish scale damaskeen pattern, double sunk (DS) porcelain enamel dial with fancy bold Arabic numbers, red 5 minute Arabic markers, a black-marked subsidiary seconds register and a black Harley Davidson gas tank emblem under Rockford, dial has a small expert repair near the inner 5 and some faint hairlines, black steel spade & whip style hands, re-cased into a heavy white base metal (WBM) screw back & bezel (SB&B) case with a brushed finish on the back cover, deep overlapping arc designs engraved on the bezels, short heavy shoulders supporting the recessed crown and heavy faceted bow, case is showing normal wear with a few small nicks on the frame & bow, additionally there is a notable patch of discoloration from heavy wear on the lower back cover, measures approx. 51mm in diameter x 62mm in length x 15mm thick (crystal included). An attractive vintage Harley Davidson advertising watch from the early 1900s in very good overall condition, running great and ready to carry everyday!
- Year Made: 1902-1903
-
Company:
Rockford
-
Movement Size:
0616S
- Jewels: 1315J
-
Setting/Movement Type:
lever set
- Model/Grade: 585
- Serial #: 581740
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: fancy plate layout, screw-down jewel settings
- Dial Material:
porcelain enamel
-
Dial Details:
double sunk (DS), Harley Davidson advertising
-
Hand Style:
spade & whip
-
Case Style:
SB&B
-
Case Material:
Base Metal - Silver/White
-
Case Details:
re-cased, fancy bow, recessed crown
-
Case Width/Diameter:
51mm (2.01 inches)
-
Case Length, bow included:
62mm (2.44 inches)
-
Case Thickness:
15mm (0.59 inches)
- Crystal Material: plastic
- Country of Origin: United States
-
Condition:
Very Good
-
Gender:
Gentlemen's
The Rockford Watch Company, located in Rockford, Illinois, was in business from 1873 until 1915 and produced approximately one million watches. Rockford produced a wide range of watch grades, including some very desirable high- and/or railroad-grade watches including a number of 24J, 25J and 26J models. Rockford also set themselves apart from other watch companies with the numerous variations of detailed movement damaskeen finishing options they offered.
As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Rockford serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company.
This watch is in good running condition, unless otherwise noted in the description. This means that on receipt, pending any item-specific running conditions noted in the description, you can expect the watch to be winding and setting properly and to run smoothly while keeping reasonable time. We consider "reasonable time" to meet these basic guidelines:
- Railroad Grade Watches will be keeping +/- 5 minutes per day
- Pocket and Wrist Watches with 15 or more jewels will be keeping +/- 10 minutes per day
- All key wind watches and watches with 14 or fewer jewels will be keeping +/- 15 minutes per day
The above guideline is the lowest standard in which we would ship out a watch, however in most cases, you will see much better timekeeping. Most of our watches have been in storage for many years, so if you plan on carrying/wearing them everyday, you should consider having them cleaned and oiled soon, and then once a year thereafter to keep them in top running condition. If the watches will be for occasional use or display, they should be cleaned and serviced every 3 to 5 years depending on use.
As of October 1st, 2026, we are not offering a cleaning and service option through PM Time Service. While we do hope to offer this again in the future, we are unfortunately unable to meet customer requests for watch servicing at this time. Please note that, unless otherwise mentioned within the "Full Description" tab, this watch is being sold in good running condition and is ready to wear or carry on arrival.
On all but a few of the advertising logos, mainly Packard from the Hamilton company and Studebaker from South Bend, the logos would have been commissioned through a professional dial company after they left the factory to have the logo applied. For instance, a car dealership might have them added as a promotion, a motorcycle club would have ones done for each of their members, a company would have them added for their employees, etc.
On the watch/logo combinations that may not match up on a timeline (the watch was made prior to the automobile company being formed, for instance), what we understand could have happened is, say for a car club, the members would need to provide their own watch to which the emblems would be added. Someone might have wanted a Harley logo on "Grandpa Bob's" old pocket watch, and would have had the dial pulled from that. Other than the Packard/Hamilton & Studebaker/South Bend arrangements, it was a free-for-all on the pairings and you could find just about any combination of manufacturer with the different logos.
We do also have a pretty good selection of the vintage dials that have emblems on them, but that are not attached to a watch yet. Often in the past, a customer would want a watch without the advertising, so we would just pull the printed dial and replace it with a similar-style plain dial, then set the printed one aside. If you have something specific you are looking for, please
drop us a note to see if we have anything in our stock that might work for you.
And, if you are interested in this watch without the current advertising dial, please
drop us a note as well. On wrist watches, we can give you a quote on what the current charge to re-finish the dial would be (typically it will run $35 to $75 depending on the dial style). On American-make pocket watches, we may have a replacement dial in stock and could exchange the current dial with an unmarked dial for a small fee. Most European-make watches would need to have the dial refinished to remove the emblem.
Unlike modern quartz watches, most vintage watches need daily winding in order to keep the watch functioning for timekeeping. Additionally, there are a number of different ways to set the time other than simply pulling the crown away from the watch body. We are happy to provide an overview of each of the different setting types on our
"How To Use" page, where we also provide information on proper winding techniques for each style and some suggestions for the proper long term care and storage of your watch.
For your gift giving convenience, please find a consolidated overview of the information on this item, with no reference to the price, on this
printer-optimized page.
