| | THE Watch: about 53 mm diameter ~ weighs in complete on my postal scale at just over 4 ounces ~ topped off by a stiff bow ~ engine turning on both front & rear ~ front cover springs open to a crisp 90 degrees when the gold crown is pressed ~ clear glass crystal ~ enamel double sunk dial signed E Mathey ~ black arabic hours with red 5 minute numerals & in the seconds bit as well ~ deep purple steel spade hands all match & appear original ~ a simple chronograph ~ the button on top of the case will start the center sweep hand around the chapter ~ press the button again & the sweep hand stops ~ press one more time & the hand will fly back to 60 ~ has worked every time for me thus far ~ the slide to activate the minute repeater is at the bottom of the case ~ the repeater has worked correctly for me upon each trial thus far as well ~ stem wind / lever set (please only advance the time when setting this complicated timepiece to avoid unnecessary damage) ~ under the cuvette there is a bezel with glass crystal installed to enable display of the movement without opening it up & exposing it to the elements ~ high quality nickel damaskeened ebauche highly jeweled (the hammers are jeweled) with E Matheysignature over the repeating spring bridge ~ with it's off set hammers this is a nice grade of movement that no doubt cost a pretty penny back in the day ~ that day being ~ election day for mayor of philadelphia back in 1903 ~ the cuvette is what makes this such an interesting treasure ~ signed E Mathey with the number 20975 (would be the movement number as well {probably under the dial}) ~ here is where it gets really good & i quote "the item" ~ mayorality contest 1903 won by Hon Israel W Durham 584749 votes" ~ hmnnnn.... from what i have gleaned it was more the beginning of the end of the reign of "IS"(as he was known to his friends and associates) ~ 1st i looked up the race for mayor & it was won with less than 150000 votes & IS was not even a candidate ~ but seein as he was the boss of everything & everyone in philadelphia at the time & for a reign of about 20 years he snapped a short sharp whip i believe that israel's people on the ballots may have won over a half million votes & the watch was a gift to is to mark the event of the day ~ the man was chief of police ~ he became a state senator & bought & owned the philadelphia phillies before his death in atlantic city new jersey in 1909 ~ at the turn of 1900 philadelphia was home to a corrupt political system with "IS" at the helm ~ i think the word "mayorality" was not a mistake by a clueless engraver but more of a play on words where he not only had the mayor in his pocket but was the boss man of morality when it involved vice... or anything else that went on in philadelphia ~ he had made his brother in law in charge of architecture for the city & the city had their troubles with him for years after israel passed ~ he made a lot of people & broke a lot of people as well ~ an interesting historical figure outlined below ~~ i can think of many reasons for coveting this piece of history presented here in excellent condition for your consideration ~ certain to please! please ask questions and resolve issues before you place your bid reserve? no reserve here! so if you like it you better place your bid now before it gets away! thanks for checking out my listing and if you are into watches please check out my other & you might want to keep a half-an-eye on my upcoming listings as i am liquidating a long time watchmaker's estate-whilst i continue to span the globe for unique and exotic items to bring to your door! |
The very complicated man, Israel "Is" Durham...... Israel Wilson Durham From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Israel Wilson Durham. Israel Wilson Durham (24 October 1855 – 28 June 1909) was a Republican State Senator of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was also briefly the President and principal owner of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team in 1909. Early life Durham was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he received a public school education and subsequently learned the trade of bricklaying. When his father's business as a flour dealer rapidly grew, Durham worked as his assistant. Career From an early age he turned to politics, identifying himself with the Republican Party, then dominant in Philadelphia. In 1885, he was elected police magistrate; he was re-elected in 1890. In 1897, he was elected a state senator from the Sixth District to fill the unexpired term of Boies Penrose, who had risen to the United States Senate. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania in 1900, 1904, and 1908. He was appointed state Insurance Commissioner by Governor William A. Stone, then re-appointed by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker. He held this post until June 1, 1905, when he resigned to go West for his health. He abandoned his position as party leader in January 1906.[1] He was re-elected to the State Senate in 1908, to take the place of Senator Scott. In February 1909, he and a group of investors bought the Philadelphia Phillies National League Baseball Club, of which he served as president.[2] He died while in office on 28 June 1909 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[3] He was interred in Philadelphia's Mount Moriah Cemetery. The Other Side of Israel "Is" Durham...... The Other Side of "Is" Durham is outlined in a book in the Historical society of Pennsylvania library, "The City of Philadelphia versus Israel W. Durham" published in 1906. For the twenty years from 1885 to 1905, the great municipality of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was one of the most corrupt political machines in American political history. The head of the monarchical system superseding the legitimate government of the city was the undisputed political boss Israel Wilson Durham. "Is" to his prey. From "An Empire of Illusion and It's Fall" by William Baylard Hale, they reigned from disreputable club houses. The emperor was known as the Old Man; for oratorical purposes he became "our peerless leader." He was a silent man, who made no threats, and gave few promises, but kept such as he gave. The machine was greased by the political maxim, "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." While the principal was well understood throughout America, Philadelphia was an extreme example of absolute political corruption. Directed with a consummate skill nowhere ever before similarly employed, the most thorough in its discipline, the most complete in the sweep of its operations, the most unscrupulous in its methods, the Durham Gang had entirely supplanted the city government and every other form of directing or restraining authority; it exercised not alone every constitutional power of the city, but mercilessly wielded within its limits the attributes of autocratic tyranny. Philadelphia made no resistance. The power of the gang held the city in terror. The city believed that Durham could reach and punish in mysterious ways. Whether through control of the police, of the courts, of an army of ruffians, Durham executed absolute influence through the whole fabric of business and society. From associations with the unions to the railroads, "Is" was the absolute ruler of Philadephia. From the text, "In all ring-ruled cities, what is technically known as "vice" is a fruitful source of graft. In Philadelphia the alliance between protected panders and the city government was far closer than had ever previously been the case. There existed in Philadelphia a system of a peculiarly degenerate character, owned and operated by a concern generally known as the "White Slave Syndicate". The members of this lawless partnership organized an empire of vice that harvested labor from the wharves on the surrounding mountain areas of the state for use in the inner cities. The machines political base was entrenched through the false registration of voters. All over the city polling lists were padded with hundreds of fictitious names provided by policemen, firemen and other city employees who were required to register each fictitious name from their house by the dozen. The "White Slave Syndicate" not only afforded fictitious names and abodes to thousands, Durham also furnished gangs of repeaters who marched from poll to poll to ensure evidence of the populaces support of the Durham machine. In addition, all purveyors of vice in the districts were warned that protection was only valid so long as appropriate contributions were provided to support selected candidates." "Is" Durham, President and Primary owner of the Philadelphia Phillies. From Sporting Life Magazine, Vol. 52 No. 26, March 6, 1909. Philadelphia ISRAEL W. DURHAM, New President and Principal Owner of Philadelphia National League Club. When the Philadelphia National League Base Ball Club changed owners last week the majority of the stock was bought by a man who for nearly a score of years has been the leading factor in Republican politics in this city and State, a lover of base ball and all sports, and an admirable man in every respect Israel W. Durham. As an aside, 28 scrap books of newspaper clippings prepared for Israel W. Durham were presented to William W. Matos after the death of Mr. Durham ( source, politics, May, 1891 to Jan. 1911.) They are being kept by the Philadelphia Historical Society in their archives. Mr. Durham was a daily read in the local newspapers for two decades. | you are the reason ebay is a success! Good Luck! |
tempus fugit ~ carpe diem the release of atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only had known i would have become a watchmaker. -- Albert Einstein (1955)if people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles ~ Doug Larson i may be going to hell in a bucket babe ~ but at least i'm enjoying the ride ~ bob weir ~ grateful dead | 