| | 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 su
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