We just finished this new video, it shows most of the steps involved in making the center bridge of the RGM Caliber 801. Each 801 movement has a minimum of 120 parts, this video shows just how much work is involved in the making of just one part.
This short video represents hours of work in just a few minutes.
All The Best
Roland
Over ten years ago we had the model 151-E in gold and stainless steel, with a silver dial, copper and silver dial, or a blue and silver dial. The dials were solid silver with hand cut Guillochè "Engine-Turning"
What do you think, should we bring this model back some day?
Let us know on Facebook.
Thanks
Roland
In the coming months and years we will be making more videos to show you the watches we make, and how we make them. We hope you will get a feel for just how passionate we are about watchmaking here at RGM!
All the Best, Roland
We are looking forward to talking with many of you at this event, and showing you first hand watches like our 801-COE, or maybe something new!
Below is information from WatchTime:
On October 23 and 24, WatchTime stages its biggest and most luxurious watch collectors’ event to date, WatchTime New York, in Manhattan’s Gotham Hall. Among the luxury watch brands displaying their wares at WatchTime New York will be U.S.-based RGM, which will showcase its new vintage-inspired timepiece, the RGM 801 Corps of Engineers watch.
We were organizing our vault and found enough parts to build a couple 245 North Pointers, or one of the Richard Sachs versions. This model has been out of our lineup for a few years. It has the soft iron cover over the movement to help prevent the movement from becoming magnetized, and has the 24 hour hand that can be used for a second timezone or to find the direction of north, as such it was called the North Pointer.
If interested in one of these watches let us know!
Best Regards,
Roland
I have loved tower clock movements since I was much younger and visited the NAWCC Museum in Columbia, PA back in 1979 for the first time. In the early 1980's I worked for a clock shop in Lancaster, PA repairing all kinds of antique clocks. I also went on several tower calls to repair tower clocks.
The desire to own a tower clock was always in the back of my mind, but I knew they were hard to find and expensive. Also, I only wanted an E. Howard or a Seth Thomas as they were my favorites.
E. Howard Tower Clock Model #1 - Circa 1880
Six or seven years ago I had the urge to fulfill the desire to have one, so I went to a few auctions and I was very disappointed at the high prices they were going for, so I kept looking. I then stumbled onto an obscure ad online about a tower clock movement for sale. After a few calls, I planned a visit to see it, and quickly made the purchase. The clock was in an old train station in Athol, Massachusetts. The owners had sold the building to the local county, who did not want the old clock. So we removed the clock from the tower of the station in the middle of summer. It was so hot in the attic I almost fainted and had to take a break and have my assistant get the remaining parts from the tower. I was so happy with this purchase because it was the exact model I wanted. It was an E. Howard from 1880, Model #1 one of the smallest free-standing models they made, so it had those very nice E. Howard style legs.
The clock is in our small lobby here at RGM; I often point it out to visitors.
Hope you enjoyed the little story about my Tower Clock.
Roland
Original Location of Our E. Howard Tower Clock
This past April I arranged to go up inside the Bromo-Seltzer Tower so I could take some pictures of the clock and the dials from the inside. I wanted a portrait of myself for the history page on the website, but in a unique place that was still associated with the measurement of time. I am an amateur photographer, so I knew I could get something interesting. With the help of my wife, son, and a visiting watchmaker who did a short internship with us, we headed up the tower. I brought a tri-pod, my Fuji X100, one flash, a photography umbrella, and wireless triggers. After a little time and setup I had some nice shots; the one I picked for the website is here.
Regards, Roland
Some history on the tower I found online.
Emerson Tower often referenced as Emerson Bromo-Seltzer Tower is a 15-story, 88 m (289 ft) skyscraper erected in 1911 at the corner of Eutaw and Lombard Streets in Baltimore, Maryland, designed by Joseph Evans Sperry for Bromo-Seltzer inventor "Captain" Isaac E. Emerson.
It was the tallest building in Baltimore from 1911 until 1923. The design of the tower along with the original factory building at its base was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, which was seen by Emerson during a tour of Europe in 1900. Systems engineering for the building's original design was completed by Henry Adams. The factory was demolished in 1969 and replaced with a firehouse.
Bromo Seltzer tower on Eutaw Street in 1912. The Bromo-Seltzer Tower remains one of Baltimore's most distinctive landmarks.
The building features four clock faces adorning the tower's 15th floor on the North, South, East and West sides. Installed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company at an original cost of US$3,965, they are made of translucent white glass and feature the letters B-R-O-M-O S-E-L-T-Z-E-R, with the Roman numerals being less prominent. The dials, which are illuminated at night with mercury-vapor lamps, are 24 feet (7.3 metres) in diameter, and the minute and hour hands approximately 12 and 10 feet (3.7 and 3.0 metres) in length respectively. Originally driven by weights, the moving parts are now electrically powered.
The tower originally had a 51 ft (16 m) Bromo-Seltzer bottle,[8][9] glowing blue and rotating. Weighing 20 tons (18.1 tonnes), it was lined with 314 incandescent light bulbs and topped with a crown on a clearly night it could be seen from 20 miles away. The bottle was removed in 1936 because of structural concerns.
The tower was virtually abandoned in 2002, but in early 2007 the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts began renovations to transform the building into 33 artists' studios. The Baltimore Fire Department's John F. Steadman Fire Station, which opened in 1973 and is situated at the tower's base, houses BCFD Hazmat 1, Airflex 1, Medic1, Medic 23, MAC23, Engine 23, Rescue 1, and formerly Truck 2.
The Emerson Bromo-Seltzer Tower was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Our latest RGM Pennsylvania Series 801 custom watch - this is a custom version of the PS-801-E with a galvanic blue and silver hand-cut Engine-Turned dial, polished steel Keystone hands, and a blued steel second hand. One of the most interesting and enjoyable things we do here at RGM is work on unique bespoke timepieces for individuals.
PS-801-E Specifications:
Movement Caliber: American made RGM 801, Manual wind, 19 jewels, 18,000 vph. Rhodium or Gold, Hand finished - Cote de Geneve, perlage. Unique 7 tooth winding click. Optional wolf's tooth winding wheels.
Functions: Hour / Minute / Second
Case: American Made Polished 316L Stainless Steel. 43.3mm X 12.3mm. Sapphire crystal front and back, 22 mm lug width and water-resistant to 5-ATM.
Weight: 2.8 oz. in stainless steel
Keystone Hands: A keystone is a central wedge in an arch that locks all other pieces of an arch in place. It is the part of an arch that all other parts depend upon. Pennsylvania's popular nickname, "The Keystone State," refers to this necessary element. The idea for RGM's Keystone hands came from a set of hands Roland Murphy was given when he was in watchmaking school in Lancaster, PA. They were a thin set of gold hands with a Keystone on each hand. He found out from some old watchmakers that they were made by Keystone Watch Company which was in Lancaster, PA between 1886 and 1891. Never forgetting these beautiful hands, they eventually became the inspiration behind the Keystone hands he designed for RGM.
The Motor Barrel is an old American system that was used in the highest grade Railroad watches, like the Illinois Bunn Special and the Hamilton 950. The Motor Barrel allows the mainspring barrel to ride between jewels when the watch is running. In America's great watchmaking past, there were two Motor Barrel types: one protected the movement if the mainspring broke; a later system reduced wear and friction, and made a more stable barrel in the movement. We use the later system. Prior to the Caliber 20, the last watch with a Motor Barrel was made more than 50 years ago.
The system is comprised of many parts compared to a traditional barrel as you can see in our exploded view drawing. You can see a similar system in the Elgin cutaway drawing.
Wow, I look young in this picture!
In the early 1980's, I went to Bowman Technical School here in Lancaster, PA, for training in clock and watch repair and restoration. In 1986, I was accepted to W.O.S.T.E.P. (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The picture shows some of our class on a field trip to tour one of the many watch companies in Switzerland. I am not sure which factory this was; we visited many as part of our training. So many memories!
Anyone who has visited my office knows I like cameras and photography, so as a major clue I am the guy with the camera around my neck. You get bonus points if you can identify the camera!
We have brought back the orange 151 to add some color to the 151 line up. The 151 is available in several variations and is one of our most popular watches. The case is made here in the USA and is available in Stainless Steel or Titanium.
The orange version shown here will be known as the 151-OP. A few interesting details are the black background calendar disc, and the Hirsch Performance strap made of leather and rubber.
More on the Hirsch Performance strap here. Video
The 151 models have an American made case in either stainless steel, or titanium. Any stainless steel version can be polished, brushed, or a combination of both finishes. The thin bezel and large dial are a hallmark of the 151 models; in fact the dial is larger than watches of a much greater size. The case is thin for its diameter and curves comfortably to the wrist.
Movement Caliber: RGM-ETA 2892-A2 - Automatic, 21 jewels, 28,800 vph. Rhodium finish - Cote de Geneve lines and perlage
Functions: Hour / Minute / Second / Date on some models
Case: American Made 316L Stainless Steel, or CP2 Titanium, 38.5 mm x 9.9 mm. Sapphire crystal front and back, 20mm lug width and water-resistant to 5-ATM.
Weight: 2.0 oz. in stainless steel
Many people know we make several custom RGM watches every year. We are one of the few watch companies in the world that offer this service. Some custom watches are minor changes to existing models, and others are more elaborate like the one pictured. The custom dial on this PS-801-E is one of the most complicated dials we have ever made. We made the dial in our shop from a raw sheet of silver, and used our vintage Engine-Turning machines to create the intense patterns on the dial and movement. The result is one of the most unique dials we have ever made, and we are very happy we can do this kind work/art here in our Pennsylvania workshop.
Here is a link to our Custom Page
We have now added a left-handed version of one of our most popular watches to our website. http://www.rgmwatches.com/watches#/model-151/. You can now order a 151-P, 151-PW, or a 151-B in the left-hand configuration with the crown at 9pm. Only available in the non-date version.
The 151 models have an American made case in either stainless steel, or titanium. Any version can be polished, brushed, or a combination of both finishes. The thin bezel and large dial are a hallmark of the 151 models, in fact the dial is larger than watches of a much greater size. The case is thin for its diameter and curves comfortably to the wrist.
Movement Caliber: RGM-ETA 2892-A2 - Automatic, 21 jewels, 28,800 vph. Rhodium finish - Cote de Geneve lines and perlage
Functions: Hour / Minute / Second / Date on some models
Case: American Made 316L Stainless Steel, or CP2 Titanium, 38.5 mm x 9.9 mm. Sapphire crystal front and back, 20mm lug width and water-resistant to 5-ATM.
Weight: 2.0 oz. in stainless steel
Page from magazine.
This is the first time RGM has ever had a watch in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. The RGM 801-COE "Corps of Engineers" will be competing in the Mens Watch Category against 32 other watches. We are very excited and looking forward to this years event!
Here is a link to the watches in all 12 categories. CLICK HERE
FOUNDATION http://www.gphg.org
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève was created in 2001.
The Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) -
The Foundation annually organises the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), which is intended to salute the excellence of worldwide horological production and annually rewards the finest creations and the most important operators in the watchmaking sector.
The GPHG prize giving ceremony held in November of each year at Grand Théâtre de Genève draws elite representatives of the international watchmaking profession.
The watches pre-selected for the GPHG, as well as the winners, take part in a travelling exhibition that enables an international audience to discover and admire the finest timepieces of the year, exceptionally united on this occasion. This exhibition is held each year during the months of October and November in the countries that generate the greatest interest in the watch market.
To serve the best interests of the industry, the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) ensures the expertise of an Advisory Committee of the profession. This Committee, which meets annually, is to advise the members of the Foundation Board, particularly regarding the selection of the jury. It is open to all leaders of watch brands and recognized experts in the field.
We were out of cases for a while but now we can build the Model 250 again, the 250-V "Vintage" , and we can also offer a few Model 250-E's since we have a small supply of Guilloché dials available. We've not had the 250-E available for years.
One thing I like about the large Valgranges movements is the position of the calendar. In a 42mm watch the calendar is located towards the outside of the dial and looks very balanced. Many watches this size have a smaller movement which brings the calendar too close to the center of the watch to look good. Also, the calendar window on the Valganges movements is a little larger, making it easier to read.
The 250 is a good size watch in diameter and in thickness, well suited for a larger wrist. The large Valgranges movement fills up the back of the watch and puts the calendar window in the ideal location for a watch of this size.
Movement Caliber: RGM/Valgrange - Automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph. Rhodium, finished in - Cote de Geneve, perlage
Functions: Hour / Minute / Second / Date
Case: Brushed & Polished Stainless Steel. 42.0mm X 15.0mm. Sapphire crystal front and back, 22 mm lug width and water-resistant to 5-ATM.
Weight: 3.3 oz. in stainless steel
I have always loved the detail and beauty the watch companies put in their artwork and advertising drawings back in the day. Elgin watch company made some very nice detailed movement drawings with see through sections giving you a peek of what's inside. In fact I had a few framed drawings from Elgin back in the 1980's that I bought at a flea market called Shupps Grove in Adamstown, PA. I donated them to the NAWCC museum back then.
There is a huge framed drawing of a railroad movement from Elgin on display at the NAWCC museum similar to the small versions I had donated; if you visit the museum look for it. It's a true masterpiece!
Keep those watches ticking,
Roland
What do you get when you cross a historical American-made pocketwatch with a clock made for military aircraft? See what WatchTime magazine had to say about our 801-A.
Or paste this address
http://www.watchtime.com/reviews/home-grown-testing-the-rgm-801-aircraft/
Here at RGM we are well known for making full custom watches, but we can also customize existing RGM models, this can be done much faster and can help personalize that gift, or mark that significant moment.
Here is more information from our Custom page. Including pictures of options like Etching the inside of the case-back crystal, Engraving the case on the side or back. or Printing on an existing dial.
Only a select group of companies today will produce one-of-a-kind fine watches upon request. At RGM, it is a source of pride that the company is small enough to offer such exclusivity, yet experienced and knowledgeable enough to offer a wide array of options to the discerning watch buyer.
Customization's can range from the simple to the sublime. A "production model" RGM watch--the Ref. 151, for example--could be customized with a unique dial or a personalized engraved rotor. Such modifications represent the more cost-effective ways for an enthusiast to obtain a unique example of an already limited-production watch. However, for the wristwatch connoisseur who desires a truly unique piece, RGM can accommodate by creating a bespoke timepiece designed and assembled completely in-house. From a custom-built time-only piece based upon a rare vintage movement to a decorated and personalized complicated watch with repetition minutes or tourbillon, RGM is able to accommodate a multitude of special requests.
Whether you choose from one of RGM's already exclusive lines or decide to explore your options for a custom-built watch, the RGM team is at your disposal to help you acquire and create the watch of your dreams.
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For the first time ever we will be hosting occasional workshops. Space is limited - sign up early.
Instructor: Roland Murphy
Location: RGM, 801 West Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
This is a one day class, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, for a maximum of 4 people. ONLY ONE SPOT REMAING
The following is included in this class
1. Learn the basics of how a Rose Engine works.
2. Practice cutting patterns in brass to get the feel for the machine.
3. Lunch 11:45 am to 12:30 pm.
4. Guilloché a solid Argentium Silver disc.
5. Make the disc into a necklace pendant by drilling a precise hole and adding a jewelry fitting for use with a chain. Each participant keeps their finished pendant.
Sign-up: rgmwatches@aol.com
Price: $750 per person, deposit of $250 is required to confirm your reservation. Full payment is due 1 month before event.
Cancellation policy: If cancelled 4 weeks or more in advance, a fee of $100 will be charged. If cancelled within 4 weeks of event, a fee of $250 will be charged.