Publisher's Synopsis
"Memoirs of a Watch Case Engraver" was composed from 1941 to 1942 by Fritz Baumgartner and translated from German to English in 2007 by his great-grandson Brian Pittman. This story recounts the hardships and successes of one family during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Central to his autobiography are the Swiss immigrant experience and a struggling watch case industry confronting the Industrial Revolution. Upon immigrating to the United States in 1904, Fritz was one of 27 employees at the fledgling Star Watch Case Company, where he remained for over 25 years. When the factory moved from Elgin, Illinois to Ludington, Michigan, Fritz remained with the Engraving Department. For watch and clock enthusiasts, this volume offers over 1,650 original case designs produced for the Star Watch Case Company. Dating from roughly 1920 to 1930, this unique collection offers pocket watch collectors an intriguing possibility: do you own a Fritz?
