The history of American watchmaking is a microcosm of the history of American manufacturing. It is at its heart a story of the factory system producing interchangeable parts on automatic machinery. More broadly its rise and fall mirror that of the factory system as a whole. By embracing that system watch companies were able to create affordable watches for the newly established middle class and create good jobs for millions of men and women across the country. Because of competition within the industry watchmaking underwent numerous innovations including railroad standards, dollar watches,...