Articles About Trade Cards
 
Boss Patent Watch Cases

 

by Ben Crane

 

James Boss was granted a patent on May 3, 1859, for a new process of making gold-filled pocket watch cases from sandwich-type sheets of metal. He sold his patent rights in 1871, and in 1875 the company that eventually became the Keystone Watch Case Company purchased the Boss patent, factory, and business. By 1899 the J. Boss Gold-Filled Cases accounted for 60 percent of Keystone's sales.

This article shows 64 trade cards that were issued to advertise the Boss Patent Watch Cases. These cards are organized into seven groups according to a classification system originated by Ron Schieber who in 1999 published a comprehensive 38-page illustrated list of trade cards and booklets that advertise pocket watches.

The cards in groups 6 and 7 are signed "F" by the artist George Folsom who was also the artist for three sets of Keystone Watch Case cards which he signed "GF".

Shown below are thumbnail images of these 64 trade cards. Click on a thumbnail for a larger view, or click here to begin viewing the cards in slide show fashion.

Because these cards are relatively small, 4-3/8 x 2 - 5/8 inches except for card 1.1 which is 3 x 5 inches, the individual pages show them at an enlarged size in order to better see the details of their design.

 

 
1. 1878 Paris Exposition


1.1




 
2. Chinese Art - No Imprint Box

    
2.1


2.2


2.3


2.4


2.5


2.6


2.7



2.8



2.9



2.10


2.11


2.12
 
3. General Views - No Imprint Box


3.1


3.2

3.3

3.4



3.5




 
4. General Views - Imprint Box & Plain Black Line Frame


4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4



4.5


4.6

4.7

4.8


4.9

4.10



 
5. General Views - Imprint Box & Multi-Color Frame


5.1


5.2


5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6
5.7
5.8

5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12

55.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
 
6. Trade Mark - Flat Top Crown


6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.10
 
7. Trade Mark - Pointed Yellow Crown

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
7.10

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