The "Presidential Time Keeper" Story

An engraving of President James Buchanan.

It was an ordinary day.  Holding a gold pocket watch that at one time rested in the pocket of one James Buchanan Jr.; as in President James Buchanan Jr.  President James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving immediately prior to the American Civil War.  He was the only president that was a lifelong bachelor and the last president born in the 18th century as well as the only President from the State of Pennsylvania.  "Some" still consider him to be the worst President ever, but those "some" don't live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where James lived on his beloved estate known as Wheatland until his death in June of 1868.  

Pres. James Buchanan's pocket watch. The watch
is attached to a "T" bar with the gold chain.

Anyway, history will soon show that James wasn't the worst ever.  Today I am in the basement of the Lancaster Historical Society Museum which is located a hop, skip and jump from Buchanan's home of Wheatland on of all places, President Avenue!  I am the guest of one of the museum's employees, Victoria.  We sat around a table in the temperature and humidity controlled room with white gloves on so as not to soil, fingermark or damage the beautiful pocket watch in front of us.  The pocket watch was a gift from the Mr. and Mrs. Ted Ewing family who is distantly related to President James Buchanan.  Since James Buchanan was a bachelor, he bequeathed his material goods and wealth to his niece Harriet Lane Johnston, who acted as First Lady in the White House during James' Presidency, to his brother Edward Y. Buchanan and to his nephew J. Buchanan Henry.  

Click on image to enlarge.  Only one letter, a "B" can
be seen in the center of the gold pocket watch case.

In 2014 the Ewings made a visit to the Wheatland Mansion and fell in love with the place.  Two years later the Ewings donated the pocket watch to the museum.  And, that is the watch that I am now attempting to photograph, with white gloves on naturally.  The case of the watch is simple in design with what appear to be three initials in the center; Only one is clear enough to read, even with a magnifying glass; the third letter "B".  

You may be able to read some of the cursive
writing if you click on the image to enlarge it.

Victoria opened the watch to the inside rear cover where there is engraved: From James Buchanan May 9th 1865. Opposite that are two small openings, or aperatures, where the pocket watch could be wound.  Words also appear which look to be: Time Keeper, Lewis Ladomus & Co., Philadelphia, Pa in cursive writing with a line on the top which is much harder to decipher and seems to list: "E. T. & Co. 18K 16943."  A gold chain runs from the bow at the top of the watch to a T-bar on the other end that could be used to attach the watch to a button hole on James' vest or possibly to a pants pocket.  The chain is a bright gold with short thick links to it.  

This shows places to wind the wind the watch

The other side of the pocket watch opens to the face which is in white with black Roman Numerals (the traditional IIII represents the #4 - this balances the VIII for the #8 on the opposite side).  A second dial, inset on the face, shows the second hand with traditional numerals every 10 seconds apart.  The cursive writing on the face reads: Lewis Ladomus & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.  The Lewis Ladomus & Company can be found on Google as: Lewis Ladomus / L. Ladomus & Co., Philadelphia, PA 1845-1878 : Had business of L. Ladomus & Co. 1853-1878 : Silversmith and watchmaker.  

The face of the pocket watch with hands and cursive writing.

They were located at 802 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia at one time.  The company had gone through different company partner- ships, but based on the date on the watch, Mr. Lewis Ladomus was the watchmaker who made the pocket watch that I am photographing.  Seems unreal to be able to hold, with gloved hands, a piece of history as well as the watch that more than likely was used in the White House by the President of the United States to help direct him in a timely manner throughout the day.  I must admit that I have several pocket watches in a nearby drawer that are more elegant, since my father was a watchmaker and jeweler, but none carry the prominence of the one I am now holding.  Too bad I wasn't allowed to try and wind it.  It was another day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Closer look at the "T" at the end of the chain.  This would be used to clip the pocket watch to a button hole, vest or pants pocket.  It was suggested it may also be used for winding the watch.