AMERICAN WATCH CO., WALTHAM [ American Watch Co., 沃爾瑟姆] A GOLD HUNTING CASED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH AWARDED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR A SEA RESCUE BY A BRITISH VESSEL CIRCA 1907, RIVERSIDE MODEL 1899, NO. 16071035 CASE NO. 409718 [黃金懷錶，由美國總統頒授，表彰一艘英國船隻於海上救援中之英勇表現，年份約1907，RIVERSIDE型號1899，編號16071035，錶殼編號409718]

Antiquorum Geneva, 11 April 1992, lot 149

Beginning in the mid-19th century, the President of the United States awarded a commemorative watch on behalf of the American people to a foreign captain who selflessly saved a U.S. citizen at sea. Typically the watches depicted, to the case front, a rescue at sea and, to the back, the Seal of the President of the United States of America. The present lot, a later series, included just the Presidential Seal.

On 18 December 1926, the U.S. Coast Guard schooner Lincoln caught fire off the coast of North Carolina. High winds fueled the fire, and the crew were forced to abandon ship as it sank. The British steamer, Defender, under the command of Master E. Maycock came upon the debris during a rising gale. Under extreme conditions, they sent out a life boat to the wreckage, but the survivors had already abandoned ship. Maycock sent out a second life boat and managed to rescue two crewmen. Another crew member was rescued by another crew the next day, but the five remaining Lincoln crew members were eventually listed as lost at sea. President Calvin Coolidge awarded the entire crew of the Defender the Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal, and further awarded Captain Master E. Maycock the present watch in recognition of his services.

For a further discussion of United States Rescue at Sea watches see, James West, "A Waltham Presidential Presentation Watch", NAWCC Bulletin, June 2002, pp. 329-333.