Carl F. Lomb watch

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITArc-0261

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Carl F. Lomb watch is a Gents 18K yellow gold pocket watch. The pocket watch, made by Charles E. Jacot, has a hunting case with a spring wound 30 Jewel movement. The inside back cover is engraved with the watch maker, and the town of Chaux de Fonds, in Switzerland.

The white enamel dial has Roman numeral markers with a second hand dial, and an image of Caroline Bausch Lomb, first daughter of John Jacob Bausch, of Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, New York at the twelve o'clock marker on the dial. It is believed that Caroline gave the watch as a gift to her husband Carl Lomb at the time of their marriage in 1879.

Dates

Creation: 1879-1889

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Carl Ferdinand Lomb was born in Germany in 1854 and came to the United States in 1873. Due to economic instability at the time, Carl went to work temporarily for his cousin Captain Henry Lomb at the Bausch & Lomb Company in Rochester, NY. In 1879, he married Carrie Bausch, eldest daughter of J.J. Bausch, president of the Bausch and Lomb Optical Company. They had no children of their own. In 1882, Carl Lomb was appointed Secretary of the Bausch and Lomb Company, and in 1888 he became head, taking charge of company affairs. In 1891, he became a trustee of the company.

In 1910, Mr. Lomb was invited to become a member of the Board of Directors of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI). He welcomed the opportunity to render a service to an institution that valued systematic training for one's life work. In 1916, he was made the President of the Board of Directors of RAMI and remained in that position for 22 years. He died at his home in Rochester in 1939 at the age of 84.

Caroline and Carl Lomb lived at 597 East Avenue at the corner of Goodman Street. Carrie, as she was called, died on October 3, 1929, only a few weeks before what would have been her golden wedding anniversary. He died in 1939.

Extent

1 Item(s) (Small lid box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

The Carl F Lomb watch is an 18K yellow gold pocket watch. Carl Lomb was a member of the board of directors of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute from 1910 until 1916, when he became President of the board. He remained in that position for 23 years. It is believed the watch was given to Carl Lomb by his bride Caroline Bausch Lomb at the time of their marriage in 1879.