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GD
12-02-2002, 11:32 AM
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/em/emole/999.jpg

GD
GD
12-02-2002, 11:32 AM
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/preview/em/emole/999.jpg

GD
John Cote
12-02-2002, 12:46 PM
Very nice watch. It looks like a grade 179. Please tell us more about it. I love the "999" dial.

JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com
GD
12-02-2002, 02:18 PM
John, thanks for the compliment, sorry about the pics but that was the best my scanner could do as it's pretty inexpensive. I can't really tell you much about the watch other than I picked it up at a local estate auction near Cairo, Ill. about a year ago. It is in an antique bow Star case, plain with no initials of any kind. Case has no jewelers marks anywhere so it's a recase or never worked on. Case screws match the case with no others showing though. Dial has a couple of light hairlines but movement looks much better than scan. I also have a 17 ruby jewel Getty model 16 size lever set marked John Miller Cairo, Ill. on the dial but movement is unmarked. I was told Miller ordered 1 dozen each of these in 24, 21 and 17 jewel. The ones I have are the only ones that I am aware of though I'm sure somebody out there has one besides me. I'm still looking for the 24 jewel model.

GD
Jeff Hess
12-02-2002, 10:44 PM
Awesome! Thanks for sharing...wow

JEFF H.
GD
12-03-2002, 03:16 PM
1302265. What I thought was interesting is the 999 useage on this watch predates any Ball Watch useage by seven or eight years anyway. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

GD
John Cote
12-03-2002, 10:19 PM
Yep, it is a grade 179. In my opinion, one of the best and most desirable 16s grades Illinois made. Nice watch.

JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com
mikelaux
12-09-2002, 05:16 PM
John,

How did you identify the movement as a 179 from that picture? I am in awe.

Mike
John Cote
12-09-2002, 11:15 PM
It really is not that big a deal Mike. First, it just looks, from the damasceening pattern, like a lot of other private label grade 179s I have seen. Second, it says "21 Ruby Jewels" on the movement. The word "Ruby" narrows the choices down considerably, and lets you know it is one of only a few high grade, 21 jewel movement types. I can also make out the first couple of numbers in the serial number as a 1 a 3 and a 0. This narrows the choices of which high grade movement it could be down to the 179 for me. I have never seen a grade 181, or 189 with this pattern and it is too early to be a Sangamo.

I think this is what you might call an educated guess. Anyone who is interested can read a little bit about how to seperate high grade from the average Illinois movements by going to the presentation titled "Collecting Illinois Watches Without Going Broke" on my website.

http://www.interstatetime.com/Broke/Index.htm

JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com