Illinois Model Dean Pocket watch.

[Beelzebud]

I have seen only 1 in the past couple of years since I started collecting and it is a model that is rated 1 star in my watch book.
I was curious about the actual scarcity of that model. Seems it is rather hard to locate.

Again, any help is greatly appreciated.

Bill

[Beelzebud]

I have seen only 1 in the past couple of years since I started collecting and it is a model that is rated 1 star in my watch book.
I was curious about the actual scarcity of that model. Seems it is rather hard to locate.

Again, any help is greatly appreciated.

Bill

[Jon Hanson]

Hi,

Yes, these are very scarce and tough to find; they are infinitely rarer than the other well known and touted grades of 18s Ill.

Jon

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
President and moderator chapter 149

[Beelzebud]

Thanks Jon. Im glad I purchased it then. Serial number is 60211 I believe.

Bill

[John Cote]

Bill,

There were 2 runs of Deans. The first was a run of 900 watches (60,001-60,900), of which yours is a part, and the second was a run of 500 (64,501-65,000) for a total of 1400 watches.

According to Bill Meggers, in his book, "Illinois Watch Co., Encyclopedia and Price Guide" the watch was named after Wiliam F. Dean, The Illinois Watch Company's first die maker. It was advertized as the lowest priced 15 jewel watch in America.

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

[Beelzebud]

Jon- thanks much for the info! Seems like a rather minute "mintage". I wonder how many actually survived....
Im just glad I bought it.

[Jon Hanson]

Bill B.,

I can also add that the old time collectors of the 1950s and 60s held this grade in high regard-because few had them. Many more have been found as a result of the books, PGs but mainly the gold/silver rush of 79-81. Collectors of that early era were more interested in KWs; now the interest is RR watches.

Always glad to help those willing to listen and learn.

Jon

PS Know Larry S. of NYC?

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Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
President and moderator chapter 149

[Beelzebud]

Hi Jon. Afraid I would need a last name to know who you are referring to. I have made a choice to go and collect 18s keywinds. As I have mentioned, I have only seen 1 Dean in the last couple of years, which is the one I bought. In numismatics, a coin with a mintage of only 1400 would carry a high price (even in low circulated grades) and factor even slight demand into that and its value would increase greatly. I dont know if a "mintage" of 1400 movements equates in rarity to the same amount of a given coin, and survival rates Im sure are different, but Ive got to believe it would be a model that would be desired by any keywind collecter.
If I had to guess, I would say that less than a 1000 still exist in all grades.

Bill.