Did any railroaders carry an...

[railman]

Illinois Santa Fe Special 21j? It was railroad approved but I don't think any real train people carried them...

[railman]

Illinois Santa Fe Special 21j? It was railroad approved but I don't think any real train people carried them...

[Charles Medsker]

I know a gentleman who not only carried an Illinois 21J Santa Fe Special, but also collected them. But I guess it would depend on what one would classify as "A Railroader?" He worked in the repair shops at Beech Grove IN for 35+ years, starting out when the shops were still owned by the NYCS. Your question is kind of absurd, considering all the Illinois 21J Santa Fe Specials marketed to "Railroaders" by Henry Montgomery" in Topeka Kansas. It was that "Henry Montgomery" of Montgomery dial fame. And before someone gets their bloomers twisted, no, I'm not offended by any question! Questions are the only way we learn most things. Unless of course, we already know everything there is to know.

[Greg Davis]

Yeah, but only three of us know everything, and we tend to mislead others just to keep that number from growing. :biggrin:

[Rich]

A correction, Greg:

Actually, the correct number is four.

:biggrin:

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'Rich'
#149591

[Charles Medsker]

I actually thought the number was much larger, simply because I meet people who "Know-it-All very frequently, and they aren't all the same people? http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/confused.gif

[Kent]

Charles:

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Henry S. Montgomery had nothing whatsoever to do with the Santa Fe Watch Co., marketer of the Sante Fe Special watches.

What Montgomery sold was about twenty years earlier, the Santa Fe Route model `83 and model `92 Walthams. These had the Santa Fe Route herald on both the dial and movement. To see what the Santa Fe Watch Co. REALLY claimed, take a look at an excerpt from their 1920 (Approx.) Catalog (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/sfwc_cat.jpg). They refer to the 'Famous old "Santa Fe Route" Watch, ...' but don't actually claim any relationship to it. You have to read both Santa Fe and Burlilngton (another company selling Illinois private label watches ) ads very carefully. They both work very hard at creating false impressions.

Kent

[railman]

Did the Illinois Santa Fe Special come with its own case? My case does not say Santa Fe Special. Everything else is correct. I know they (the movements) came in 17 and 21j movements. It also came in a hunter case type movement.

[Kent]

Oh, I forgot to post this earlier.

The AT&SF (Santa Fe Railroad) forced Montgomery to make a choice in the late 1890's. He could either work for the railroad as their Chief Time Inspector or be involved in other business, but he couldn't do both. According to this 1897 News Item (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/montgomy.jpg), he dropped the jewelry store (and watch business) and signed on with the AT&SF.

railman
All Santa Fe watches came in signed Santa Fe cases. Most look like the example here, but I believe there are variations. But, all are signed "Santa Fe Watch Co.
http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/sf_case.jpg

Kent :smile:

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 04-12-2002).]

[Charles Medsker]

Thanks Kent, I stand corrected. See, I'm not one of those know-it-alls after all. I had one of those old Santa Fe Catalogs, but should have read it instead of spending all my time admiring the beautiful cases!