illinois #275461 18s pivate or regylar model??

[elginvanguard]

Hi,i hope this takes.as i have had quite a time adjusting to new format...
Anyhow i have recently acquired a nice old illinois that is maked
DELAWARE RIVER on nickel plate but not on dial.would love to know for sure if this is a standard model or if this is a private label from railroad named such. the year the watch was made coincides with timeframe for railroad named such,but cant find anyone who knows for sure.Actually i cant find anyone who cares........... watch collecting isnt real popular amongst my freinds and coworkers... thanks Bill

[Fred Hansen]

Hi Bill -

I would consider that a private-label, a neat name but I don't think you can really tie it to a railroad without some more connection.

River names are actually marked on some other private-labels I've seen, and I've always liked these for the nice bit of geography and history they bring. Here are a few of the others I remember seeing ...

Clear Water (Idaho river, marked on 18 size Illinois dial)

Columbia River Watch (Oregon river, marked 1857 model Waltham dial)

Conococheague (Pennsylvania river, marked on 18 size Illinois dial)

Opequon (West Virginia creek, marked on 18 size Illinois and Hamilton movements)


I think these are interesting watches and would definitely appreciate hearing of any others out there.

Fred

[elginvanguard]

thanks fred,
the reason i believe it to be railroad related is because the R and the D have a slash throygh them wich i think i have seen on dome kind of railroad memorabilia. I am sure this is some kind of trade mark and the age of the watch would be in the same time frame of this short lived railway. although the dial is white porcelain marked "illinois watch Co."
and uses roman numerals. either way it is an interesting piece.I just wish i could learn more about it.After googling delaware river the only thing i could come up with is the rr.but still hope some on here can shed some light on this.thanks for your input fred i do appriciate it,Bill

[Kent]

...
the reason i believe it to be railroad related is because the R and the D have a slash throygh them ...

I'd be more impressed if you were able to actually find a railroad named the Delaware River.

What's the serial number of the watch?

[Fred Hansen]

Kent -

There are a good number of Google hits on "Delaware River Railroad" and some quick scanning of these shows one by this name in the 1880's. Here is a google results link ...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22delaware+river+railroad%22

It would still be necessary to somehow tie the watch to the railroad itself and not just to the river name, but if Bill can find evidence that the lettering style found on his watch was unique to the railroad in this time frame that would be nice.

Fred

[Fred Hansen]

Bill -

Is the serial of your movement 273461 or 275461? I had one in my notes that I recently saw recorded as #273461 so I assume very likely the same watch, but possible that I copied it down wrong.

Thanks,
Fred

[elginvanguard]

looks like 275461 but my eyes arent that great anymore..diabetes.there was a railroad named delaware river that was in PA. it was a short line and was only around for 1 1/2 years according to some info i found on internet. about 1884 or 85.was bought out and the company that bought it used the rails on another route.this is what i read anyhow.thanks for input,Bill

[Kent]

Bill/Fred:

I googled it too and although I found railroads whose name contained "Delaware River" as part or their name, or which traveled to, or along, the Delaware River, I didn't see one actually named the Delaware River Railroad or Delaware River Railway. However, I don't doubt that you did find an obscure road that existed in the mid-1880s.

Knowing that, and now realizing that the serial number is in the title, and that the watch is a grade 101-S, an 11-jewel movement adjusted to temperature, I'd give it a definate maybe. Such watches could well have been used for railroad time service in that era. As Fred said, if you can find some railroad memorabilia displaying the name in the same font, with the letters D & R slashed, you'll know for sure.

Good luck,

[elginvanguard]

I still havent figured out how to post pictures.i have an evening appt.but when i get home i will try to upload movt where you can see name,thanks again gentlemen,Bill