Illinois 18 size

[Kugler77]

Hello,

I have a question. I purchased that nice Illinois 18 size pocket watch

http://pw.mikrolisk.de/gal/albums/kugler77/Illinois_18.jpg

as I do not have any good books or other sorces for research I would be happy if someone could tell me the model number and production date.

And I have a question regarding the fork. Here is a picture of the fork that was inside the movement, but I think it is not the original?

http://pw.mikrolisk.de/gal/albums/kugler77/Fork.jpg

If it is not the right fork I would be very happy, if someone could tell me the part number of the right one.

Thank you very much from Germany

Peter

[crsides]

1900 vintage.
model 6
grade 61

[Fred Hansen]

Hi Peter -

If you care for a little extra information the model 6 grade 61 was produced in a 15 and 17 jewel version, with production of the 17 jewel version listed in Russ Snyder's Illinois Watch Co. database as being 14165.

Of these 14165 watches, not all will be marked "Adjusted" and not all will have the "Lakeshore" name on the barrel bridge.

This "Lakeshore" named Illinois watch was advertised by the Montgomery Ward & Co. and a 1904 Montgomery Ward ad showing this watch is reproduced in Roy Ehrhardt's "1977 Price Indicator" book. The ad states that "We have sold many thousand of this grade and none fails to give satisfaction.". The 1904 catalog price shown for this open-face Lakeshore ranges from the low end of $9.00 in a 3 ounce Silverine case to the upper end of $14.40 in an engraved 25 year gold-filled case.

I have seen quite a few Lakeshore movements similar to your watch and these look to have been produced between about 1898 and 1906. They are usually seen with Illinois Watch Co. marked dials but occasionally have dials with a matched "Lakeshore" signature, though I believe most if not all I've seen with the Lakeshore marked dial have been from the later end of the date range above.

There is also a very similar Illinois watch marked "Lakeside". These show up on the same style movements as the Lakeshore and seem to be a bit earlier, from the 1896-1898 era. I don't recall seeing an ad for the "Lakeside" but I very strongly suspect they were also a Montgomery Ward & Co. product and that a decision was made about 1898 to change the name of this Montgomery Ward 17 jewel Illinois product from Lakeside to Lakeshore.

Fred

[Kugler77]

Hello Fred,

Thank you very much for the extra information!
Here is a picture of the dial

http://pw.mikrolisk.de/gal/albums/kugler77/Illinois_Ziffernblatt.jpg

As you can see the dial is also bad, this will be a big restoration project!
And as I write this answer I´m repairing the dial.
I first had the fix the two smal double sunk dials in position. And then I will fill the missing parts with a special enamel paste.

But I think it will be hard and take time to get a new hairspring and a new palett fork and maybe a double roller table.
But I love such projects, it takes time and money but when finished it is just a good feeling to get a nice watch back to life.

Thanks Peter

[Fred Hansen]

Looks like the right dial to me Peter, and glad to hear that the watch is being brought back to better shape!

Fred

[Tom Huber]

Peter, That dial is not as bad as you think it is. Remove the dial and try soaking it overnight in topjob, Mr Clean, or Comet liquid cleaner. Periodically while it is soaking, take it out and gently brush it with an old toothbrush.

You will be surprised at the results.

Tom

[leghorn]

The pallet fork in your picture looks to be out of a model 4, #917 s.r. str. pivot.

For your model 6, it calls for a # 200 s.r. con. piv, or #201 s.r. str. pivot, or
#208 d.r. con. pivot, or #209 d.r. str. pivot, or
#1342 d.r. str. pivot, or #1343 d.r. con. pivot.

I hope that is a help to you.



leghorn

[Kugler77]

Hello Tom and Hello leghorn,

thank you very much for your answers!
The dial looks better than it is at the picture! The double sunk is not plain, so I had to solder it out. Than I had to solder it in again strait and fill all the holes and all the chips.
I will send a picture when it is ready.

OK now I just have to find out if it was original a single roller, or if someone changed it from double roller. And than I have to finde the parts!:o

Maybe somebody has some of them?

Thanks Peter