Newbie Help

[bgraham]

My grandfather has always tinkered around with watch and clock repair, several years ago he gave the the watch pictured here. I have done a lot of reading and research and can't find a lot of specifics. Can anyone fill me in on when and where this watch was made, and any other info. Value isn't really important, but I am curious. Thanks for any help.

[bgraham]

OK, where it was made is probably a stupid question since it says Larned, Kan. on the movement. Ignore that part. :)

[Kent]

Hi bgraham:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

Your question of where the watch was made isn't really a stupid question. It wasn't mde in Larned, Kan. Your watch is a 'private label,' or 'contract,' watch. Just about all the watch companies, including the Swiss firms, would mark both the watch movements and/or the dials in just about any manner for any customer who wished to pay for the service. I don't have any exact references for the costs, but I've heard (read?) that, for some companies, if five or more watches were ordered, there was no charge for marking the movements. Specially marked dials were said to cost 25 or 50 cents each. Some watch manufacturers were more liberal. Private label watches were contracted for by a large range of companies, from Sears, Roebuck down to the smaller jewelers in the little towns.

If you would please post all of the information that is on the dial, stamped on the movement (especially the serial number) and the trade marks stamped into the inside of the backs and lid of the case, we ought to be able to tell you a fair amount about the watch. The markings are hard to read in your pictures.

[Fred Hansen]

As Kent said, the movement serial number will allow for a full identication and dating of your private-label watch.

From what I can see though you certainly appear to have a 16 size 15 jewel hunting case pendent-set watch made by the Illinois Watch Company, and specifically this would likely identify it as a model 6 grade 303 from somewhere in the 1912-1920 range.

When you post the movement serial number this can be confirmed though, and some more info can be added also.

Fred

[bgraham]

Thanks for the quick replys, I apologize as I thought the serial number on the movement showed up better, but looking at the pictures it didn't. The serial number on the movement is 2389446.

[Fred Hansen]

That serial number does look up as a 16 size 15 jewel Illinois Watch Co. model 6 grade 303, produced in about 1911 and one of an estimated 11730 made in this grade and model. This information can be found in an Illinois Watch Co. database that was put together by Russ Snyder, and is distributed by NAWCC Chapter 149 (if interested in the database email Ch 149 President Jon Hanson at jonontime@aol.com for details).

However it is important to note that this production figure is for the total made in this grade and that most of these watches will have Illinois Watch Co. factory markings, and only a very small fraction would be private-label marked to any one specific name.

The Illinois Watch Co. was located in Springfield, Illinois and this company produced watches in Springfield between 1872 and 1932, but at the end here in the 1928-1932 period the Illinois Watches were made under the ownership of the Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, PA. Following 1932 some more watches with the Illinois name were produced, but I believe this post 1932 production was carried out in the Hamilton factory in Lancaster, PA rather than in Springfield, IL.

As an unadjusted 15 jewel watch, the grade 303 would rank toward the lower end in original price of 16 size Illinois Watch Co. products offered at the time.

We can't really discuss values on this board, there is a "No appraisal requests" message in the top corner, but we can give some more general advice as to how you can look into the realistic value. I would suggest keeping an eye on eBay for similar 15 jewel 16 size hunting case Illinois models and paying attention to their sales prices ... and your watch does have a few dial flaws that need to be considered, but also has what looks like a very nice 16 size hunting case which will be a plus in its favor.

Thanks for showing the watch and hope the info here has helped some ... and if there are other questions that you are wondering on or weren't covered yet just let us know!

Fred