Information needed please on Illinois Serial Number: 3118435

[Kim G.]

Information needed please on Illinois Serial Number: 3118435

Thank you!
Kim Gerard
onlinedeals-2008

[Kent]

According to Russell W Snyder's Illinois Data Base CD, which may be obtained by an email to Jon Hanson at jonontime@aol.com, it is a grade No. 305, adjusted to temperature and built in about 1917.

[Fred Hansen]

Hi Kim -

As Kent has identified, this is a grade 305 movement. And I absolutely agree with his recommendation to contact Jon for the excellent Illinois database by Russ Snyder.

The open face 17 jewel version of the grade 305 was a very successful product for Illinois with a total production of around 150,000 made over about a 21 year span. This large production figure puts the open face grade 305 as one of the two commonest 16 size Illinois products (with the other being the commonest variety of 21 jewel Bunn Special).

The most common variety of grade 305 will have a simple striped damaskeen pattern and no extra markings beyond the usual Illinois factory markings.

But besides this most common variety, other examples of the grade 305 were also made with a wide range of other damaskeen patterns and movement "names" or private-labels. A number of these variants are shown in the photos in Russ Snyder's database. I personally find any of these damaskeen and marking variants to make the watch more interesting, but widespread collector interest and awareness of these is probably pretty light.

To put some context to how Illinois considered their grade 305, here are some original prices for 16 size grades as listed in 1925 factory ads ...

Sangamo Special 23 jewel gold-filled case ... $100.00
Bunn Special 23 jewel movement ... $65.50
Bunn Special 21 jewel movement ... $56
A. Lincoln 21 jewel movement ... $52
Bunn 19 jewel movement ... $48
Bunn 17 jewel movement ... $40
Grade 706 17 jewel movement ... $30
Grade 305 17 jewel movement ... $26.50

I would say that the 305 represented Illinois Watch Co.'s best effort at producing a 16 size 17 jewel temperature adjusted watch that they could sell at a reasonable price, and based on the large production and lifespan of the grade this was a success for Illinois. The 305 was a good solid middle to upper middle quality item that was designed without the extra cost for the further adjustments or added features (gold train, gold jewel settings, etc.) found in the railroad grade watches or the more expensive dress-type Illinois watches.

Fred