Interesting Hoenninger Bros. New York Watch

[ironwood]

Interesting two-tone movement. Any information about maker and two-tone movements would be appreciated. How unusual are two-tone movements. I have included a Waltham two-tone movement as well. Again, any info would be appreciated. Thanks

http://reddogdesign.com/watches/hoenninger.jpg

http://reddogdesign.com/watches/wal2tone.jpg

[Grant Perry]

I think the Hoenninger is an Illinois made watch..
I believe that Fred Hansen is our resident two-tone expert, so maybe he will chime in.
Regards,
Grant

[rrwatch]

Your watch is an 18 size Model 5, Grade 65 or 65S, made by the Illinois Watch Co. about 1895. This grade was made in a vareity of damaskeen patterns including at least two in TuTone. They were made both with Illinois markings as well as private labels for several jewelry stores.

[Tom McIntyre]

The second watch is a Waltham grade 620 made around 1915. Most that have shown up with the two color plates were found in the UK where this style of finish was more popular. They are not usually called two tone because the colors are on separate parts.

Here are a couple of mine.

[ironwood]

Ed,

Are you sure it is a model 5. I just found a private label Illinois on Barry Goldberg's site that is identical and he has it pegged as a model 6.

Thanks for the Illinois info.

Joel

[rrwatch]

Sorry, I had a typo. S/N 1,262,032 is listed in Dr. Snyder's Illinois database as a Model 4, not a Model 5. This should be a pendant set movement.

[ironwood]

Ed,

Thanks, but the movement is lever set, not pendant set. Cased in a coin silver case. Cool watch.

Joel

[Tom McIntyre]

In my copy of the database, it pops up a window and asks if it is model 4 or model 6. If you select model 6, it is 17J lever set as opposed to 15J pendant set. It is a 65/65S in either case.

[John Cote]

How unusual are two-tone movements. I have included a Waltham two-tone movement as well. Again, any info would be appreciated.

Your Hoenninger is an Illinois model 6 grade 65s. The s designates special and private labels are...well...special.

Illinois probably made more two-tone movements than anyone else but most of the large American manufacturers mad them. Illinois made so many of them that they are not a big deal but they are really pretty when the two-tone is bright.

The grade 65 was a very good grade...probably the closest grade to the Bunn and Bunn Special grades. There are a lot of examples of grade 65s that are marked "Adjusted to 4 Positions" and I have one that says "Adjusted to 5 Positions". They would probably have been accepted as RR watches at the time yours was made. There are a lot of private label grade 65s.

[Ethan Lipsig]

Here is what I understand to be a very uncommon Waltham 620 16 jewel movement.

[ironwood]

Thanks for all of the info! You guys are a great help!

[Veritas]

I really like the Illinois watch.I am partial to them.:)