A new Illinois grade 274, (new for me)

[Allan C. Purcell]

When buying an American pocket watch, I think many find there are always questions. When I first found it for sale, I was a bit worried because it had been turned into a wristwatch. (Not that I have anything to say about wristwatches unless they are antique, and then I wonder why). So I wrote down the serial number and put it in the database. This told me Grade 274 had private labels in the run. The named three are The Garland, Penn Special and The Master. This now wristwatch has GOLD MEDAL written on the rear plate, usually the names on the plate are the grade. ie; Bunn Special. It also told me the watch was made around 1924, the time that wristwatches took off, so one question was answered. (I do know wristwatches were in use by the ladies in the last years of the 19th. century and Josephine had one earlier, but the boom was after the first world war). There was another Illinois Come wristwatch for sale, THE AUTOCRAT, but it still had radium on it, so I left it there, though a nice way of turning it into a wristwatch and a very nice strap, which I have to say is the same as the one I have bought, though the strap is a black crocodile style. I have asked permission to use the seller's photographs, so I will post them when she answers.

One last question, I noticed in the Illinois book on page 79, the grades start with grade 60, not with grades one and two. Why is that?

Till later Allan.

PS; Mine has 21 Jewels, OF.Thank Kent for the tip.

Gold Medal

21 Jewels O.F.

250

The Fifth Avenue [made for Marshall Field & Co. Chicago,]

19 Jewels H.

200

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

So some photographs from the sale. Will be more when it arrives, and some comments.

Allan.

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

So, this morning, there arrived the Illinois 274 wristwatch. This watch is so well converted, and it was not just a quick job. The size (12s) indicates a watch for a male person. How this came about I do not know, though my thoughts say it could have been in the late 1920s. Maybe some members can comment on this? So after unwrapping the watch out of it´s bubble rap and sticky paper, I took a good look at it. There is little doubt that most people who like watches would be pleased to have had it on their table.




First, thoughts were, how do you open it, and how do you wind it up? It turns out the dial cover is a push-on, and the winding is from the stem, plus hand settings.

Winding with fat fingers is not recommended, so I held the button tight and turn the watch back and forward. (It works for me) I then pulled the button up, and set the hands. I have it at the moment on my wrist, and till now It has kept a good time, will know more about that tomorrow.


Opening the rear cover took a while, I had to see if there was a way to open it, I noticed then it was hinged, and then found the lip, which was under the left knob of the strap. Oh, dear, I thought, but in fact, with the point of my knife, it was easy. (Very small knife). I was worried about scratches. In this photograph you can see I held the lid open with my tweezers, the cover can be forced past the strap, but I was not taking any risks. thought the seller must have done this to take the photograph I have used below.

Well, that's, my story for today. and I am very pleased with it. Though I do not think I will use it for an everyday watch, just something for special occasions, maybe the DGC meetings, or a steak dinner with Rich Newman in Springfield.

Cheers folks,

Allan.

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

Just to finish this, I had the watch on my wrist all day yesterday, and bed all night, and it lost about 20 seconds. I think that the watch must have been well looked after since 1924. Top marks for Illinois watches.

Allan

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

So yes, I did buy the other watch, the one with the rhodium. After reading the threads on here I felt a lot better about the watch, it can only be dangerous if you let get into your body, like the watchmaker who let the dust from one of these get into his eyes. Now that it arrives I am going to find someone who knows more about the removable of this rhodium. Illinois grade 405 Autocrate.

Allan.