Illinois/Illinois Watch Co.

[schleems18]

What models of watches made by the Illinois Watch Co. are marked only Illinois?

 

[John Cote]

I don't know the answer to your question but your beautiful grade 409 is a very high grade and beautifully made watch.

 

[Jerry Treiman]

The simple "Illinois" signature does not appear on all movements of this grade and I suspect the signature differences may be related to the time period when the watch was finished. I have seen it on other grades as well. In a reprint of a 1915 Illinois watch catalog (in Meggers & Ehrhardt - Illinois Watch encyclopedia) it shows Illinois was selling factory-cased "Illinois-Springfield" watches in several sizes and grades that had this signature, but also an uncased grade 409 that is so marked. There are also some variations in the font.

 

[schleems18]

The simple "Illinois" signature does not appear on all movements of this grade and I suspect the signature differences may be related to the time period when the watch was finished. I have seen it on other grades as well. In a reprint of a 1915 Illinois watch catalog (in Meggers & Ehrhardt - Illinois Watch encyclopedia) it shows Illinois was selling factory-cased "Illinois-Springfield" watches in several sizes and grades that had this signature, but also an uncased grade 409 that is so marked. There are also some variations in the font.
View attachment 753578

Hmmm... It is a private label and maybe that was a standard practice? Otherwise it was the Springfield Illinois label, or the specifically named versions? I guess that makes sense.

 

[John Cote]

Hmmm... It is a private label and maybe that was a standard practice?

What do you mean by "It is a private label...?" Does this watch have a PL dial? If so, my be would be that this dial was added later but if it does, could you show us a photo of the dial?

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

[Y]our beautiful grade 409 is a very high grade and beautifully made watch.

Grade 409 was one of Illinois' best 12-size watches. They are not easy to find. Only 1,150 were made. My 409 is just signed Illinois, akin to the way the 409 Jerry Treiman showed in his posting was signed.



As Jerry noted, similar versions of this Illinois signature are found on some other grades, such as on 23-jewel Illinis, a far scarcer grade that Grade 409. (Only a few dozen 23-jewel Illinis still exist as far as I know.) Here is the movement of one of my pair of 23-jewel Illinis.



Less flamboyant llinois Springfield Watch Co. signatures appear on a number of grades, respectively below, Grades 510 and 539, both scarce grades.

 

[schleems18]

It's not in the best condition, needs a new minute hand.

 

[John Cote]

It's not in the best condition, needs a new minute hand.

I don't know what the other Illinois peeps think but I think this dial is plausibly original. It is certainly a very high grade dial in a style which was probably coming to an end at the time the watch was produced.

What a cool watch.