Inter-State Chronometers

[Jim Haney]

These are interesting watches by Illinois made for Sears Roebuck & Co.. This Hunting version is Grade 175 a Getty Model with the 1 finger bridge.The Blue Illinois book says that this grade was made in a run of 200 and the OF model was made in a run of 150, so these would be considered rare

BTW, the 16s Illinois program in Chattanooga by Fred Sr & Fred Jr was a educational experience for me because I did not know about all the different 16s Illinois Models, especially these 1, 2, 3 finger bridge models Getty's.

I bought this watch at that show. It has a Fancy dial instead of the marked Inter-State dial so, that leaves it open to speculation, however I have seen Fancy dials on these before. It is in a beautiful Multicolored GF case that has 3 generations inscribed on the dust cover, I don't know it original to the watch, and would vote no if i had to.

The "Interstate Chronometer" marked Illinois watches were made for and sold by Sears Roebuck & Company.

I believe the 18 and 16 size were made in 23 and 17 jewel grades, 12 size in 21 and 17 jewel grades, and 0 size in 17 and 15 jewel grades.

18 size
Bunn Special 23 jewel OF
Bunn Special 23 jewel HC
Grade 89 17 jewel OF
Grade 89 17 jewel HC

16 size
Sangamo 23 jewel OF
Sangamo 23 jewel HC
Grade 175 17 jewel OF
Grade 175 17 jewel HC
Grade 605 17 jewel OF
Grade 605 17 jewel HC



Fred

.

The Initials and dates on the case are 3-9-1912, which is correct for the watch,1961,1978

 

[John Cote]

I love these high end Sears watches too Jim. I think the first time I met young Fred at a Chicago Regional back in the late '80s or very early '90s I had just bought my first Interstate Chronometer. It was a 16s 23j OF. Little Freddy took me over to meet his dad and to talk about the Getty model. We have all be great friends since. I actually met Glen Ellington, at about the same time, through and Interstate Chronometer related experience too.

As far as the dial is concerned, I think Sears would have done almost anything to sell a watch. I have my doubts that the dial came on the watch from the factory but it could be original to the watch in that the original buyer wanted a different dial. Who cares. It is a little beauty.

 

[musicguy]

A real beauty Jim. I like that one finger bridge.


Rob

 

[Douglas Romero]

Nice 16 size Jim. Made me think of 3 that I had.

I always liked these also. Made me go through some of my old pix. I had the 18 size, 16 and 12 size but not all high grade. Sold them some years back.

18 size 23 jewel OF



16 size 17 jewel OF



12 size 21 ruby jewel marked OF - not sure about marking

 

[John Cote]

Love the 21j 12s Doug. I haven't see but 1 or 2 others...and I look for them.

 

[Fred Hansen]

Great watches Jim and Doug!

I think the fancy dial on Jim's watch has a very good chance of being correct - I've seen unsigned fancy dials on Illinois "Interstate Chronometers," on Illinois "Plymouth Watch Co." movements, and on Rockford "Plymouth Watch Co." movements - and the common denominator to these three sets of watches is they were all private labels sold by Sears Roebuck.

 

[Tim Fitzgerald]

Very nice Jim, I have never seen one of these

 

[Jim Haney]

I ran across another fairly rare Inter-State Chronometer, in a 12 size...... The DMK pattern is great and you can tell from the movement, trimmed in gold(Gilt) colored screws and Regulator, etc. and the dial that it is a special watch.

I believe it is an all original watch, dial & case. This watch does not have much information available about it at all.

The Blue book says it was made in a run of 100 and I believe that is all that were made. It is not mentioned in the info part of it and the Grade 273 was not very common.

The "Price Guide" doesn't list the Hunting version, just the OF version.Russ Snider's data Base doesn't have a picture of it, just a partial movement missing the balance bridge & wheel.

 

[John Cote]

What a little beauty Jim. I love it. I would go along with 100 being made.

 

[Jim Haney]

This is a Complete Inter-State Chronometer production chart that appears in the 2nd article of Sears watches in the Bulletin by Bill Meggers in Oct. 1990 http://www.nawcc.org/images/stories/1990/articles/1990/269/269_540.pdf

These were produced by Sears and sold in the nation wide catalog starting in 1911- 1915, the last 2 years they dropped the 0 size and just sold the 18s 23 J Bunn model, the highest grade sold by Sears.




Sorry for the image quality, you can access the chart by the link if you sign on the main site.

 

[Jim Haney]

This is a cute 0's with the paperwork from Sears. It is a grade 35, of which they had a total production of 1050 and unknown how many Inter-State Chronometer were in that production.

Russ Snider's data base shows some pictures of the grade but no Inter-State examples. They were 15 J with composite (Brass) settings and had the Pat'd regulator and a fine damaskeen pattern

 

[Jim Haney]

Serial number 2340235 a 12size 21J Hunter with a great 2-Tone checkerboard pattern.




Marked 21 Ruby Jewels

 

[Jim Haney]

Another 16s Serial number 2327813 a 17J Hunter




This watch is 25 numbers earlier than the opening post movement, with the 1 finger bridge

 

[Jim Haney]

Serial number 2336445 the "Granddaddy" a Bunn 23 jewel OF watch with the gold inlaid DMK

 

[Jim Haney]

Serial number 2336729 a very hard to find 18s , in 17J Hunting.

 

[Jim Haney]

Serial number 2327912 a Sangamo Grade 23J Hunter of which only 200 were produced.

The grade had a low production of 1210 and according to the run chart only 200 were made for Sears as Interstate Chronometers in this 23J Hunter.

Dial has issues, but it is what it is...

 

[musicguy]

Very nice Jim!

Edit: This thread can be found in the future in the
Illinois Sticky thread at the top of the American Pocket Watch forum
(as per Jim H's good suggestion)


Rob

 

[Keith R...]

Very nice Jim!!

Considering Dave C. probably owns the other 1200 or so, you guys should mail me a
parts watch for my watchmaker to practice on.

Keith R...

 

[Jim Carroll]

Hi,
I have looked at the two articles many times that Bill Meggers wrote for the Bulletin, and can’t quite get the reported ‘Interstate’ runs in Grade 299 to work out.
The run 1911, 2,386,301-2,386,500 = 200 I have recorded.
2,386,321 = Illinois Watch Co. Have image
2,386,334 = Illinois Watch Co. Have image
2,386,340 = Illinois Watch Co. No image
2,386,454 = Illinois Watch Co. Have image
2,386,455 = Illinois Watch Co. Have image
I would like to know if anyone has an Interstate Chronometer or an Illinois Watch Co. in this run.

 

[Jim Haney]

Jim,
What is your question?

I have a watch in post 8 that Bill Megger's missed, it is a grade 273 Serial number 2,337,905 and was made in a run of 100.

 

[Jim Carroll]

I was just trying to find out of any of the 200 watches in 2,386,301 to 2,386,500 are Interstate Chronometers.

 

[Jim Haney]

I was just trying to find out of any of the 200 watches in 2,386,301 to 2,386,500 are Interstate Chronometers.

Jim,

Now, I see that all of your examples are regular Illinois and hopefully a Interstate will show up, however we may have to adjust the count depending on what number shows up.

In Russ Snider's data base there are 2 pictures of these, both regular Illinois

2386348
2386484

Thanks

 

[Jim Haney]

Recent purchase from eBay serial number 2615140, a grade 605 Open Face. They made 300 of this grade in 2 runs and a run of 100 in Hunting.

The dial was hair lined up but they came out for a nice looking watch in a nice Illinois Giant Case.

 

[George Frick]

Serial number 2336445 the "Granddaddy" a Bunn 23 jewel OF watch with the gold inlaid DMK

View attachment 551801 View attachment 551802 View attachment 551803 View attachment 551804 View attachment 551805 View attachment 551806

Drat....I really like the looks of this 18s watch. Another one for my list.

 

[Jim Haney]

I want to add this beauty, Serial number 2336457. I need the Hunter version to have a set.

I don't know why the 1st pic came out so large, I added it like the other ones ?

 

[musicguy]

I'm not sure about your photo but I fixed it.

Great watch!

Rob

 

[Bila]

I want to add this beauty, Serial number 2336457

A gorgeous example Jim

 

[Christopher Burris]

Jim, your dial seems perfect, which is where mine suffers along with some wrong screws. This is the hunter version. SN2336839

 

[Bila]

NIce movement Christopher, shame about the dial, another Illinois dial with damage from being soaked in the cleaning process