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Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

Canuck
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I saw that description in the NAWCC, and if that is the only qualifier, then my Model 5, A. Lincoln is also a Getty. It does fall well outside of the mentioned serial number range, however.



Thanks for introducing me to a new rabbit hole to explore.

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Here is what the “Blue Book” says about the s# group that yours belongs to:

“Many of the 19 and 21 jewel movements in this grade are private label marked and some of these have the three finger train bridge. Also some have different adjustment markings than shown in part one above and a few are gold in laid damasked nickel. Early movements may be marked safety pinion. Grade 175 appears to have been somewhat of a steppingstone between the low quality and the railroad quality 16 size grades.”

So! It would appear that the A Lincoln name is not an Illinois name, but a private label name.
 
Waltesefalcon
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Canuck Canuck
Here is what the “Blue Book” says about the s# group that yours belongs to:

“Many of the 19 and 21 jewel movements in this grade are private label marked and some of these have the three finger train bridge. Also some have different adjustment markings than shown in part one above and a few are gold in laid damasked nickel. Early movements may be marked safety pinion. Grade 175 appears to have been somewhat of a steppingstone between the low quality and the railroad quality 16 size grades.”

So! It would appear that the A Lincoln name is not an Illinois name, but a private label name.

That is interesting, I've seen many A.Lincoln marked movements, all marked Illinois as well, and they have all had Illinois marked dials. So, I've always thought of A.Lincoln as being a grade. I wonder if it was anything like Santa Fe Specials, made for a specific retailer that wanted that Illinois Watch Co. connection.

My Model 5, A. Lincoln, made in 1911, is the only railroad watch in my collection that I can positively say was owned by a railroad. The back is marked "Loaner - 9 - Chickasha, Okla." I bought this watch because I did not yet own an A. Lincoln, but also because I used to teach history at Chickasha High. One thing I really like about this watch, and many other Illinois, is the plum color of the hand bluing.

The Rock Island line built a spur to Chickasha in 1892, and by 1911 Chickasha had a beautiful depot, a four track yard, a locomotive repair shop, a roundhouse, and more than 300 Rock Island employees.

20240803_161943.jpg 20240803_162127.jpg 20240803_162142.jpg 20240803_162029.jpg IMG_4443.JPG
 
Canuck
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The “blue book” is the best reference that I know of for Illinois watches. The book is organized (for example only) numbered grades and named grades, by watch size (18, 16, 14, size, etc.) Under 16-size named grades, A. Lincoln grade does not appear, nor does the serial number range for @Waltesefalcon ’s A Lincoln, show up. That being the case, I went to the section on numbered grades, and found that s# range, there. Illinois called it a grade 175. In addition, the “blue book” described grade 175 as I quoted, in my recent post. It indicated that there were numerous private label Illinois watches in that serial number range. One must conclude that the A Lincoln designation was not an Illinois designation, but a private label.

I think Illinois did more private label watches than the other U S based watch manufacturers.

(I keep saying ad nauseum that pocket watches are MUCH more interesting than wrist watches!)

Both A Lincoln models owned by @Waltesefalcon are in the same s# range in the “blue book”. So the quote I included in my post re: the earlier s#, applies also to the later s#. Both grade 175, according to Illinois.
Edited:
 
Waltesefalcon
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I only own the one A. Lincoln, my other Model 5 is a Sangamo Special.

What book is your "Blue Book?" I usually rely on The Pocket Watch Database, but your "Blue Book" has given us some interesting information since you started this thread. I am thinking that I need to add a copy to my library.
 
Canuck
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I only own the one A. Lincoln, my other Model 5 is a Sangamo Special.

What book is your "Blue Book?" I usually rely on The Pocket Watch Database, but your "Blue Book" has given us some interesting information since you started this thread. I am thinking that I need to add a copy to my library.

This book is no longer in print. The authors (Bill Meggers and Roy Ehrhardt both having passed away.) But you might luck out and find one if you use the Library of Congress ISBN number which is 0-913902-34-9. Used copies do turn up. I don’t know if the NAWCC book store in Columbia PA. might (I suppose) have copies available. The book is titled: Volume 2, American Pocket Watches, Illinois Watch co., Encyclopedia and Price Guide. You can forget the prices. The book was published 30 years ago. But otherwise, it is unrivalled regarding Illinois pocket watches. It was published by Heart of America Press, P O Box 9808, Kansas City, Missouri, 64134.
 
Waltesefalcon
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I just bought this book for $10 ($17.82 after tax and shipping) on Ebay. From what I found on ebay, this looks to be about ten years newer than American Pocket Watches, Volume 2. It is by Roy Eberhardt and Bill Meggers, and it is printed by Heart of America Press. I'm hoping that it has the same information as Vol. 2 has. If not, there are a couple of copies of Vol. 2 on Ebay as well.
Screenshot 2024-08-03 at 19-23-08 s-l1600.webp (WEBP Image 1200 × 1600 pixels) - Scaled (39%).png
 
TexOmega
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
That is interesting, I've seen many A.Lincoln marked movements, all marked Illinois as well, and they have all had Illinois marked dials. So, I've always thought of A.Lincoln as being a grade. I wonder if it was anything like Santa Fe Specials, made for a specific retailer that wanted that Illinois Watch Co. connection.

My Model 5, A. Lincoln, made in 1911, is the only railroad watch in my collection that I can positively say was owned by a railroad. The back is marked "Loaner - 9 - Chickasha, Okla." I bought this watch because I did not yet own an A. Lincoln, but also because I used to teach history at Chickasha High. One thing I really like about this watch, and many other Illinois, is the plum color of the hand bluing.

The Rock Island line built a spur to Chickasha in 1892, and by 1911 Chickasha had a beautiful depot, a four track yard, a locomotive repair shop, a roundhouse, and more than 300 Rock Island employees.

20240803_161943.jpg 20240803_162127.jpg 20240803_162142.jpg 20240803_162029.jpg IMG_4443.JPG



Love the Gothic print of this era of Illinois watches👍

This one is from 1902.......pink gold was added to the yellow inlaid circle only from 1900-1902, and I had to find a way to display the movement.
 
Gold inlaid circle Two Tone Pink yellow.JPG Gothic 1902.JPG IMG_4968.jpeg IMG_4967.jpeg IMG_4969.jpeg
TexOmega
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And.....business is business, through the ages....not talking down the competition by talking down the competition.👍😁
 
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ghce
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TexOmega TexOmega
And.....business is business, through the ages....not talking down the competition by talking down the competition.👍😁

What year?
 
TexOmega
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Turn of the century plus/minus 5 years most likely that's when these were being manufactured.
 
1896_A_C_Becken_Cat_Pg_09_Illinois_LR.jpg
Canuck
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I just bought this book for $10 ($17.82 after tax and shipping) on Ebay. From what I found on ebay, this looks to be about ten years newer than American Pocket Watches, Volume 2. It is by Roy Eberhardt and Bill Meggers, and it is printed by Heart of America Press. I'm hoping that it has the same information as Vol. 2 has. If not, there are a couple of copies of Vol. 2 on Ebay as well.
Screenshot 2024-08-03 at 19-23-08 s-l1600.webp (WEBP Image 1200 × 1600 pixels) - Scaled (39%).png

I have that one as well. My bias is to refer to the blue book when dealing with Illinois. Prices in any of these guides are obsolete, regardless of when they were published. I keep them for the knowledge they contain.
 
Waltesefalcon
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I went ahead and bought the affordable copy of the Illinois book too. It makes the most sense to me, as Illinois is really the direction my collection has started to go in recent years.
 
Canuck
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I went ahead and bought the affordable copy of the Illinois book too. It makes the most sense to me, as Illinois is really the direction my collection has started to go in recent years.

The one you bought first is called the “gold book”. I haven’t referred to mine for so long, I can’t remember. Bill Meggers was THE Illinois guru back in the day. You’ll notice the “gold” book lists Roy Ehrhardt first, and Bill Meggers second. But the “blue” book lists Billl Meggers first, then Roy Ehrhardt, second. The “blue” book was Bill’s baby. You’ll love it!
 
TexOmega
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Unitas made movt for Bulova’s entry level Caravelle sub-brand.
Nice economical pocket watch for 1973.
Pendant set, so not RR grade😁 but very legible.
 
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Canuck
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The N3 signifying 1973. Over 50 years old, and in nice shape. Movement still made. Known by a lot of different calibres, but notedly, ETA 6497.
 
Aurelius
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Canuck Canuck
I carried a pocket watch today. A Keystone Howard series V. I wore it on my @DaveK miracle braid lanyard. This one is 113 years old! This one will no doubt be in someone’s collection in the year 2050, when Apple Watches will be 12 feet down in a landfill, somewhere! I won’t wear a watch of any description on Saturday as I have a bunch of scut work to do on our holiday trailer in preparation for camping in ten days. That people seldom wear pocket watches any more can only please those of us who collect pocket watches. The steam train club? Exactly! There are two train shows annually where I live. We exhibit about 100 railroad standard pocket watches at these shows.

Very cool.

I know it's not similar to watches, but I love shaving with straight razors. Some I have are actually from the late 1700's.
 
Waltesefalcon
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Aurelius Aurelius
Very cool.

I know it's not similar to watches, but I love shaving with straight razors. Some I have are actually from the late 1700's.
My dad taught me to shave with a straight razor. I used one regularly until my boys got to the age that they started to emulate me. Their mother thought it best I start using a safety razor, just to be safe. I still have a handful of straight razors (I collected ones with American Indian related advertising or branding), and will use one from time to time.
 
Pastorbottle
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As you can probably tell from my avatar, I don’t like being in close proximity to sharp objects like razors!
 
DaveK
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TexOmega TexOmega
Unitas made movt for Bulova’s entry level Caravelle sub-brand.
Nice economical pocket watch for 1973.
Pendant set, so not RR grade😁 but very legible.

My Bulova, also from ‘73, for comparison on what customers were choosing from

IMG_5389.jpeg
 
Aurelius
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
As you can probably tell from my avatar, I don’t like being in close proximity to sharp objects like razors!
You look like Ez Top haha. I haven't been clean shaven since 2019! But I still touch up my beard with a straight razor.
 
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