Calling all Pocket Watch Buffs

For a rail road standard transitional watch, I offer up my Illinois Model 3 Miller. This model was significant for being the first open faced, stem winding watch in America. This was accomplished by adding a 5th pinion to the Model 2 that allowed the seconds hand to be moved to the 6 o' clock position.

One thing that interests me about the "railroader" is that on p. 35 of their book, Meggers and Ehrhardt state:

"Also introduced in 1884 was the 'No.4 Railroader' Grade. This was a moderate quality 18-size Grade with 11 jewels, unadjusted, that retailed for less tgan $20.00 but it had a number of interesting features. The top plate was engraved with a replica steam locomotive, there was a patent regulator, and a 24-hour dial. The latter was refereed to in advertisments as 'specifically modeled fir railroad purposes.' Thus, Illinois clearly was aware that the railriad industry would influence its future business."

The General Time Convention in Chicago was only held a year earlier resulting in the adoption of the standard time system on Oct. 11, 1883 and its implementation on Nov. 18, 1883. Additionally, the General Railroad Timepiece Standards Commission didn't meet produce its timepiece standards until 1893.

Stations were equipped with accurate pendulum clocks and the time was sent via telegraph each day at noon by the US Naval Observatory, to ensure that railroad time was observed at stations. But, how were watches worn by train crews selected in this decade? Watches like the Railroader which definitely did not meet the standard, existed in a gray area as railways grappled with the best way to ensure their train crews were accurately adhering to their timetables.

I'd never consider my Railroader to be a standard watch because it is neither "fully jeweled" with the required 15 jewels, nor is it adjusted. But, that doesn't mean that Illinois wasn't targeting at least some railroad workers with its advertising.

Sorry for the long rambling thought.

Good guess, it's in a 4oz Dueber.

I have a weakness for a watch in a silver case. I just counted and out of the twenty-six pocket watches I have on my dresser to wear, elven are in sterling or coin cases.

For me it's rare to buy a PW that isn't silver, it would have to be something special for me to buy it if it was not but sometimes RR PW's are in Nickel or GF and that makes for some hard choices.
If it's English or Swiss it needs to be silver or I am not buying, pretty much the only exception to that has been Omega PW' bought a few years back, nowadays I won't buy one if it's nickel or GF.
Several of my RR PW's are in GF, I wish they were not, Silver would be my preference or of course Karat gold.
I remember not long ago seeing on the NAWC site that according to time inspectors records that more than 30% of inspected watches were in Karat gold cases which to me is pretty amazing.