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The Illinois Pocketwatch Thread

Canuck
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While the model 2 came from the factory usually in a hunter case (both mine are Hunter cased), this one has been re-cased into what appears to me to be (perhaps) a coin silver case. Sharp! These model 2, grade 4 Railroaders were not railroad approved. One might wonder about the vanity of the engraving on the plate. Being a transitional key wind/stem wind, the owner had a choice as to how he wanted to use it. The subject watch is older than either of my “Railroaders”. Total production according to th pocketwatchdatabase site is 4,500. The decoration on the case back is a great example of the hand engravers art.

I have read that transitional key/stem winders were introduced at a time when stem winding mechanisms were somewhat less than reliable.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/700383
 
Waltesefalcon
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Canuck Canuck
While the model 2 came from the factory usually in a hunter case (both mine are Hunter cased), this one has been re-cased into what appears to me to be (perhaps) a coin silver case. Sharp! These model 2, grade 4 Railroaders were not railroad approved. One might wonder about the vanity of the engraving on the plate. Being a transitional key wind/stem wind, the owner had a choice as to how he wanted to use it. The subject watch is older than either of my “Railroaders”. Total production according to th pocketwatchdatabase site is 4,500. The decoration on the case back is a great example of the hand engravers art.

I have read that transitional key/stem winders were introduced at a time when stem winding mechanisms were somewhat less than reliable.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/700383
This one's case is a Philadelphia silverode case. I believe it is die stamped. It is kind of hard to photograph because it is so shiny.
20260108_160056.webp


Both of my Model 2s have been recased in open face case, now my Grade 5 is in a 2oz. coin silver case.
20260108_160131.webp
 
Canuck
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Unless @Waltesefalcon already has one, he now needs an Illinois model 3 which is the model 2 with a fifth pinion, so what was originally a hunter cased movement, was modified so it was oriented properly when fitted to an open face case.
 
Waltesefalcon
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Today, I'm wearing one that doesn't get worn enough, a 12s Santa Fe Special, Model 1, Grade 274, circa 1920.
20260302_072546.webp 20260302_072652.webp 20260302_072609.webp
 
TexOmega
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Always like a chance to see and exhibit Illinois pocket watches from the 1920's

12s Supreme grade 274 circa 1923
16s Bunn Special circa 1921

IMG_0263.webp IMG_0264.webp IMG_0265.webp IMG_0266.webp
 
Waltesefalcon
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One of the things that I really like about Illinois, that your Bunn Special shows off, is the plum colored bluing that many of their hands had.
 
Waltesefalcon
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I've been wearing my old 15j Model 2, Grade 5 this week. I noticed that it's running slow (approx -3 min/day), so I checked the tag, and the last time it was serviced was 2022. I didn't even realize that I'd owned it that long. I guess it's time to service the old watch again.

20260320_081238.webp 20260320_081304.webp
 
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