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ghce
·
The Illinois Pocketwatch Thread
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ghce
·
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Canuck
·Presented 103 years ago. How things have changed! Employers valued their employees, and employees felt valued. I was employed by a Rolex dealer for just short of 25 years. Had I stuck around for 9 more months, I’d have been presented with a plastic Seiko clock! I was given two options. Take a 48% pay cut and relinquish my position in management, but remain employed. OR accept a year on full salary if I would resign! Take the money and run! So that’s what I did!
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ghce
·Presented 103 years ago. How things have changed! Employers valued their employees, and employees felt valued. I was employed by a Rolex dealer for just short of 25 years. Had I stuck around for 9 more months, I’d have been presented with a plastic Seiko clock! I was given two options. Take a 48% pay cut and relinquish my position in management, but remain employed. OR accept a year on full salary if I would resign! Take the money and run! So that’s what I did!
The date on this one is interesting, this is just an employers gift of appreciation for a years hard work, I presume the retirement watch would be solid gold going by their obvious generosity.
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Waltesefalcon
·@ghce those are both great watches. It's a shame about the crystal on the Autocrat. Those are hard to find.
Do you plan on getting either serviced and back in a pocket soon?
Do you plan on getting either serviced and back in a pocket soon?
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ghce
·@ghce those are both great watches. It's a shame about the crystal on the Autocrat. Those are hard to find.
Do you plan on getting either serviced and back in a pocket soon?
Yes for the Autocrat that crystal style is hard to find other wise it would be used as a wearable, runs well but like most things that age it needs a service but until I can locate a lens it's low on the priority list.
The other Illinois dispite my WM best efforts is refusing to run, had the balance staff replaced but I suspect he wasn't to knowledgeable about double rollers so he gave up lol. Would really like this one running I am sure there is little wrong with it movement wise, just needs a glass and a sub hand. Both of these are of course 12s watches which I don't usually collect BUT they are both Illinois so how could you not.
To me, Illinois PW are the pinnacle of US brands bar none.
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Waltesefalcon
·Yes for the Autocrat that crystal style is hard to find other wise it would be used as a wearable, runs well but like most things that age it needs a service but until I can locate a lens it's low on the priority list.
The other Illinois dispite my WM best efforts is refusing to run, had the balance staff replaced but I suspect he wasn't to knowledgeable about double rollers so he gave up lol. Would really like this one running I am sure there is little wrong with it movement wise, just needs a glass and a sub hand. Both of these are of course 12s watches which I don't usually collect BUT they are both Illinois so how could you not.
To me, Illinois PW are the pinnacle of US brands bar none.
In many ways I agree with you. Illinois is my favorite watch brand. However, I have to admit that some of my Hamiltons are as good. A 946 or a 950 are just too good to ignore.
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Canuck
·
Depression era watchmakers had a technique, the use of which could create watch glasses of odd shape such as yours. It involved a square sheet of zinc with a hole the exact shape and size of the bezel of your Longines, sawn into the zinc.The profile of the zinc should also match the side view of your bezel. Bend the corners of the zinc sheet down to form 4 feet. Using a watch glass that is larger than the hole in the zinc. Centre the watch glass over the cushion shaped hole in the zinc. Then using a soft flame from a propane torch, heat the glass evenly, keeping the torch moving. Heat the glass to the point that it softens (but not melts), then with luck, it will “slump” through the hole in the zinc. Allow the glass to to cool for a few minutes. Trim the edges of the glass to fit the bezel, using a lens edger cooled with water. Several attempts might be necessary.
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesThere is one thing about it Waltesefalcon. While we may not agree on Colt and Smith & Wesson we are in agreement on the Illinois pocket watches.
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Waltesefalcon
·There is one thing about it Waltesefalcon. While we may not agree on Colt and Smith & Wesson we are in agreement on the Illinois pocket watches.
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TexOmega
·I have been intrigued about this Santa Fe Special private label pw since I bought it 10 or more years ago, so I followed the Yellow Brick Road to unravel the reason and rational for manufacturing an "almost" railroad grade pocket watch.
Turns out it is all about power, position and a personal relationship that began in 1894 when Henry Montgomery was promoted to General Watch Inspector for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe(AT&SF) and partnered with Alonso Thomas to supply watches to Montgomery's network and work as a traveling inspector.
Eventually Thomas opened his own Santa Fe Watch Company and contracted with Illinois Watch Company to supply an "adjusted to 3 position" Santa Fe Special movement in large bulk orders shaving $3-5 dollars each off the wholesale price when compared to a "adjusted to 5 positions" railroad grade movement.
Guess who the powerful, now, Chief Time Inspector was who provided the loop-hole for these "adjusted to 3-positions" watches to be approved for RR use in the sprawling Chicago to the Pacific Ocean network with lines south into Texas and Gulf Coast? The same man who received a 0.25 cent royalty per dial to license his Montgomery Dial to be offered with these watches. A standard Santa Fe Special dial was offered in the catalog for 0.25 cent less.
The same monthly "walk in" payment plan coupled with a heavily advertised, pioneering mail-order "$0 down, $3.50/month for 13 months" offering was a huge success.
So Mr. Montgomery was The Time Titan of the West, while Mr. Webb C. Ball was The Time Titan of the East and completely banned Montgomery Dials and "adj to 3 position" watches.
My case serial places it at 1921-22 and the movt at 1921-22. But my case is not marked Santa Fe Special like 90% of them were. 10% saved $2-3 but had to do some legwork to complete the watch.
Triple signed package for less than $50USD.... Could only loose up to 30 seconds a week or roughly 4 seconds a day to stay in service.
A true Montgomery Dial must have the whole #6 inside the sub-dial
Turns out it is all about power, position and a personal relationship that began in 1894 when Henry Montgomery was promoted to General Watch Inspector for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe(AT&SF) and partnered with Alonso Thomas to supply watches to Montgomery's network and work as a traveling inspector.
Eventually Thomas opened his own Santa Fe Watch Company and contracted with Illinois Watch Company to supply an "adjusted to 3 position" Santa Fe Special movement in large bulk orders shaving $3-5 dollars each off the wholesale price when compared to a "adjusted to 5 positions" railroad grade movement.
Guess who the powerful, now, Chief Time Inspector was who provided the loop-hole for these "adjusted to 3-positions" watches to be approved for RR use in the sprawling Chicago to the Pacific Ocean network with lines south into Texas and Gulf Coast? The same man who received a 0.25 cent royalty per dial to license his Montgomery Dial to be offered with these watches. A standard Santa Fe Special dial was offered in the catalog for 0.25 cent less.
The same monthly "walk in" payment plan coupled with a heavily advertised, pioneering mail-order "$0 down, $3.50/month for 13 months" offering was a huge success.
So Mr. Montgomery was The Time Titan of the West, while Mr. Webb C. Ball was The Time Titan of the East and completely banned Montgomery Dials and "adj to 3 position" watches.
My case serial places it at 1921-22 and the movt at 1921-22. But my case is not marked Santa Fe Special like 90% of them were. 10% saved $2-3 but had to do some legwork to complete the watch.
Triple signed package for less than $50USD.... Could only loose up to 30 seconds a week or roughly 4 seconds a day to stay in service.
A true Montgomery Dial must have the whole #6 inside the sub-dial
Edited:
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pdxleaf
··In Art We Trust
This is like the Gallet of pocket watches. The dial is so clean with the simple manufacturer name. Very beautiful.
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noelekal
··Home For Wayward WatchesWebb C. Ball seems to have been both a mercenary and a spiteful man.
I have one of those Santa Fe Specials. I don't think its movement is as elaborately decorated as your movement
is. I will put up a photo of it when I have more time. We're heading into Fort Worth to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's first concert of the season.
I have one of those Santa Fe Specials. I don't think its movement is as elaborately decorated as your movement
is. I will put up a photo of it when I have more time. We're heading into Fort Worth to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's first concert of the season.
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TexOmega
·I hope they play some Bob Wills
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Canuck
·A Bunn Special 60 hour? I have one of those. Original Illinois case, only one repair number inside the case back, although I serviced it as well. Purchased early on in my collecting mania. I believe it was at an NAWCC regional in the late 1980s. I’d forgotten how good the condition is. I only see it 4 days out of the year at the train shows we exhibit at.
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ghce
·Where are you located? We might be able to find a watch maker who could sort it. Another option would be to find a donor watch with a good balance that you could use.
In many ways I agree with you. Illinois is my favorite watch brand. However, I have to admit that some of my Hamiltons are as good. A 946 or a 950 are just too good to ignore.
Yes and I suppose it's of note that Hamilton chose to continue the Illinois name and movements for a good while after purchase of the company.
Being located in NZ makes it difficult to source parts and movements for US made watches unless of course you want a part for a Waltham 7 jewel traveler in which case they are everywhere lol.
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