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Description
This one is ready to be use and show to all of your friends, they will be looking twice at this beauty!
These vintage watches are getting tough to find, especially in this nice condition, a very nice collectible watch for a very SPECIAL person!!! These watches will last for years to come
1897 Illinois Watch Co, Hunter case pocket/pendant Watch, size 6s in an original B&B Regal 10years 14K Hunter Case .
- 100% Authentic Illinois
- Dial: Single sunk metal
- Case Reads: Warranted B&B Regal 10Years 14K 649438
- Movement Number: 1281140
- Movement Reads: ILLINOIS WATCH CO., SPRINFIELD SAFETY PINION , 1281140
- Glass crystal
- Hallmarked on dial : A. R. CAMPBELL, MORRISVILLE , VT.
Nicely Engraved and engine turned ORIGINAL Hunter Case marked, Warranted B&B Regal 10Years 14K 649438 Gold Filled Hunter Case in Excellent condition with nice Empty initial shield, engraving is nice and crisp, very little wear (see Photos),
Case Observations:
Front cover: opens a bit pass the 90 degrees, the cover has some minor wear at the release spring contact point it opens and closes properly.
The Inside of the front cover shows some brassing and or discoloration (see Photo)
Nice rope style 26” long necklace, with a nice sliding six sided shape FOB with two Stones there is a 3rd place for another stone that is missing .
Bright and clean Gilded well running movement, fully serviced, oiled and clean Lever set and Stem wind, size 6 hunter movement , Movement ran for 10 days prior to this listing, nice clear glass crystal with some minor scratches from age and use.
Single sunk white porcelain dial in near perfect condition with NO hairlines cracks visible, Black Roman numerals, (This is a nice piece of Americana) elegant 116 year old ILLINOIS WATCH CO. pocket or pendant watch, It is good as a "Show piece" AND "Time keeper" of what the Ladies would carry/wear in the late 1890’s
Old treasures like Pocket Watches are disappearing quickly and soon won't be available to buy on line. Rare watches are being bought by Collectors and they don't sell them
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: Import duties, taxes and charges (typically collected upon delivery or pickup) are the buyer’s responsibility and are not included in the item price or shipping charges. Please check with your country’s customs office prior to bidding/buying to determine what this additional cost will be
Brief History: Illinois Watch Company
Including Serial Numbers and Production Dates
Springfield, Illinois
1869 - 1927
The Illinois Springfield Watch Company was organized in 1869 primarily through the efforts of J. C. Adams. The first companies Directors were J. T. Stuart, W. B. Miller, John Williams, John W. Bunn, George Black and George Passfield.
John Stuart was a Springfield lawyer and former partner of Abraham Lincoln. John Williams was president of the First National bank of Springfield. William B. Miller was a local merchant. John B. Bunn owned a grocery business.
Though the first movements were produced in 1872, the company didn't really didn't achieve full production until 1875. By serial number, the first watch made was the "Stuart" model, followed in order by the "Mason," Bunn," "Miller," and finally the "Currier. The first stem-wind watch was produced in 1875. The early Illinois models were key-wound and key-set and are quite collectible today. Illinois later produced an extensive line of extremely fine and accurate Railroad-grade pocket watches like the "Sangamo Special," "Bunn Special" and "Santa Fe Special" (just to name a few).
In 1879, due to financial difficulties, the company was reorganized and the name changed to the Illinois Springfield Watch Company. By 1885 the company name was changed yet again to the Illinois Watch Company.
The Illinois Watch Company was purchased by Hamilton Watch Company in 1927, but continued to produce Illinois watches under Hamilton management until 1932 (the year the last "true" Illinois watch was made). Hamilton continued producing Illinois watches in the Hamilton factory until 1939.
Note: The Illinois Watch Company should not be confused with the Illinois Watch Case Company of Elgin, Illinois. The Illinois Watch Case Company was a major manufacture in the city of Elgin, Illinois. It manufactured watch cases under many brands, such as "Elgin Giant," "Elgin Pride," "Tivoli," "Spartan," and "Elgin Commander." The use of the name "Elgin" in their brand names, or marking the cases with "Elgin USA" has often lead people to believe that a watch was made by the Elgin National Watch Company when it was actually made by another manufacturer, or to think that a watch no longer has its original case because it is "now in an Elgin case."
Illinois Watch Company
Approximate Serial Numbers and Dates
Year | S/N | Year | S/N | Year | S/N |
1872 | 5000 | 1893 | 1,120,000 | 1914 | 2,600,000 |
1873 | 20,000 | 1894 | 1,160,000 | 1915 | 2,700,000 |
1874 | 50,000 | 1895 | 1,220,000 | 1916 | 2,800,000 |
1875 | 75,000 | 1896 | 1,250,000 | 1917 | 3,000,000 |
1876 | 100,000 | 1897 | 1,290,000 | 1918 | 3,200,000 |
1877 | 145,000 | 1898 | 1,330,000 | 1919 | 3,400,000 |
1878 | 210,000 | 1899 | 1,370,000 | 1920 | 3,600,000 |
1879 | 250,000 | 1900 | 1,410,000 | 1921 | 3,750,000 |
1880 | 300,000 | 1901 | 1,450,000 | 1922 | 3,900,000 |
1881 | 350,000 | 1902 | 1,500,000 | 1923 | 4,000,000 |
1882 | 400,000 | 1903 | 1,650,000 | 1924 | 4,500,000 |
1883 | 450,000 | 1904 | 1,700,000 | 1925 | 4,700,000 |
1884 | 500,000 | 1905 | 1,800,000 | 1926 | 4,800,000 |
1885 | 550,000 | 1906 | 1,840,000 | 1927 | 5,000,000 |
1886 | 600,000 | 1907 | 1,900,000 | - Sold to Hamilton - | |
1887 | 700,000 | 1908 | 2,100,000 | 1928 | 5,100,000 |
1888 | 800,000 | 1909 | 2,150,000 | 1929 | 5,200,000 |
1889 | 900,000 | 1910 | 2,200,000 | 1931 | 5,400,000 |
1890 | 1,000,000 | 1911 | 2,300,000 | 1934 | 5,500,000 |
1891 | 1,040,000 | 1912 | 2,400,000 | 1948 | 5,600,000 |
1892 | 1,080,000 | 1913 | 2,500,000 | - | - |
Watch is sold as is and we do not offer any guarantees. This is your chance to add a nice collectible watch and a piece of American History to your collection. U.S. Buyer pays calculated shipping and handling. Shipping by USPS, Insurance is included in our shipping and handling, International shipping ONLY USING EBAY GLOBAL SHIPPING, THIS IS NON- NEGOTIABLE. Good Luck and Thanks!!!
I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. As additional visual descriptions, they take precedence over any and all of the written descriptions. They are very clear and should leave no doubt as to the condition of this watch. In most cases you are the expert also, so please judge these pictures for yourself. If I have erred in the description at all, it was purely unintentional, Vintage watches are completely mechanical and their time keeping accuracy can be affected by many things including, position changes, temperature , internal cleanliness, lubrication, magnetism, and maintenance , As a general rule most are satisfied if the watch is accurate within a few minutes per day, we do not warranty or guarantee their time keeping accuracy
==== PLEASE SEE ALL PICTURES We are NOT watch experts by any means, so please ask questions, or kindly let us know if we've left anything out of importance. THANK YOU! ====
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DEAR BUYERS: Please understand that shipping your item is more than just the actual postage cost!! Shipping and handling charges are VERY REASONABLE and include a small charge for boxes, packing materials, envelopes, etc. I package all items that I sell with great care. I buy packing peanuts, bubble wrap, special boxes, padded envelopes and other shipping materials. It also includes insurance cost on the item as 0f 9-22-09 permitted by new Ebay rules The shipping and handling fees cover these costs.
I want ONLY happy, satisfied customers who can give me a FULL 5 stars for shipping/handling (and all of the other categories too) I will combine shipping whenever possible. If the items can be shipped together without damage, the shipping charges will be reduced for the second item when ebay invoice is sent.