Organized in 1869, Illinois made many low, medium and high grade watches before being sold to the Hamilton Watch Company in 1927. They are especially known for the large number of railroad grade and railroad approved watches they produced, including the Bunn Special, the Sangamo Special and the Santa Fe Special. Illinois also used more names on their watches than any other company, including names of companies which simply sold the watches, such as "Burlington Watch Co." and "Washington Watch Co."-- from The New Collector's Guide to Pocket Watches, © 2000 Barry S. Goldberg
If anybody has some additional information or questions about these watches, please send me an e-mail and let me know!
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VERY early Illinois pocket watch (serial number 7012). 18 size, Model #1, "Hoyt" Grade, with 9 jewels. Key wind and key set. Housed in a nice triple-hinged "Silveride" case. Ca. 1873. |
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Illinois Pocket Watch, size 18, Model 2, Grade 100-S with either 11 or 15 jewels. Stem wind and lever set, with unusual "Chalmer" patented regulator. Housed in a very nice gold-filled hunter case. Dial and movement marked "E. Goldberg" [no relation....] Ca. 1886. |
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Illinois pocket watch, size 18, Model 6, with 17 jewels. Stem wind and lever set. Checkerboard 2-tone movement in a display case. Movement marked with private label of a Boston jeweler. Ca. 1896 |
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Illinois "Bunn" pocket watch. Size 18, 17 jewels, "adjusted". Stem wind and lever set. "Gothic" style double sunk railroad dial. Beautiful movement, and a marvelous engraving of a locomotive on back of case. Ca. 1899. |
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18 Size Illinois "Bunn Special" in a highly engraved solid 14k gold hunter case. Stem wind, lever set, with 24 ruby jewels. Ca. 1900. |
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18 size Illinois "Bunn" with 17 jewels. Stem wind, lever set, with lovely two-tone damascening on the movement. Housed in a nice, plain-polished gold-filled case. Ca. 1901. |
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Illinois "Bunn Special" railroad grade and approved pocket watch in a highly engraved solid 14k gold case. Size 18, 24 ruby jewels, adjusted to temperature, isochronism & 5 positions. Stem wind and lever set. "Gothic" style double sunk railroad dial. Ca. 1903. |
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Illinois pocket watch, 16 size, Model #7, Grade 605, Stem wind and lever set, 17 jewels, adjusted to 4 positions. Housed in a triple-hinged gold-filled case. Movement has gorgeous two-tone damaskeening and gold accents. Ca. 1913. |
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Illinois Watch Co., Model #7. Size 16, 11 jewel, open face, pendant set and wind. Ca. 1915. |
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16 size Illinois "Bunn Special" pocket watch, grade 163, rare type "I-R". 23 jewels, 60-hour mainspring. Stem wind and lever set. Housed in a lovely white gold filled "Bunn Special Model #28" case. Ca. 1931. |
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