Return to Previous Page (Thumbnails)
Return To Previous Page (Thumbnails)
This 18 size Illinois private label (SN-301,832) was made in 1883, but factory records indicate it was finnished in 1889, as a private label for E. Goldberg. The watch is very interesting for several reasons. It is a grade 100-S, and although clearly marked on the movement "Special 15 Jewels" it is clearly a 16 jewel watch. The factory records list it as a 15 jewel watch but it is known that several other movements from this run of 100 watches were also jeweled up to 16 jewels. This watch is a "5th pinion" or model 3 movement (I have marked the 5th pinion in the photos above.).
The 5th pinion model was developed by Illinois a few years before this watch was produced, as an easy way to make a hunting case movement into an open face movement. The 5th pinion, which ran off the 3d wheel was placed opposite the winding pinion, and was used as a seconds wheel. This way the seconds bit on the dial could be at 6 o'clock, as needed for and open face watch. On this watch, the 5th pinion is jeweled on the train bridge or plate of the watch so you can see the extra jewel when you look at the movement. However, under the dial on the pillar plate, there is no jewel on this pinion, accounting for the odd number of jewels.
The Illinois serial number list indicates that 450 grade 100 model 3s were produced in 15 jewels, and none in 16. However, several examples from the run 301,001 - 301,100 have been seen with this extra jewel. This is probably another example of some type of experiment or marketing ploy at Illinois. At any rate, Mr. Goldberg probably got an extra jewel on his "Special 15 Jewels" watch at no extra charge.
I would love to know more about the E. Goldberg private label, but not much exists in the records to illuminate it, and Mr. Goldberg was not inclined to put the name of the city where his business was located on his watches. E. Goldberg private label Illinois watches have also been seen in grade 100-s model 2 (hunter) and grade 64 and 65. If you have any information, CLICK HERE to send me an e-mail.
