Interstatetime Watch of the Month January 2003 - Illinois Grade 179 with Fancy Dial

Illinois Watch Company - Springfield, Illinois

16 size 21 Jewel Grade 179 Open Face Circa 1896

In 1896, Illinois introduced a new model of 16 size watch they called the "thin model". The thin model consisted of the model 4 hunter and the model 5 open face. These watches were designed by Fred I. Getty, and are distinctive for their single visible winding wheel and the "half moon click".

Over the history of the thin model, there were many different grades, from low quality to excellent quality produced. Non were of higher quality than the above pictured grade 179. Between 1896 and 1898, there were only 700 hunters and 600 open face grade 179s made. The grade 179 was followed immediately in the Illinois production by the famous Sangamo grade. There is very little difference between these 2 grades, except for the slightly better finish of the 179. The 179 was certainly the highest grade 16 size watch produced by Illinois at the time of its production.

There are many very interesting variations of the 179, including many great private labels. What makes the above example special, is the beautiful fancy dial. The great part about this dial is that it looks like the typical dial which would come on the grade, except that it has blue instead of black numbers and script, and has the gold five minute markers and leaf decoration. The base of the dial is a very glossy, almost translucent glass enamel. There are very few fancy Illinois dials, and fewer still which seem to have come from the factory. This example certainly looks like a factory original.

Thanks go out to my good friends Fred and Fred Hansen for this, the first Watch of the Month for 2003. The Freds (father and son) are avid Illinois collectors and researchers and are always ready to share their information with other like minded collectors. Young Fred says that he and his dad are each half owners of this great watch, but that his half consists of the dial and movement. I'm not sure if his dad has agreed to this split or not.

If you have a watch you would like to submit, or any questions....

SEND ME AN E-MAIL.


THIS IS THE JANUARY, 2003 interstatetime.com "WATCH OF THE MONTH" THIS PAGE COULD FEATURE YOUR WATCH!!! Every month we will pick a watch, submitted by one of our viewers, to be "Watch of the Month". "Watch of the Month" submissions should be a vintage or antique American pocket watch. They don't have to be rare or expensive, just interesting (this should give you lots of options). If you have a watch you would like to submit CLICK HERE to go to the "submission rules" page. THESE WATCHES ARE NOT FOR SALE! GO BACK TO OUR HOME PAGE OR TO THE WATCH OF THE MONTH ARCHIVES
CLICK ON THE DIAL OR MOVEMENT TO SEE AN ENLARGEMENT

	Illinois Watch Company - Springfield, Illinois 16 size 21 Jewel Grade 179 Open Face Circa 1896 In 1896, Illinois introduced a new model of 16 size watch they called the "thin model". The thin model consisted of the model 4 hunter and the model 5 open face. These watches were designed by Fred I. Getty, and are distinctive for their single visible winding wheel and the "half moon click". Over the history of the thin model, there were many different grades, from low quality to excellent quality produced. Non were of higher quality than the above pictured grade 179. Between 1896 and 1898, there were only 700 hunters and 600 open face grade 179s made. The grade 179 was followed immediately in the Illinois production by the famous Sangamo grade. There is very little difference between these 2 grades, except for the slightly better finish of the 179. The 179 was certainly the highest grade 16 size watch produced by Illinois at the time of its production. There are many very interesting variations of the 179, including many great private labels. What makes the above example special, is the beautiful fancy dial. The great part about this dial is that it looks like the typical dial which would come on the grade, except that it has blue instead of black numbers and script, and has the gold five minute markers and leaf decoration. The base of the dial is a very glossy, almost translucent glass enamel. There are very few fancy Illinois dials, and fewer still which seem to have come from the factory. This example certainly looks like a factory original. Thanks go out to my good friends Fred and Fred Hansen for this, the first Watch of the Month for 2003. The Freds (father and son) are avid Illinois collectors and researchers and are always ready to share their information with other like minded collectors. Young Fred says that he and his dad are each half owners of this great watch, but that his half consists of the dial and movement. I'm not sure if his dad has agreed to this split or not. If you have a watch you would like to submit, or any questions.... SEND ME AN E-MAIL.