Interstatetime Watch of the Month November 2001

ILLINOIS WATCH CO. - SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

18 Size, Bunn Grade, 17 jewels, Open Face

Upon first glance, this watch appears to be a standard issue gilt model 3 (fifth pinion) Bunn from the early years of Illinois production. If this were the case, it would still be a fairly unusual watch as only around 250 were ever made with these markings. However, upon closer examination, this watch is even more interesting, because it was fitted with a "Teske's Patent Regulator".

Early model 2, and 3 Illinois watches used a simple regulator, with no micrometer adjustement. Teske, seeing the inherent value of a more precisely adjustable regulator, patented his device primarily, if not exclusively as an after-market add-on to improve on the simple regulator design. His regulator was marketed not only to fit movements from Illinois but other companies such as Marion, Hampden, etc. The Teske regulator was advertised in trade magazines, and could be purchased by jewelers to upgrade, and distinguish the watches they sold.

I am not sure how successful Teske was in marketing his product. The fact that we don't see very many of them today leads me to believe that he probably did not get rich in the regulator business. However, his idea may have led Illinois and other companies to develop better regulators on their own. We know, that at some point, Illinois began to fit higher grade movements with the Chalmers' and the Wheeler's patent regulators, which were much more elegant than the Teske.

Thanks to interstatetime.com friend, and Illinois expert, Russ Snyder for sending along the pictures of this rare and interesting Bunn. We are proud to make it the November 2001 watch of the month.

If anyone has any information, or printed material regarding the Teske's Patented Regulator", please e-mail me. I would love to include your documents or information as links to this page, obviously with credit to the contributor.

You can CLICK HERE to see a Teske's ad from an 1886 Jeweler's Circular submitted by Greg Frauenhoff. Thanks Greg!

If you have a watch you would like to submit as Interstatetime Watch of the Month.....

SEND ME AN E-MAIL.


THIS IS THE NOVEMBER, 2001 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



ILLINOIS WATCH CO. - SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 18 Size, Bunn Grade, 17 jewels, Open Face Upon first glance, this watch appears to be a standard issue gilt model 3 (fifth pinion) Bunn from the early years of Illinois production. If this were the case, it would still be a fairly unusual watch as only around 250 were ever made with these markings. However, upon closer examination, this watch is even more interesting, because it was fitted with a "Teske's Patent Regulator". Early model 2, and 3 Illinois watches used a simple regulator, with no micrometer adjustement. Teske, seeing the inherent value of a more precisely adjustable regulator, patented his device primarily, if not exclusively as an after-market add-on to improve on the simple regulator design. His regulator was marketed not only to fit movements from Illinois but other companies such as Marion, Hampden, etc. The Teske regulator was advertised in trade magazines, and could be purchased by jewelers to upgrade, and distinguish the watches they sold. I am not sure how successful Teske was in marketing his product. The fact that we don't see very many of them today leads me to believe that he probably did not get rich in the regulator business. However, his idea may have led Illinois and other companies to develop better regulators on their own. We know, that at some point, Illinois began to fit higher grade movements with the Chalmers' and the Wheeler's patent regulators, which were much more elegant than the Teske. Thanks to interstatetime.com friend, and Illinois expert, Russ Snyder for sending along the pictures of this rare and interesting Bunn. We are proud to make it the November 2001 watch of the month. If anyone has any information, or printed material regarding the Teske's Patented Regulator", please e-mail me. I would love to include your documents or information as links to this page, obviously with credit to the contributor. You can CLICK HERE to see a Teske's ad from an 1886 Jeweler's Circular submitted by Greg Frauenhoff. Thanks Greg! If you have a watch you would like to submit as Interstatetime Watch of the Month..... SEND ME AN E-MAIL.