THIS IS THE MARCH, 2006 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 Grade 105 - 17 jewel open face "Fifth Pinion" Circa 1883
Exactly 4 years ago, I used my 15 jewel grade 105 as Watch of the Month, but I though having another 105 this month would be appropriate since this one is much rarer and in fact, may be one of the rarest Illinois watches in existence.
The watch pictured above is first of all, a model 3, or a "fifth pinion" example. Although the production records show that 150 model 3 grade 105s were produced, only about 10 or so are known to exist. I believe that all known examples, prior to the discovery of the above, have the simple Illinois patent regulator described in the factory advertisement. The above example is the only known to exist with a Chalmers regulator. After taking the watch apart, it is apparent that the regulator was installed at the factory.
This watch was discovered in England and has a special "runic dial" which has the the name "JOHN McMASTER" with the J where the "1" should be on the dial and so on. The dial is obviously an original glass enamel 105 grade dial with original feet at the model 3 spacing. It also has the same beautiful original hands which seem to appear on most 105s.
The watch was found in gold filled case. There are no extra screw marks on the case, but it is hard to know if the case is original since these watches left the factory with no cases. The case is in nice shape with no brass showing except on the bow, but it shows some wear in the engraving on the back.
Please see this link to the hunter (model 2) version of the 105 for some further description and history of this grade CLICK HERE.
Thanks to interstatetime.com friend Jerry Barko for letting me take pictures of his extremely rare Illinois watch. We are proud to make it the March 2006 watch of the month.
If you have a watch you would like to submit...
