Share your favorites on Show & Tell

My Abraham Lincoln Collection

In Pocket Watches > Illinois Pocket Watches > Show & Tell.
Pocket Watches696 of 1707 Pocket WatchKing George V Jubilee 1935 Time Flies Watch
11
Love it
0
Like it

walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
mikelv85mikelv85 loves this.
WatchClockWatcherWatchClockWatcher loves this.
DrFluffyDrFluffy loves this.
pops52pops52 loves this.
TreyTrey loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
See 9 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 10 years ago

    pw-collector
    (297 items)

    My Abraham Lincoln Collection.
    First, the watch:
    Illinois Watch Co.
    Ser. # 3932781
    Size 12
    21 Ruby Jewels
    Model: A. Lincoln
    circa 1921

    Second, the large medallion (approx. 3" in diameter):
    Jacob Bunn, president of the Illinois Watch Company, reflected this perspective in sending the following announcement to the high schools of the nation: "In view of this city being the former home and burial place of our martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, and desiring to encourage the study of his life and character, this company without selfish motives have been considering for some time the advisability of presenting annually, to a student in the senior class of each High School in the United States, a very handsome medal of Abraham Lincoln. The idea in mind," Bunn continued, "is to present the medal on Lincoln's birthday" to the student at each high school who is deemed by a panel of at least three teachers to have written "the best short essay" on Lincoln.
    Bunn was already in touch with Walter C. Heath, president of the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey, which welcomed the opportunity to strike the medal for the essay contest. A leading maker of emblems and pins, buttons and badges, and other "advertising novelties," Whitehead & Hoag had by 1924 manufactured at least seventy-five medals, plaques, tokens, and coins in honor of Lincoln, including the Illinois Watch Company's medalet.
    On June 1, 1923, Heath of Whitehead & Hoag wrote Douglas Volk the first of many letters relating to Bunn's plans for the essay contest and the medal. An established artist, Volk had recently begun a series of Lincoln portraits that were based in part on the Lincoln life mask made by his father, Leonard Volk. A copy of this was what was used on the front of the medallion.

    Third, the small medalet:
    The watch company distributed a medalet and chain, to serve as a watch fob for the Lincoln watch. On the front was a profile of the president, with his name and dates on the circumference. On the back, between an eagle and a Roman fasces—or bundle of rods—was written in capital letters, Illinois / Watch Company / Springfield / Makers of the / A. Lincoln / Watch.
    B. L. (Bela Lyon) Pratt, a leading Boston sculptor, designed the medalet, which was only about one and a quarter inches in diameter. The piece, although too small to be precisely rendered, was exceedingly popular. The watch company distributed hundreds of medalets both with and without its A. Lincoln watches. Also manufactured by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.
    The rectangular bronze watch fob:
    The front has the same embossed bust of Abraham Lincoln as the large medallion and ABRAHAM LINCOLN underneath.
    The back has:
    AWARDED BY THE PITTSBURGH PRESS
    LINCOLN STORY CONTEST
    1924
    Also manufactured by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.

    Fourth, the Book:
    Lincoln's Devotional
    Introduction by Carl Sandburg
    A 1957 reprint of Believers Daily Treasure (1852), a book owned & inscribed by Abraham Lincoln.

    Thanks for looking,
    Dave
    Just realized the Mystery button was on. Sorry

    Mystery Solved
    logo
    Illinois Pocket Watches
    See all
    1889 Antique 15J Elgin B.W Raymond Pocket Watch 18S 14k Gold Fld Hunter Case
    1889 Antique 15J Elgin B.W Raymond ...
    $202
    ILLINOIS 23 JEWEL 12 SIZE GRADE 410 SCARCE TOP GRADE POCKET WATCH
    ILLINOIS 23 JEWEL 12 SIZE GRADE 410...
    $137
    Illinois 23j 16S 60 Hour Bunn Special Railroad Pocket Watch
    Illinois 23j 16S 60 Hour Bunn Speci...
    $360
    Illinois Santa Fe Special 21J Montgomery Dial Grade 809 Pocket Watch #WB1184-5
    Illinois Santa Fe Special 21J Montg...
    $182
    logo
    1889 Antique 15J Elgin B.W Raymond Pocket Watch 18S 14k Gold Fld Hunter Case
    1889 Antique 15J Elgin B.W Raymond ...
    $202
    See all

    Comments

    1. pw-collector pw-collector, 10 years ago
      Thanks officialfuel for the appreciation.
    2. pw-collector pw-collector, 10 years ago
      Thanks for the appreciation:
      aghcollect
      vetraio50
      CindB
      Manikin
      PatSea
    3. pops52 pops52, 10 years ago
      Great post Dave!
    4. pw-collector pw-collector, 10 years ago
      Thanks for the comments & appreciation:
      BB2
      Trey
      Ken
      DrFluffy
    5. pw-collector pw-collector, 10 years ago
      Thanks for the appreciation:
      WatchClockWatcher
      mikelv85
      walksoftly

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.