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Illinois Watch Company Pocket Watch with 21 ruby jewels?? Bunn Special?

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    Posted 7 years ago

    jkturner813
    (1 item)

    My dad gifted me this Pocket Watch and im so confused because every layer of the watch is stamped with different information. First opening where you tell the time says "Keystone watch case 2546112" and "Illinois watch co" The opposite side reads the same until you open it up further to the movements etc and it reads "Guaranteed J. Boss 15 years 2546112" on one side and it reads "Adjusted 1510919 21 Ruby Jewels Bunn Special Springfield Ill" on the opposite side. Im so confused as to what any of this means. Any information is appreciated.

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    Comments

    1. pw-collector pw-collector, 7 years ago
      When your watch movement was made, usually the case was sold separately by the jeweler. The customer would pick out a movement & then choose a case that it would fit in & the jeweler would then match them up.
      Your case was manufactured by the Keystone Watch Co. and is a "gold filled" case.
      Your watch was manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company and the information from pocketwatchlookup.com is as follows:
      Grade: Bunn Special
      Manufacturer: Illinois
      Manufacturer Location: Springfield, Illinois
      Movement Serial Number: 1510919
      Grade: Bunn Special
      Model: 6
      Estimated Production Year: 1900
      Run Quantity: 200
      Total Production: 76,978
      Size: 18s
      Jewels: 21j
      Jewel Material: Ruby
      Movement Configuration: Openface
      Movement Finish: Nickel
      Movement Setting: Lever
      Plate: Full Plate
      Barrel: Going
      Train: Fast
      Adjusted: Yes
      Adjusted # of Positions: 6
      Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
      Railroad Grade: Yes
      Dial Feet Locations: 2.0, 21.5, 38.5
      Case Screw Locations: 23.5, 51.5

      Hope this answers your questions,
      Dave
    2. pw-collector pw-collector, 7 years ago
      Sorry, I gave you the wrong database link. This is the correct link:
      https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/1510919
      Dave
    3. SpiritBear, 7 years ago
      A very nice watch. PW-Collector is correct in his information.
      The case was sold separately from the movement of the watch. Keystone made it and it's guaranteed to last 15 years of normal use before the gold plating wears off. J Boss might have been the jeweler? Bunn Special is the name for the model.
      It's a railroad-grade watch-- top quality back in its day. If a normal quality watch is 17 jewels (on points of wear) and adjusted to 3 positions (and temp. in some cases), then yours-- at 21 jewels 6 positions-- was built and tested better. But don't try using it unless it was professionally cleaned in the last 5 years. Otherwise you risk wearing out a few parts from the old dried up oil and dust (which you might not see-- but it's always there after 100 years) which would ruin a 150-dollar watch.
      A great gift!

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