Posted 6 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.
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
Sorry, I gave you the wrong database link. This is the correct link:
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/1510919
Dave
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!