Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Illinois Railway Gold Filled Pocket Watch, c. 1923
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- c. 1923
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- United States
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2371
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2371)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Illinois Railway Gold Filled Pocket Watch (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2371), this is a pocket watch, made in United States, dated c. 1923. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
Step back in time with the exquisite Illinois Railway Gold Filled Pocket Watch, a remarkable piece crafted around 1923 that epitomizes the elegance and precision of early 20th-century American horology. This manual winding masterpiece features a railway grade Model 9 Bunn Special movement, renowned for its reliability and adorned with an impressive 21 jewels, ensuring both durability and intricate craftsmanship. Encased in a 50mm gold-filled case, this watch exudes a timeless elegance, further accentuated by its classic white dial with Arabic numerals. The pre-owned watch, in excellent condition, comes complete with a custom box, making it not just a functional timepiece but a cherished collectible. Manufactured by the esteemed Illinois Watch Company, this pocket watch is a rare opportunity to own a piece of American railway history, blending historical significance with high-grade horological artistry. Introducing the stunning Illinois Railway Gold Filled pocket watch, crafted circa 1923. This manual winding timepiece boasts a railway grade Model 9 Bunn Special movement with an impressive 21 jewels. The 50mm gold filled case adds to the elegance of this collectable, while the white dial with Arabic numerals provides a classic touch. This pre-owned watch also comes with a custom box, making it a perfect addition to any collection. Don’t miss the opportunity to own a piece of American railway history with this high-grade pocket watch. Creator: Illinois Watch Company Case Material: Gold-filled Place of Origin: United States Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: Unknown Condition: Excellent
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Railroad and railway watches
Timetables made accurate timekeeping a matter of safety. After a fatal collision at Kipton, Ohio, in 1891, American railroads adopted strict standards: open-face watches, lever setting, at least 17 jewels, adjustment to temperature and five positions, and a performance within 30 seconds a week, inspected regularly by approved watch inspectors. Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Illinois and Ball made railroad-grade watches in large numbers.
European railways issued service watches to guards, drivers and station staff, often engraved with the railway's initials and a staff number. Such watches link industrial timekeeping with the standardisation of time zones (Greenwich Mean Time adopted by British railways in 1847; North American standard time in 1883).
What to look for
- Open-face cases with the crown at 12 and lever setting under the bezel.
- Montgomery dials with every minute numbered, or bold Arabic numerals.
- 'Railroad grade', '21 Jewels', 'Adjusted 5 positions' on the movement.
- Railway initials and issue numbers engraved on the case back.
Dating clues
- American railroad standards: from 1891–93, revised c. 1908.
- Serial numbers of American makers allow dating to within a year.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Detached lever escapement
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