Railroads were at the forefront of the effort to standardize timekeeping in the late 1800’s, because when their engineers’ watches weren’t accurately synchronized, terrible locomotive collisions could result.
In addition to encouraging the creation of standardized national time zones, the railroads provided a ready market for pocket watches made to exacting specifications, including the number of jewels and adjustments.
Adjustments means the watch has been specially calibrated to keep constant time regardless of position, adjusted to work in the vertical position, the horizontal position, the left, right, upside down position.
Jewels are bearings on the various gears to reduce friction.
A watch with no jewels is metal grinding on metal and soon will stop.
On a very high-grade watch, every single wheel or gear would have a jewel, one on the front and one on the back, plus cap jewels to prevent it from going up or down.
Lower-grade watches would only have them on the gears moving the fastest and a really poor quality watch would only have one or two jewels or maybe none.
These are not gem-quality jewels, but industrial type jewels (rubies, sapphires, and diamonds are so hard they make very good bearings because they don’t wear).
In 1879, the company reorganized into the Illinois Springfield Watch Company.
Then, in 1885, it changed its name to the Illinois Watch Company. In addition to its regular pocket watch lines, it also made high-end railroad grade pocket watches.
These included the Santa Fe Special, the Sangamo Special, and the Bunn Special, whose movements typically featured 24 rubies.
The Illinois 21 jewel Montgomery Railroad Watch is Not railroad grade
although it is a railroad watch.
On a very high-grade watch, every single wheel or gear would have a jewel, one on the front and one on the back, plus cap jewels to prevent it from going up or down.
The Illinois 21 jewel Montgomery Railroad Watch
https://www.ebay.com/itm/205478133157?
Description
“An Antique 16s E Howard 21 Jewel Series 1 Pocket Watch. Serial numbered 1100129. The watch measures 2″ wide.
The case is marked 10k Gold Filled. The watch is in good condition and runs, not guaranteed to keep perfect time.“
Its a “railroad” watch. A good watch but it is not a high end railroad grade watch.
If your going to buy a railroad watch you will need to go
to https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/1100129
Look for the 1100129 serial number on the watch movment.
Enter the above number for the watch above and it reveals it NOT
a railroad grade watch although it is called a railroad watch.
_________________________________________________________________
A Railroad Grade Watch
Antique 16S Illinois Type III 60hr.
Railroad Pocket Watch Bunn Special 10k GF
https://www.ebay.com/itm/135122028476?
Look for the 5092359 serial number on the watch movement.
If your going to buy a railroad grade watch with 21 jewels and
60 hr operation.
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/5092359
It will cost more but its worth it.
This Bunn Special railroad grade watch would give a Rolex automatic a run for its money.
Its the one I would buy.
There are other railroad grade watch models to look for from the
Illinois watch company.
Santa Fe Special
Sangamo Special
Just be sure where your buying the pocket watch is safe.
Do your homework on this.
You can be sure I will before I buy a $400.00 Antique Pocket
Watch. 🙂