Since my father-in-law's death about 10 years ago my wife has mentioned a few times that he had a pocket watch, but wasn't sure where she put it. Knowing how frugal my father-in-law was I just thought it was a cheapo.
My wife and I were doing some "spring cleaning" this morning and she was going through some of her father's things that she had saved.
She said, "oh her is that pocket watch I told you about." As soon as it was laid in my hand upside down I knew it wasn't a cheapo. What a surprise when I turned it over and saw "ILLINOIS" on the dial. Was I ever surprised when I unscrewed the back and A. Lincoln staired back at me. I wound it a few times and it took right off.
This very nice two-tone cased A Lincoln has been under my nose for ten years and I thought it was just a cheapo! This will make a nice winter project!
I sure wish I knew the story behind this watch. My in-laws were both from West Virginia, moving to New York right after WW2. He worked the coal mines and the woods before the war. I know all his relatives and none worked the railroads. All are gone so I am left to speculate on how he came to own such a nice pocket watch.

Could one of our Illinois experts give me a date of birth for this watch

Hi Ed

Very nice watch, I wish I had ones like that buried in my house.

Yours is from 1915, it is a model 9. There were about 38,195 made in 76 runs.

If you want me to see if I can find anything on your father-in-law that might tie him to a railroad type job I would need his name.

Tom

Great find, Ed, especially as it has been in your house all these years!

Maybe Tom can find some information about your father-in-law that may shed some light on how he came to own this watch as well as fill in some gaps in the family history.

I'm sure your A. Lincoln watch will look great after you do a COA on it. Then it can continue on it's journey through the family.

Tom, my father-in laws name was Ova Stalnaker and he was from Randolph County West Virginia. Their are a lot of Stalnakers around the area still.

Mary Ann, the watch will go to my son along with my collection. Steve is not a watch person but I know he will cherrish this Illinois.

Ed

Was your father-in-law's middle name Guy & his mother Susie W., sister Pearl, brother Delmar etc.?

If so when he was 14 in the 1930 census for Mingo, Randolph, West Virginia he listed his occupation as a trackman for the railroad.

Tom

What a great find, Ed, right under your nose all this time....

Some guy's have all the luck....

Regards,

Jerry

Ed,

Yours came out of the 14th run and was within the first 5000 of the 16 size made. What is also interesting about your movement is that it appears to have the "screws up" balance cock. Somewhat unique Illinois movement.

Steve

Boy Steve, you are good at noticing those small things. Wish I had your eye.

Tom

Wow, a 14 Year old trackman. I wonder if he was a good poker player, cause that beauty must have cost about a month's pay for a trackman back then!

Yeah David, I noticed that he was apparently the oldest child at the time & his mother was the head of the family so I would guess he had not choice but to work.

I know even from my own experience, I went to work full time when I was 12 when my dad passed away & by the time I was 15 I was illegally driving a 18 wheeler for a living & taking routes that would get me around the weigh stations.

Tom

Tom, that is very interesting. My wife said he never mentioned working for the railroad, just the coal mines and in the woods.
He was the oldest of 3 boys with his sister Pearl being the oldest child. She was about 17 in 1930 and was a teacher.
Steve, thanks for the info on the watch. Would you venture a guess as to why the screws were "screw up."
One last question. Would a trackman be required to have a RR grade watch?

Tom,

Anytime you see a straightline dial look for the "screws up" balance cock. That will put it in the pre 1915 era and for about three years they used that method on many watches at least the 16 size model 4,5, 8, and 9.

Steve

Ed

If you would like a copy of the census records I can email them to you. There may be more, I didn't look anymore, I wanted to hear back from you that I was looking at the right person.

Tom

Steve, you will have to excuse my ignorance, what is a straight line dial?

Tom, If it wouldn't be to much trouble. I know my wife would be tickled.

Thanks,
Ed

Ed

Not to but in for Steve, I think he means the word Illinois is in a straight line on the dial, some others it is curved.

Tom

Also Ed, I was trying to determine if a trackman had to have a railroad grade watch, I haven't found anything definite but I found a old case about a death of a trackman, while they worked on the tracks the foreman held a time table in one hand and a watch in another. He would yell at the workers when a train was scheduled & they would move off the track. So it would appear a reliable watch was needed.

Tom

I thought this was interesting, it is from The trackman's helper: a handbook for track foremen, supervisors and engineers By Joseph Kindelan

PRACTICAL HINTS FOR TRACKMEN

Safety first. The first ten of the following hints were published in a safety poster printed by the New York Central Railroad in sixteen languages, and published in the January 22, 1915, issue of the By. Age Gaz.

1. Don't take chances. Think what'' Safety First'' means to you and to your family. Do your work in the safe way and be careful to avoid injury to yourself and others.

2. Always be on the watch for trains in both directions, and when you step from one track to another, ALWAYS LOOK IN BOTH DIRECTIONS FIRST. Do not stand close to rail of track while train is passing.

3. When your foreman signals you to step from track do so AT ONCE. Don't wait. Don't try to remove an extra shovelful of dirt first. That last shovelful of dirt may cost you your life.

4. Never stand or walk upon the tracks except when necessary in the performance of your work, and then watch for trains in both directions, as trains are liable to be run against current of traffic or run in either direction at any time.

5. Never use tools that have battered heads or are otherwise defective or unsafe for use. As soon as you discover a tool that is defective, put it away and call it to the attention of your foreman and get a good one in its place.

6. Always put tools or material of any kind where they cannot be struck by a train. Be particular about cleaning up rubbish you find lying near the track and never leave anything lying about for other men to stumble over.

7. Never overload hand cars either with material or men. In operating hand cars be sure you afford yourselves all the protection that is required by the rules.

8. Never get on and off moving cars or trains. Your duties do not require it, you are not accustomed to it and it is a dangerous practice.

9. Always play safe. Think about what you are doing and don't forget that you are working on a railroad.

10. Obey the rules. They were made for the protection of yourself and others and they should be observed to the letter.

So I would say at least the foreman had a watch.

Tom

That is a watch that has a story. If the case numbers match for the covers and the body, the story gets even longer.

David,
It looks like your "hunch" is correct, the case numbers do not match. (0054169 on the case back and 6858308 on the body)

Ed, Absolutely fascinating. My dad was from Wheeling and his family were glass, railroad, fireworks and coal and steel workers. Mentioned just because the area was full of heavy industry and mining and a fair number of those workers wanted reliable watches. Where your father in law lived was big in union-anti union activities. My dad died when I was 10 and I went to work at 13 and my wonderful old Godfather was a Union Pacific engineer who lied and started to work on the U. P. at 14 or 15 after his dad died and he was the oldest kid on a hardscrabble farm. I remember he told me he did not have a railroad approved watch until he made fireman. He got a used one to start with and finished with a 992b. He got me started on this hobby.

Richard,
Many teenagers went to work during the depression era. I'm sure all to help feed the family. Work ethic was very strong back in those days. I believe it was a source of pride. Not like it is today with many of the younger generation.

Ed, after taking another look at the case body, which looks original to that movement, the fact that the cover and bezel are different numbers could be easily explained. If the originals were damaged the "new" cover/bezels actually add to the story my imagination easily conjures up for this treasure. "When times were hard, the hard timers won".

Great find Ed...Sometimes they are literally right under our noses.