I picked up a South Bend grade 313 18s 17j LS open face that I would think is RR approved but it has a DS dial on it marked Pioneer Standard, has anyone seen a dial marked like this before? If so what is "Pioneer Standard"

Sounds like a private label Claude, might exclude it from being RR approved depending on the year of manufacture. I always wondered if the "313" would meet the standards as it is adjusted, double roller, lever set and 17 jewels. I kind of thought that they were only adjusted to 3 positions like the trolley grades, someone with more knowledge might be able to enlighten both of us?

Lindell is the South Bend expert! Lin?

Was it on ebay Claude?

Nice looking dial.

Yes I picked it up on ebay, I paid $154+shipping and it looked to be worth that. A3P would have let it slip into many RRs up to the 20's and 30's but that number of class 1 RRs that would allow A3P was getting smaller by the 30's. Santa Fe and a few others would have allowed any adjusted 3P watch that was lever set and open face with a steel escape wheel. This one has a Roman numeral dial which would have prevented it from being used for RR service but the dial has a nice look to it.

It arrived today and it is a not a DS dial but looks to be one because of the black inner line. Case is a nice Wadsworth 20yr pilot smooth back with no brass but is a re-case (other screw marks) the movement looks great along with the dial but the hour and minute hands are mis-matched, hour is a thin spade and the hour is a bold poker hand, so far it is keeping good time and I will post pictures later.

Claude this is what the 313 looked like that passed through my collection. Same as yours excepting the dial. The Big Book claims Temp Adj only. I would take issue with that and also suggest that a RR watch inspector would be the final word after adjusting and calibrating a lever-set watch this well fitted out.

David, I added your serial number to the list.

Rafal

The RR company as well as the resident company inspectors always had the last word when it came to allowing any watch to be used and enter RR time services.

regards,
bb

I thought I had read that some were used for RR service but when I looked at the South Bend catalogs over the years they also mention adjustment to temp and closely timed but no mention of adjusting to positions. Still a very nice looking grade.

Claude's South Bend Pioneer Standard dial