Just curious with regard to the Rockford Grade 920 and its rarity, was this a Railroad grade or Railway approved. I have one that was manufactured in 1898, Lever set Open face, 17 Jewels. This was also adjusted to temp & positions by some old ads I have come across. Would be interested to opinions on this.

Cheers,
Bila

Bila, serial numbers and/or pictures always help. My Rockford factory parts and movement book suggests this is a model 7 with a similar appearance to the 15J pictured below. That would mean that it has a countersink in the top plate to clear the low mounted balance wheel, possibly a "switchable" Pendant/Lever setting mechanism (not on 15j shown below) and the somewhat complicated "Rockford" micro-regulator. As these 7th models were late 19th century, I expect the actual RR use certification would be up to the inspector at the time.

All of my research suggests the grade 920 was not a RRG watch. I say suggest because it is not clear as a bell overall and not listed anywhere I can find as "RRG/RRA".

I think pictures [as David suggests] and possibly a statement about what the watch has internally is called for. What would be more important than anything would be in knowing what type roller it has [double/single], material of escape wheel, and what type adjustment the regulator has in place.

At the time this watch was manufactured there were "guidelines" implemented and in place in the American watch manufacturing industry [since 1893] to be used by some of the RR's in determining whether a certain grade would/could meet those guidelines which became known as "standards". Now at that time in the history of American RR's there were 500+ RR's and some were adhering to these guideline/standards and some were very vague about them and some RR's had no requirements at all as there were NO nation wide rules in place for the safety of the American people !! The RR's at that point in time generally used similar but different rules, specifications, interpretations, and inspectors. RR inspectors had some leeway to allow watches to be "grandfathered" in as long as they met certain criteria in place for "new" watches. Different RR's did use their own rules and kept a list of watches that were approved. RR rules and watches were evolving and changing from year to year.

One thing I would add is that my research points to a mere 551 Total Production Grade 920 Rockfords, Model 7, 17J, O/F, L/S that were made. So that puts your watch on the "endangered" list to be sure !! But it's kind of like a lot of those Illinois movements made where there are only 50 or so Total Production, if there is no following by the collectors/masses, then the expected value will never be realized.

regards,
bb

Thanks Buster & David for the info.

Cheers,
Bila