Hi, a question to the Illinois expertise.
According to the Illinois database, there are two types of "correct" dials for the 18s 23J Bunn Special, and this montgomery DS is not one of them.
My q is: everything else look original to me, ie hands and the nice case w/o any extra screw marks, is this an "impossible dial for this movement?. SN is 2740355.

As a curiosity I noted that the jewelled barrel has SN 2740385, where the incorrect "8" could easily be mistaken for a "5", so I suspect this is a mistake done at the factory.

Hi Peter,

Nice watch! Now, I'm far from an Illinois expert, but I can tell you that I have a 23j 18s Bunn Special with the same numeral style on the dial as yours, but not a Monty. Mine also has a similar serial number. My opinion would be this dial is correct for your watch.

That is a really nice watch. Love the high grade 18s Illinois.

You normally see the straight line Gothic/Old English Illinois Watch Co. Signature on dials from this era, or the straight line block Illinois. The arched Illinois can in around 3 yrs after the movement, but this kinda overlap is very possible.

If concerned, I would want to pull the dial and look at the solder line to try to determine if the center section had been replaced, using a part from a later dial.

Charlie

Thanks everybody for your nice answers. The watch is by me on approval for a possible purchase, guess I'll go for it. $520 seems reasonable, doesn't it? Solder line on back of dial hasn't been tampered with, Charles. Only thing "wrong" is the number on the barrel.

Peter

Haven't seen the case, but if it is as nice as the dial & mvt, it is a great deal.

The mvt with a cracked dial and worn out case would bring $520.

Nice buy.

Charles, it's housed in a crisp AWC Co "Fortune" GF plain case. only draw back is it's a swing out.
Thanx again for the input