Found this one in a guy's "junk" box a long time ago and just now am thinking of getting it running. I've been told it's a Peoria but cannot find it exactly in the guide. Any ideas? Is it worth putting money into?

This is a fairly rare movement. More study is rwquired of the watch to determine its true collectible value. i.e. somewhere between $500 - $1000.00.

It is eminently worth restoring. The limited view of the movement suggests that it is a Peoria period movement by virtue of the wormscrew regulator.

Not bad for a "Junk Pile" watch. More pictures will help, Case, Serial Number, etc.

Nice Peoria Greg

JS Townsend was a big watchmaker and jeweler in Chicago, he advertised lots in the Brotherhood Journals back in the 1890s, I will scan one of these ads and post it. It will be interesting to see the serial number, I can't quite make it out in your pictures. I have one number 15,000 made for M.B. Wright N.P.R.R. (Northern Pacific) Inspector in Kansas.

Larry

Nice watch Greg, wish it was in my junk pile. Sure looks like a Peoria to me, in the guide I would guess it might be the 18s Anti-Magnetic 15J for Railway Service. Just a guess.

Also another plus is J.S. Townsend was a railroad inspector for the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe back in 1898. He was John Stone Townsend & he was born Dec. 1855 in England.

This ad is from 1902


Tom

What Tom said. A nice watch and potentially an even nicer watch with some dial work; railroad grade.
Mike



Here is another Peoria worth about 1/2 of what yours is worth (minus the case).....

Picture of the dial on the above movement. It looks like many Peoria watches were private label jobs.

Mike

Yours is nice too & Mr. Woelfle was a Ball Watch retailer & a railroad watch inspector.

Here is an article about him in 3 pieces, it is from 1912 Peoria city and county, Illinois: a record of settlement

Tom

Part 2

Part 3

Thanks to everyone for the information. More than I ever expected. This one is going to be sent off to be restored very soon.

Mike...I would like to see the rest of that case.

Greg here is an advertisement from the July, 1890 issue of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen's magazine a full page back cover advertisement refers to "TOWNSEND'S NEW WATCHES While maintaining the old-time high standard of general excellence of our goods, are fitted with the new Non-Magnetic Balance, Hairspring and Escapement. They are sold with the Guarantee of Absolute Freedom from Magnetic Influences and to Pass Inspection under the Time Inspection on any Railway. For a high-class, accurate watch get the TOWNSEND" I wonder if this is the Peoria watch that you have.

Here is an advertisement from the January 1891 issue of the Locomotive Engineers Journal

Larry I wish it had one of the cases in the add. It is in a plain case now.

Another Locomotive Engineers Journal advertisement from March 1892

Here is another full page ad from the November 1893 issue of the Locomotive Fireman's Magazine

I know the feeling Greg my Peoria was once in a hunter case, but now is in a silverode openface case, the original was probably scrapped many years ago.

Larry

Greg,
posted below are 4 pictures of the case on my Peoria as you requested. And, thanks to Tom for the biographical data on the jeweler's name on the dial!
M

Picture #2

Picture #3.....

Picture #4....

Here in a picture of my Peoria MB Wright private label dial

M.B. Wright movement Serial No. 15000

A close-up of the barrel bridge marked "M.B. WRIGHT Standard N.P.R.R. (Northern Pacific Railroad) ANTI-MAGNETIC KANSAS CITY, MO"

Nice watch Larry, wish it were mine.

M.B. Wright was Marshall B. Wright, he must have had a large store in Kansas City, looking through the city directories he had several watchmakers working for him.

He was also a Captain in the Union Army during the war, I am not sure on the unit, it appears it could be the 46th Mo. infantry but I am not sure, the printing is hard to read. It shows he served from Aug 1861 to June 1865.

Below is the 1882 Kansas City Mo. city directory page.

Tom

Greg while the book says "for railway service" I would guess our retailers ordered what they wanted on the movements in JS Townsend's case he wanted "Railway" while MB Wright asked for "Standard" I'm still curious about what the serial number is on your Peoria?

Tom thank you for the interesting information on Marshall B. Wright his civil war service adds a lot to the provenance of this pocket watch. I notice his residence is 1500 Penn. And the serial number of my Peoria pocket watch is 15000.

Larry