All,

I picked up a William Gibbons Illinois 117 RR grade only 220 made. I have a NOS case and hands.

I would like to know if replacing the private label porcelain dial with a mint Illinois dial will affect the value?


Best regards

My take would be to get some denture toothpaste and a soft bristle toothbrush and do an initial cleaning. Then get some polydent type tablets and soak the dial, sometimes if the hairlines are dirty I use some type of foaming cleaner for tubs and such.
Private label dials set the watch off from the typical look but in the end it is a judgement call. I see mostly hairlines but no chips or missing pieces.

Robert; If movement is mkd same as dial you should keep the dial. Like Claude said, I too think that dial should clean up pretty good. Show us a pic of the movement

I agree with Tom, clean it and keep it!
I and others here have used Comet liquid/spray bottle type with great success.
I think you will be surprised with a cleaning!

Here is a picture of the back and it has the private label name on it.

Best Regards

Robert,clean the dial. I think you will be pleased.

Roger

I am going to clean the dial.

Forgot to ask what type of hands would be correct for this movement?

Thanks for the great advice, and I will post pictures of it when it is finished.

Best regards
Robert

See how the current hands clean up, on PL fancy types moon hands were not unusual and look at some photos and see what the proper second hands his, I would think a thin, non bold type.Below is an example of a Getty type.

http://s.ecrater.com/stores/84...155386a6f_84347b.jpg

Keep those moon hands on Robert. They were probably original as Claude says. That second hand he showed you will work About anything except a bunn type with the spear that wouldn't be correct

Well this is what it looks like so far. I think I need to get the liquid Comet and soak it in that.


Thanks everyone for all of your help.

All,

What case should I use the one on the left or the NOS on the right?


Best regards

The back

Dial looks good!
I'd use the one on the left, FWIW.

I agree with Dave the longer pendant is more time correct and how can you go wrong with a choo choo on the back

I agree with all the advice you have gotten so far on the watch. All good sound advice from my point of view.

Harry

What you have is a grade 177.
Very rare great find. I agree with the other members.
I added it to the 177 grade data base in the Illinois section.

All,

This is the best place and thanks for all of your advice. I will post pictures of it once it is all put back together.

Best regards

Could you post a couple of more "before and after" pictures of the dial after cleaning? It looks like it is really improved.
I have a couple of older Elgin porcelains that need cleaning, and I'm looking for what is considered the "Best" method that has the least potential for damage.

great job Robert ! I did a search on this site and there are a dozen pages on dial cleaning , the comet seems like the best

Hello Robert D,

B4

After

Finished

Back

Robert, you really have done the right thing by that beautiful watch. Congratulations and thank you for showing.

Thanks Lindell and John.

I love this forum.