Question about watch case: Illinois Watch Case Co

February 06, 2017, 15:56

Charles Guptill

Hi:
I have an Illinois Watch Case Co 18s Hunter pocket watch case that I am trying to decide what the appropriate movement would be to use. The Problem is it is a thin case. A Waltham 92 model is way to thick, I tried an Elgin model 9 gr 274, which is just right on the movement side, but the dial side sits to high and won't allow the bezel to set down properly. Any idea what movement might be thinner than the ones I have tried??
Thanks, Chuck

February 06, 2017, 20:45

Kevin Hoffman

What is the thickness of the case , maybe a picture with the elgin in it . There are some odd ball cases and movements out there , I think that waltham 92 needs a special case , I might have just the movement for it ! { I was loooking for a hunter case also }

February 07, 2017, 13:27

Charles Guptill

OK Kevin: Here is my attempt tp post pictures.
The watch measures right at 10mm thick. I don't have a fancy digital measuring device so I may be off some. The lever fits right where it should on this watch. but the half the thickness of the dial is all I need to gain to get a proper fit.
Picture from the side:

February 07, 2017, 13:28

Charles Guptill

Picture of the case back

February 07, 2017, 13:29

Charles Guptill

Dial

February 07, 2017, 13:48

Lorne Wasylishen

Charles, it could be that you just need a higher dome crystal.

New Hunter Glass Crystals Now Available

Hunter Crystal Search

February 07, 2017, 14:05

Kevin Hoffman

At this point I was hoping someone with knowledge will pop in , the 10mm seems about right .

February 07, 2017, 16:55

Charles Guptill

Lorne, I tried a slightly higher crystal thinking the same thing, didn't survive one closing, didn't have anything in between. Other thing is the bezel doesn't snap down like I think it should. It isn't far from fitting but not perfect. This is an example of why a certain ebay seller shouldn't be dismantling watches and selling parts. Although it is possible this was never used because it didn't fit anything and is in near mint condition.
Chuck

February 07, 2017, 17:02

Lorne Wasylishen

This is why I don't buy hunting cases any more.

Is there any kind of marking (scratched Roman numerals) on the underside of the bezel?

If so the number should match the last 4 or 5 digits on the case back

February 07, 2017, 17:23

Charles Guptill

Roman Numeral scratches VII X VIII VI Which could represent 7086 the last four digits, Is what I read. The bezel does fit nicely without the movement. So your guess is as good as mine.

February 07, 2017, 17:34

Charles Guptill

Hunter cases are my weakness, I have at least 6 18s hunter cases I bought thinking I would just remove that less desirable movement and fill them with my Vanguard 23j model 92. Problem is I still don't have a case for that movement. And I have 3 more model 92's that need hunter cases. Those 4 Keystone standard dust proofs, a 7j Elgin and a 15j elgin that all still are housed in very nice Hunter cases. Can't bring myself to dismantle original combinations.
Chuck

February 07, 2017, 20:51

Lindell V. Riddle

Charles,

We need to step back a bit and most of all avoid any further damage.

From what little I can see in your pictures, there are obvious signs of wear on the case so it is not previously unused.

Also, in the late 1800s and early in the 20th Century, movements, particularly hunter movements were specially "fit" to the individual case chosen by the original owner, often this involved substantial modification and of course the lever access cut at the proper position was also part of that process. This is also the time-frame when standardization in movement size was coming into play.

If you want to know what movement will properly line up in this particular case begin with the case-screw marks as a first step in determining what was in the case prior to your acquisition. Hopefully you have not added any more marks and if only one movement was in this case before, perhaps that would be a good starting point. You might simply ask the previous owner what movement they removed! However changing movements around case-to-case is not a wise thing to do.

But when determining whether or not this movement or that will work in a case, set the trial movement into the case with the dust ring in place on the movement. Do not begin installing screws, let alone the bezel until everything else lines up properly, sight it from the side and back. Work very slowly and methodically, hunter case crystals are in short supply as are hunter cases. Be very, very careful you could also damage the dial or for that matter the movement.

If this is beyond your expertise then get qualified hands-on assistance.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: "First, and foremost, do no harm"

Lindell

February 07, 2017, 21:18

Charles Guptill

Any appearance of wear you might see from the pictures is due completely to poor photography or the type of wear a case may see from sitting in a drawer or having been handled over the years. Any case screw marks are from the two movements I have tried in the watch. I guess we'll really never know what this watch case was destined to hold.