Grade 106, Model 9, made in 1916.

Bob

I always like the Burlingtons because of my father-in-laws watch and Burlingtons, along with Hampdens tend to get passed by. I will have to get some better pictures of my 21j Burlington and of my father-in-laws watch.

Thanks Bob!...Ted.

Here's another possible Burlington mystery-does anyone have any idea who made the factory marked Burlington cases, and has anyone seen a silveroid Burlington case?I've only seen and heard of YGF cases.

The later models I have seen were marked"NAWCO" which I believe was an Ohio company at one time.......Keith

Thanks Keith, I've seen the Burlington Bulldog model ,in NAWCO cases, but I wonder if they made some of the earlier ones.I like those Bulldogs, wish I had one!Regards, Ted.

The later Burlingtons in the NAWCO cases were called "Bulldogs" and the watch case company was located in Mansfield Ohio. Mansfield is midway between Columbus Ohio (Columbus watch co) and Cleveland Ohio (Ball Watch co). Jump on I-71 in Cleveland and drive about an hour or so and you will pass by Mansfield.

If anyone is interested, on pg.93 of Roy Ehrhardt's 1977 price indicator book, there's a nice Burlington ad.It shows a Bulldog, but with an earlier style case.Has a reeded edge bezel and a short-pendant French bow type case, and has the Bunn Special style heavy Arabic dial.

Ted,

Perhaps this is the case you're referring to? It came with a porcelain Bull Dog dial. The dial in it now came out of a NAWCO Bull Dog signed case which now houses the Bull Dog signed dial. Recently a watch sold on ebay with the same case, which is a Fahyes Bristol marked R.R., and Bull Dog porcelain dial but different bow. I would be interested in seeing the ad. I've always thought all Bull Dogs were in Bull Dog signed cases. I wonder if different dials were available for the Bull Dog signed cases?

RR

Burlington Two-Tone Dial

Hi Richard, That's a pretty similar case, but not quite the same.The bow is oval on yours, the one in the ad has the French bow, (oval with a pin on each side where it hinges on the pendant neck).I don't have any way to post the ad, but if you want I could photocopy it and mail it to you.The one in the ad has a much different dial.I have a Fahys case just like that on my 21J Bunn Special, but is marked "Fahys RR". Thanks, Ted.

Ted,

Thank you for offering to send me the ad I'll send you my address. Below is a picture of a watch auctioned recently that has the same dial that came in the case posted above. Looks like the bow you're describing too. Does anyone know how long the metal dial posted above was available for?

Authentic Burlington Bull Dog?

Rich, that's the one shown in the ad.Same case & dial.I'll send the ad out next week, I copied it on our printer, didn't come out too well.I'll try it on a better machine, maybe I can enlarge it some.Best regards, Ted.

I've been looking at all the great Burlington pictures you guys posted , and I noticed something on the Getty models-mine has a brass escape wheel, looks like some also have a steel one.Maybe different runs had steel or brass?It would seem to me that a position-adjusted watch like these with gold trains would have only steel.

I just got in a 19J Getty Burlington Special that is listed as "unadjusted". The early "Special', may not be so.

Hi Dave, I've never heard of an unadjusted Burlington.Come to think of it, never heard of any 19J watch that was unadjusted.You have quite a nice collection of them, I'm jealous! Regards, Ted.

Ted,

The Illinois Grade 174 is not adjusted. According to Megger's and Ehrhardt Illinois Book there are many 17j watches in this grade and 6,500 19J-HN4L plus 3,200 19J-ON5L. The same grade has 2,140 21J-HN4L and 500 21J-ON5L as well as 200 23J-HN4L and 300 23J-ON5L all unadjusted.

John III posted 3 Grade 174 Burlington's earlier (Oct. 20th) and if you take a look at them there's no writing on the movement regarding adjustments. The only writing is 19J, Safety Pinion, BWCo., and Chicago, USA. I like the BWCo. monogram and lack of writing. It gives the movements a clean simple appearance.

Thank you again for mentioning the Ad and sending a copy.

I asked Lindell some questions regarding Burlington watches. He informed me the answers could be found in advertisements. After searching advertisements online many of the questions have been answered. The ads are now posted in the Illinois Forum. Burlington Watch Co. Advertisements

Thank you Lindell,

Rich

Here's some of my findings.
1. When was the 21 jewel Burlington introduced?
December 1916 an ad appeared in Popular Science with the headline, "Just out!-21 Jewel Burlington."

2. Was there another Bull Dog case besides the NAWCO signed Bull Dog?
Yes, in April 1924 an ad was in Popular Mechanics with a Bulldog case that is a swing ring design. The ad specifies your choice of dial including Montgomery numerical dial. The new "Bull Dog" in a NAWCO case was introduced in November of 1925 in Popular Science.

3. Was the NAWCO Bull Dog case available with different dials?
Haven't found any information yet. I've seen pictures of NAWCO Bull Dog cases with Montgomery and Two-Tone dials and bought one with a Two-Tone dial. I'd say it's likely you could order a Bull Dog with the dial of your choice. Hopefully a sales catalog or some more information shows up.

4. What years was the metal Two-Tone dial used?
Ads show it in 1926 and 1927.

April 1924 Popular Mechanics

Thanks Rich, I guess if I had looked closer at those pictures I'd have seen the lack of adjusted marking, never realized there were "unadjusted ones too. Did you turn up any ads for the Moser Swiss-made Burlingtons?Some were 6-pos. RR grades.They too were nice watches, I wonder when they came out.Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Ted,

I tried to find ads for the Swiss Burlington and the search found nothing except they were accepted into RR service in Canada. Maybe the guys up north can fill us in as to when they were introduced.

I also didn't realize there were unadjusted grades of 19J Illinois movements. I noticed you brought up the question of adjustments on Burlington's in the advertisement post so I'll attempt to address it here.

quote:

Nice ads Rich,I notice a lot of them are aimed at railroaders, even though they aren't supposed to be railroad grade.I always wonder why they didn't have the number of adjustment positions marked on them, everyone assumes they're only three, but I wonder if it really was the full five.Thanks!, Ted.

The Megger's and Ehrhardt Illinois Book lists the grade 106, 107, and 108 as being adjusted to temperature, 5 positions, and isochronism. The lever set open face versions are listed as RRG. The Illinois book list the grades as being marked Illinois Watch Co. because that's what the factory documentation lists. The book also states that all watches reported in this grade are marked Burlington Watch Co. It's unclear if the Burlington watches were adjusted by Illinois or at the Burlington factory.

I have a 16s Sangamo grade that is simply marked adjusted and it is in fact adjusted to 6 positions. I would lean towards the grade 106,107, and 108 being adjusted to 5 positions. The fact that some railroads allowed them into service, they were advertised to meet railroad requirements, and there is documentation, although it's arguable, listing them as 5 positions is what leads me to that conclusion.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours too,

RR

From Page 6 of The Burlington Watch - 21 Jewels Exclusively

Thanks again, Rich!

New to post I have two watches left from Grandparents. I have read a little but know nothing but maker history. Can anyone tell me what I have and a round number of worth for insurance reasons? I will add as many pics as necessary following.

Front engraving.

Movement

Inside cover engraving

Back engraving. I am interested in what these images mean also.

Elgin watch

Face

Movement

Inside cover

Case

This is the actual front the farm is on the back. What do I have? I know Elgins can be valuable but not sure on this. They do work but missing glass.

Correction front cover has no farm just blank frame. The back is these pics.

Jerry, The Symbol on the back of the larger watch could be one of the many Knights of Pythias symbols. For insurance purposes, in their present condition these watches are worth maybe $250.00 total. With a good cleaning, restoration and fitment with Glass Crystals, that could about double in replacement value.