I have this case is all brass but does not looks like it was gold filled just made out of brass to me looks like Illinois case how many brass cases they made? few pictures to my question. size 18
Posts: 4395 | Location: Arizona in the USA | Registered: July 23, 2011
Hi Peter,It is my understanding The "Tornado"is made by Illinois Watch case Co.and is gold filled.I have one with an Elgin "Father Time" in it.They are a very nice case.Regards,Norm
Posts: 484 | Location: Georgia in the United States | Registered: August 04, 2010
I never could figure out who made the Tornado case, but most I have seen, even in different sizes had a nice pattern like yours and seemed to be thinly plated, perhaps a 5 or 10 year case. Generally I think of them as decent inexpensive cases.
Deacon
Posts: 1004 | Location: Omaha, Nebraska in the USA | Registered: February 14, 2009
Would be hard to wear out the plating without wearing down the details of the case which still looks pretty sharp. But, if you look at the crown tube, it looks like some plating still remains.
Posts: 1499 | Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California USA | Registered: December 20, 2006
I agree with Peter and Phil about "Tornado" being a brass case, the ones I have found are usually good looking cases most likely because that hard brass holds up well. There may well have been a "flash" or "wash" of gold on them originally to retain their brightness, but look at Peter's third image where the brass in spots is strongly reacting to the atmosphere.
As the page Larry referenced indicates "Tornado" is one of the Illinois Watch Case Company Trade Marks, unfortunately Ehrhardt did not break it down as to which Trade Marks were used on what cases. But notice that "Tornado" is NOT shown in the "Complete Guide to Watches" 2012 Edition, Pages 36-38 among Gold-Filled cases... because it is not.
Lindell
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
I acquired a Columbus King watch that is in a "Tornado" case. At first I thought was a badly brassed GF case. Now I think It was always just a brass case. Not a speck of gold plating on it.
Posts: 156 | Location: Columbus, Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 16, 2011
