I have a watch my friends Grandfather owned. It dates back to before He can remember and He is Mid Fifties age. When I saw the back I was hoping this was not the mainstream back cover you Guys see everyday.

Movement Marked A E Rogers Scranton PA
Adjusted
1254035
16 Jewels
SA Pinion

It runs nice and keeps time. The question is the front case spring is not working. I hate to say broken but it does not pop open. He wants to get it fixed.

I am wondering if the watch is unusual or just a nice older piece...

movement

Paper Info

#1 That is a real beautiful watch. Excelent finish work, looks US made.

#2, I am stumped who made it.

What is the diameter of the watch case?

Hello. 2" across.
2 1/2" hinge to top of winder knob.

A.E. Rodgers on the face Scranton Pa.

Interesting how similiar the plate cuts are to a Model 2 Seth Thomas, and the serial number is within Seth range.

Close-up Movement

Looks an awful lot like an Illinois model 1,2 or 3,in 14 or 16 size.

Looks to be a fairly good picture of this movement in 14 size on page 283 of the price guide.

As for the broken case spring,it is not a big deal to replace the spring,but first make sure the hinge is just not gummed up from rust,or corrosion,or just old oil.

Bill,

This is an Illinois H/C Model 1 Grade 114S. It is Lever set and 16 Jewels. It was made in 1894. It is 16 size and a Private Label watch probably made up for a jeweler to sell in his establishment

This watch is definitely worth repairing. Only 1100 of the grade 114's were made so the possibility of more than 100 existing today, would not be a good bet to make
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Quote;
I am wondering if the watch is unusual or just a nice older piece..
_________________

Answer; All of the above + scarce

regards,
bb

Cecil the hinge is very free to move. There is no springiness to the lid at all. I can't see where the spring sits in the hinge either.

I bet Leon Harris can fix that spring problem for you.

Bill, most lift springs I've seen are circular things that go around the inside of the case itself. The 'lift' is a small metal tab at the end of the spring that comes out of a slot down by the hinge itself. If that tab is broken off, there's nothing there to lift the lid. You have to replace the spring itself.

Regards! Mark

Bill

If you are interested in who the jeweler in Scranton was, he was Adelbert E. Rogers. He was born about 1863 in Pa.

Below is his listing in the 1892 Scranton city directory & his ad from the same directory.

Just to add to Buster's description, the Grade 114 was made as a 114 and "114S".

This one is actually only one of 450 total made to this variant. Many were Private Labels.

Very Very rare, even for the Short runs Illinois was known for. The Double signed Private label, excellent condition should rate this as 2 or 3 stars.

Furthermore, it is referred to as "Railroad Grade" with Three Position adjustments which would suffice when it was made in 1894.