Hi all,

I landed a really nice Keystone Case with a 1903 Getty movement that needs to find a new home.

After reviewing a few post on dating Keystone Cases... my best guess is in the 1928-1930 time frame.

Looks like Hamilton's were being factory cased by then. What would you put in this case if you had a choice?

Case serial number 8011660

If my memory is correct these cases were released in the earlier 20's so any movement made in the late teens or in the 20's that was still sold as a movement only would be fair game. There were movements made in the late teens that by the time they left the company inventory, made it to the distributor then off to the end sale location and purchased by the buyer might end up taking years.

I believe your title with 1928 in it Paul needs to be taken out, These cases which were known as "J. Boss Railroader" began production in the 1920s, a patent on the design was issued in 1924 and they were used as "generic" cases for original and replacement by retail jewelers for years.

If original, such case would have been used from the early 20's to the early 30's.

However your case does seem to have the "earmarks" of one of the "restrike" cases that were made during the 70's and 80's period. Most of the restrike cases have a "pebbly texture" inside the case back that does resemble your picture.

We have a lot of info on these restrike cases on IHC which can be accessed by doing a search. Here's a fairly good picture of the inside caseback of a restrike case below.

regards,
bb

Often seen with Elgin 16s RRG of that period.

You will see this style used by Elgin and Waltham at times before factory casing became the defacto standard. Buster is correct the later restrikes do not have the buffed interior look that the originals have. You will also see some made by Star Watch case that have the same general look which is very close to the look of the Hamilton Mainliner case, with some subtle differences.

Well, I bought this watch for under $100 as one of those closed case, I don't know what I got auction deals... I rolled the dice on outside photos of the case and was rewarded with a restrike.

Can't win them all. In addition to sharing the attributes with the restrike from this old post, https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...=734101552#734101552 I'm not even sure it's actually 10KGF... based on the modification for the lever slot and the brassing on the bow... I'm pretty sure it is plated, or at best a 5yr warranty equivalent.

The case does show well... so, I'll probably hang on to it for my orphan 1922 21J Bunn. Just have to be careful to advertise it for what it is.

Thank you for all the recommendations and educational bits.

That Grade 174 Illinois Getty with an open face conversion dial is not so shabby either. The case with the late model Waltham lever slot places it definitely in the late 1930's to Post WWII vintage.

It is entirely possible that someone may have had a jeweler use the converted dial, file the lever slot to fit the Getty and recase it to that nice RR style case.

Looks like a heck of a nice case and a great buy for under a $100 even if it is a so called restrike case.