"Illinois Case Model #128" information...

February 04, 2005, 22:14

Terry Hill

Bill Meggers states in his book this was a Keystone case introduced in 1936. Meggers notes it is gold filled, but in Shugart, it is listed as gold plated........

February 04, 2005, 22:37

Robert M. Sweet

Hello Terry,
I really appreciate your "usual" rapid response and also the #128 introduction date.

Robert

February 05, 2005, 02:18

Lindell V. Riddle

Looks like Bill Meggers was right, make a revision note...

February 05, 2005, 02:23

Lindell V. Riddle

Model 128 with 161A Type II B and marked variant dial...

February 05, 2005, 08:07

Robert M. Sweet

Hello Lindell,
Really appreciate those fine photos! Would you care to give me some insight on why "J. Boss" is inscribed with the "Keystone" trademark?
Is this a "J. Boss" designed case? As usual, I appreciate your responses.

Thanks,
Robert

February 05, 2005, 10:47

Lindell V. Riddle

Robert,

James Boss was an originator of the gold-filled process. Simply stated a bar of gold on either side of hard brass is fused together under tremendous heat and pressure.

Mr. Boss patented the process, produced cases based upon it for a time, eventually selling the rights and his company to what became the Keystone Watch Case Company. The name "J. Boss" became synonomous with gold-filled cases and Keystone proudly used it to designate their products.

So, if you ever see an early case marked "J. Boss, 14K" or "Keystone J. Boss 14K" rest assured you're looking at a patented gold-filled case. J.Boss means gold-fiilled case, period.

In later years, from about the early-1920s on, nearly all yellow and pink gold-filled cases were made 10K to increase the hardness, thereby the durability. White and green gold-filled retained the 14K markings.

Lindell

February 05, 2005, 11:08

Robert M. Sweet

Lindell,
Thanks for your very in depth answer.

Robert

February 05, 2005, 13:00

Wayne C. Anderson

Lindell,
Would you know the year that Mr. Boss sold the rights and his company to the Keystone Watch Case Company? Thanks

February 05, 2005, 21:44

Lindell V. Riddle

Wayne,

Here's a synopsis...

In 1919 The Keystone Watch Case Company traced it's roots back to 1853 and the case-making concern of Randolph and Reese Peters. James Boss, while employed by the Peters brothers developed the gold-filled process. After a while Randolph Peters left the business and James Boss then became an equal partner with Reese Peters.

Their company and the J.Boss patents were sold in 1871 and passed through a series of interests that eventually in 1885 became the Keystone Watch Case Company. So 1871 would be the year when James Boss sold his company and patents. This information is contained in the 1919 Keystone Watch Case Company Material Catalog.

And now you know...

Lindell