Internet Horology Club 185
Question on Santa Fe Special

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August 19, 2015, 09:54
Jeff R. Moser
Question on Santa Fe Special
Several months ago I bought a Santa Fe Special watch, serial #2747283, I wound it this morning and tried to pull the pendant up and could not, I unscrewed the front and it was lever set. I had always thought all of these were pendant set. It says adj to temp and positions, 21 jewel and Santa Fe on the plates, were some lever set and some pendant set? Thanks Jeff
August 19, 2015, 10:18
Buster Beck
Your watch is a Grade 806 and made in 1915. Their were 21,100 TOTAL PRODUCED and yours was in a "run" of 300 pieces all of which were lever set in that run. They were adjusted to 3 positions.

Probably would have to go thru all 21,100 in their separate runs to try and figure out how many were lever set and how many were pendant set.

These watches came in Santa Fe marked cases and dials and are known as "triple signed" pieces.

Lots of folks think because they are signed "Santa Fe" that they were a RR watch when they were only adjusted 3 positions, the 3 position and/or pendant set watches would have knocked them out of the RR approved connotation in that time frame.

regards,
bb
August 19, 2015, 14:59
David Abbe
Is has been my understanding that the Illinois triples-signed "Santa Fe" watches were actually made for and sold by (or under the auspices of) Mr. Montgomery, patent holder of the Montgomery Dial art design who was also employed by Santa Fe RR.
August 19, 2015, 16:53
Paul D. Trombley
That might explain why one I have has a very nice, Santa Fe signed, double sunk Montgomery dial...

It has intrigued me as to why a 3 position trolley watch would sport a dial normally associated with RRG.
August 19, 2015, 18:27
Jeff R. Moser
My watch is not in the Santa Fe case but in a modern one with a train engine on the back, it has a Montgomery dial and also has Illinois on the top of the seconds scale. Thanks for the info. Jeff
August 19, 2015, 19:35
Mike Benda
Thought the Santa Fe was made for a separate jeweler in N.M.?
Bad pics, sorry, triple signed.
Any info is appreciated #3686325. 12size.
Mike


August 19, 2015, 19:36
Mike Benda
And the gutz


August 19, 2015, 19:54
Buster Beck
Mike they weren't made for a jeweler, The Santa Fe Watch Co. were in fact Illinois watches sold direct to the public through mail-order advertising. The Burlington Watch Co. was another of Illinois mail order companies.

The Santa Fe Watch Co. was in Topeka, Kansas.

Your watch is a 21J, Pendant~set, Model 1, Grade 274 with a double roller, and Adjusted to 3 positions, made in 1920.

There were 62,120 of the Grade 274's made in O/F, Model 1's, P/S with 21Jewels and 6,610 of them were marked Santa Fe Special.

Your watch appears to have a metal dial. Make sure you have a glass crystal or a later model plastic one as the earlier plastic ones will cause the dial to tarnish.

regards,
bb


August 19, 2015, 21:42
Mike Benda
Thanks Buster
You are the the tops for follow up info!
Again, what a great site to be part of.
Keep monitoring and patiently advising newcomers.
Thank you!
Mike