Hello all,
Could someone tell me what it is I have. It is an Illinois 17J adj. "The master" watch. I was wondering what size it is. Serial number 4445535.
In the shugart it only lists a 21j in a 12 / 13 size. I found another "master on a site on the web which stated a 16s. The other thing is on the movement it is inscribed "The Master" rather than just "master" . Could one of the Illinois experts tell me what i have from the serial number?
Thanks for any and all info.
Bill

Your 4445535 serial number refers to Ilinois 16 size Grade 107 RR grade adjusted 19 - 21 jewel "Burlington Watch Co." movements. So you have an exceeding rare model, or there is some error in the serial number.

Ehrhardt-Meggers Gold book lists 3 different "The Master" movements made by Illinois;

A 16s 21 Jewel adjusted grade 606, with about 2500 19 Jewel, and 12,000 21 Jewel version with different names, some named "Stewart" in s/n 2,415,001 - 4,811,000 (1912 - 1927).

A 16s 17 Jewel Grade 305, with about 170,000 made with many different names from s/ns 2,160,201 - 5,316,000 (1910 - 1931).

A 12s 17 Jewel Grade 405, which was the highest production grade ever done by Illinois, over 400,000 different named watches were made in 17 - 23 Jewels s/n 2,386,581 - 5,257,300 (1912 - 1930).

If you can post some pictures of your watch, that would help a lot.

Thanks David,
I am hoping this is not some kind of a frankenwatch but here are some photos.
Bill

The movement

another movement

and I forget what this last one is.

Hopefully this allows you to identify the watch mvt. better,
Thanks,
Bill

My book shows 4445001-4446000 as 12s pendant set open face 17 jewel model 3 grade 405.

Tom

Bill, my apologies, I went dyslexic when I was reading down the serial numbers and stopped three rows up. Tom nailed it. The watch looks totally orginal. These were nice watches judging by their sales popularity.

Thanks to both of you,
It appeared to me to be the 12s, I really liked the hands on this one, I had seen others but with different hands.
In a day or so I will have the Ehrhart Meggars gold book, and then maybe, just maybe i will be beetter able to identify some of these.
Thanks again,
Bill

Nifty hands & very unique numbers on the dial. Very nice watch.

Thanks for showing Bill

Wayne