Hi all. I've come across quite a few Getty movements from Illinois and they all seem to be open face. How different is my 1901 hunter set Arlington Special compared to the open face Getty movements?
The serial number is 1451664 and it has 17j and marked Adjusted and is lever-set. It has demaskeening pattern that looks wavy and gold flashed screws and regulator spring.

Thank you, Roland.

A model 4, grade 175, 17J, L/S, Temp/3Pos/Isochronism, ca. 1899 watch with a private label "Arlington Special" known as the "getty" style of watch. Production shows a total of 23,780 like H/C movements being made, some marked Illinois and some marked as different private labeled watches. Grade 175's were a stepping stone between low quality and the railroad quality 16sz grades.

I think the only comparison that can be made is with like watches of 17J in grade 175's in Open Face, of which 15,495 were made. That being said, the open face configuration will be less likely to be seen.

[17J-HN4L-TI-23,780-"175"]= H/C

VS.

[17J-ON5L-TI-15,495-"175"]= O/F

Hope that will be of some help/use.

regards,
bb

Roland, To compliment what Buster explained, in detail your watch was #23 of a 160 piece run in 1899, s/n's 1451641-1451800. It is a Hunter with premium fit and finish including gold flashed hardware which in that very good conditon makes this a noteworthy collector indeed! Especially if it has a matching signed dial. As my personal feelings are that the Getty is one of the finest Horologic designs ever, I urge you to find an appropriate hunter case for it.

Roland, To add to what has already been said, you have a fine watch. The Getty Illinois movements are one of my favorites. I have a proper hunter case for it if you would like to send it to me
What makes these even more interesting is the number of Private Labels associated with the Getty movement configuration.

Ray

Thank you Buster for your info, and Dave as well, I know how much you like any Getty movement, and Ray...humm, maybe send that hunter case this way.

I have searched for an Arlington dial, since the one on it although period correct as far as I can tell is just marked Illinois Watch Co.

Well I've learned something again from this site, that the H/C style was produced more than the O/F ones and that it,s older than I had thought.

Thank you all, again.

The dial you have is just fine. Show us the end-product when you have the hunter case.

Thank you Dave, and will do. Tough to find a case where the screw marks will line up so that it won't be considered "re-cased".