I was scanning Ebay this AM and saw listed a 21 jewel elgin movement 40mm that had just been recently listed with a BUY IT NOW of $35.00.The 40mm only stopped me for second.

It turns out that the open face movement is a very scarce 12 size Grade 237 for which only two runs exist from 1899(1,000 per run) .When Elgin made the 237 it was still producing very high grade watches.

You never know what will turn up on Ebay

Bob

While the dial isn't great I think for $35.00 the dial and movement isn't a bad investment

Bob,

Great watch movement for a very nice price. I found a little gem that also flew under the radar a few months ago.

This is a 12s Illinois Grade 105. According the the Meggars/Ehrhardt book only a single run of 1000 was made in 1924. It is an average quality 17J movement, but it does have a gold center wheel and screw down jewel settings. The watch runs and is decent condition considering its age.

The writeup on Grade 105 says:

"One example of this 12-size Grade "105" has been reported but not seen; therefore, Part 1 Marking is hypothetical and Part 2 is unknown."

Not bad for $100. I was the only bidder.

John III

Movement

John
Your watch may be a grade 405.

I am not sure the Illinois book is correct. Another database I have suggests that grade 105 does not exist.

This may remain a mystery.

Bob

Bob,

You may be right. I have a Grade 405 with a similar s/n, 4231083, that has the exact markings as this watch. Interestingly, both watches appear to have a false center bridge design which is suggestive of a Model 5 (minus the motor barrel) rather than Model 3.

John III

Dial of Grade 405. I picked this one up for $75 last fall.

John
My guess is that a transcripton error was made at the factory and that grade 405 became 105 for that run. . The same type of error occured with the listing for a grade 587 which in reality should have been 527.

Of the four 12 size grades in the 100s (121,127,105 and 129) two of them (105 and 129) have never been seen. Grades 121 and 127 movements are often marked with a grade number.

My theory is that due to a lack of interest in 12 size watches errors were less likely to be caught in the Meggars and Ehrhardts Illinois Book.

Also they questioned the existience of several grades such as Grade 435 and Grade 299 23j hunter both of which I was able to acquire.

While the lack of information about 12 size Illinois can be frustrating, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to make new discoveries.

Bob

Honestly, I have a daily ebay search looking for grade 237. Sheesh, I'm not happy about it not telling me about this one. Unless it got put up and sold before the search ran. Great.

-TAO

Thomas
It was a Buy It Now and as soon as I saw it I jumped on it.
The seller did not know it was a grade 237--they just listed it as 21j.

As I said evey once in awhile you get lucky

Bob