April 11, 2006, 12:07
Rich KuhnIllinois WWI period sterling silver movable lug wristwatch
I found this diamond in the ruff at the Fairlawn mart on Sunday. The case is a sterling silver movable lug jobber. The movement is a 17 jewel 3/0 model 4 hunter manufactured in 1917. From all appearances the case has always had this movement in it. The movement was ticking but had a few problems nothing major. A good cleaning and a few parts later and it is running just fine. The case look bad but cleaned up great. I have a new old stock dial coming for it.
Things yet to do
New crystal
Change the dial
Look for nicer hands (the old luminous just fell off when I took the hands off.)
April 11, 2006, 12:11
Rich Kuhn6 The I and O from Ohio is still there the picture did not pick it up
April 11, 2006, 14:00
Mark CrossThat is a beautiful watch, Rich!!
High regards! Mark
April 11, 2006, 17:39
Samie L. Smithbeautiful watch Rich with a new dial and hands it will be a killer..

April 12, 2006, 02:46
Roy NewVery, very nice Rich.
You have done a splendid piece of renovation!
Timely regards.
Roy.
"So mote it be!"
April 12, 2006, 21:37
Tom HuberRich, With the hallmark on the dial reading Illinois movement, that would suggest that this was cased by a jobber or jeweler after the fact in a case procured for recasing Illinois movements. By having the word "movement" on the dial, the jeweler did not infringe on the manufacturer rights. This info came from a now deceased old watchmaker friend. He told me that this was big business in the 20's and 30's to recase smaller movements to make wristwatches. They ordered their supplies from a private jobber to do the job. The kit came with the case, dial and hands for each watch. The customer supplied the movement. Very nice watch.
Tom
April 13, 2006, 10:20
Rich KuhnTom,
Thank you for the information I knew it was a jobber case and dial and I have heard the same information you stated. I guess I could have been clearer in my original post. I still plan to put a new old stock dial on it but I am re-thinking the hands. I think I will just clean them up better and leave well enough alone. It does scream for a new crystal.
April 13, 2006, 11:34
Roy NewRich.
I agree with you, this with regards to the crystal. With the hands, they are quite striking, I would only replace "if" like for like, ditto dial!
Will look good in your collection.
Timely regards.
Roy.
"So mote it be!"
April 13, 2006, 15:44
Pete Paiscikmay be a jobber case , but definatley UNUSUAL , very nice peice the cleaining made it look super rich , hope you get a load for it , pete
April 13, 2006, 16:02
Rich KuhnPete,
I will bring it with me tomorrow
April 27, 2006, 18:47
Daniel M. WeissI may be wrong, but the dial does not seem to be of the period.
I have dial with other names with the word (movement) under the name.
I'm fairly sure these were replacement dials.
However,the hands could be from that period,
they were luminous. The dial should be, too.
April 28, 2006, 13:50
Mark CrossSo, Rich, did you keep this one, or did it get sold?
Regards! Mark
May 03, 2006, 14:26
Greg CrockettGreat job! I like the silver case with swing-rings.
The "USA" on the back most likely indicates that the owner was in the U.S.Army.
Best regards,
Greg