Article Facts

In 1870 the foundation of the Illinois Watch Company was laid by John C Adams, John W. Bunn, John T Stuart, John Williams, George Passfield, George Black, and William B Miller. The Illinois Watch Company was originally christened as the Illinois Springfield Watch Company and by about 1890 the first of the watches called The Stuart was launched – named tongue in cheek after one of the founder members. Even after a century of existence, the Illinois Pocket Watches have not compromised on their style quotient and character.

In the nearly seventy years the company was in operation, they produced a variety of watches and underwent a number of name changes, always including the original ‘Illinois’ part of the company name. The earliest models employed the use of a key to wind them up, and are among the most valued collector’s pieces of all the Illinois Pocket Watches. In later years, they produced a series of ‘Railroad Quality’ watches. These watches were of exceptionally high quality, highly accurate and finely detailed.

Like many companies, the Illinois watch company underwent several reorganizations over the years it was in business. In 1879, the company suffered a financial setback and was forced to restructure, in the process changing the name to the Springfield Illinois Watch Company. Six years later, in 1885, the company experienced a similar problem yet again, and changed the name to simply the Illinois Watch Company.

By the time the 1920s came, independent operation was no longer an option for the company and it was sold to the Hamilton Watch Company. Even though it was sold, the Illinois factory continued to operate for several more years until 1932 when the last Illinois Watch was manufactured.

The Hamilton Watch Company continued producing watches under the Illinois name until 1939, many of which were stored and not packaged or sold until more than a decade had passed. Despite the somewhat ignoble end, the Illinois pocket watch continues to be collected and valued by watch lovers around the globe. – 35634

Want to find out more about (http://www.illinoispocketwatches.net) illinois pocket watches, then visit Steven S. Melcher’s site on how to choose the best (http://www.illinoispocketwatches.net/read-the-history-of-illinois-pocket-watches/) illinois pocket watches for your needs.