South Bend made fewer than a million watches during their 25-year run and are mostly overlooked by collectors, which means the remaining survivors don't get passed around like a taco platter at a dorm party. Don't miss out on this Adjusted-5-Positions 21-jewel railroad-grade pocket watch from the Roaring Twenties with very little mileage on it.
The Studebaker Brothers, already famous as automakers, bought the failing Columbus Watch Co in 1903 and moved the whole thing to Indiana, renaming it the South Bend Watch Co. The new company was famous for freezing their watches in ice to demonstrate their accuracy and driving them up and down Main Street in a wagon behind a donkey, which was an interesting marketing strategy. One of their highest 16-size grades after the Polaris was the 227, which came with twenty-one jewels and was adjusted to temperature and five positions. This exceptionally nice example was just restored with a new mainspring and a thorough cleaning, still carrying its original dust band and correct snow-white double-sunk dial with the Gothic signature behind blued hands. The 20-year Bates & Bacon gold-filled case is also in exceptional condition with a beautiful pattern on the rear cover, a blank shield, a sharp crown, and a new glass crystal. Matching lanyard and display stand included.
Manufacturer - South Bend
Serial Number - 1130191
Watch Size - 16
Watch Model - 2
Watch Grade - 227
Jewel Count - 21
Winding/Setting - Stem/Lever
Production Year - 1924
Restoring a watch doesn't mean to make it brand new again, which isn't possible. Nobody can remove the mileage, the scratches, and the history.
What it means is complete disassembly and cleaning, and to examine every component for defects under a 30x scope. It means making sure that every gear, every screw, every spring, everything under the dial is the correct part and operating within the tolerances set at the factory all those years ago. It means timing it in all positions as close to zero error as its escapement will allow. It means making sure the dial is the proper one for a given model and that it's cleaned well and repaired if necessary. It means that all the hands are the ones that are supposed to be there and not just any ones found in a jar. It means the case is immersed in a tank and the pendant cleaned separately, that the bow and crown are right for that brand, and a new crystal.
It means a mechanical work of art you can be proud of.
Safely store or display your favorite pieces in a custom wooden cabinet, designed and built to your specifications in your choice of domestic species, finishes, hardware and lighting packages.
Straps are an alternative to chains, which don't grind up the metal bows. Prevent drops with these supple straps, hand-braided from top-grain leather in your choice of colors.
There will come a time when you want or need to sell this watch for one of several reasons. If it's going to a fellow collector or someone who will genuinely appreciate it, then that's fine. On the other hand, if you're consigning it to an auction house or selling it to your local jeweler or gold hog it will almost certainly end up on eBay in pieces with the case melted down.
Instead of the watch being parted out for the bottom feeders to pick over, we will gladly buy the watch back from you, less 10% and the cost of a COA, plus anything else needed to return the piece to the condition in which you originally bought it.
One of Illinois's rarest watches was the 23-jewel Washington Lafayette. Only 190 were ever made.