Store 18

Watch Description

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.

Watch Specs

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

Company History

Just What Restored Means

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.

The Accessories

Display Domes

Storage Chests

Show off your cherished family heirloom on your mantel while protecting it under glass in a walnut display dome.

Show It Off

Storage Chests

Safely store your watches in a custom-made chest with felt-lined trays sized specifically for that purpose, made from local hardwoods.

Keep Them Safe

Leather Straps

Storage Chests

Leather Straps

Prevent tragedies with these supple straps, hand-made from genuine leather in several choices of colors and styles.

Don't Drop It

Buy Back Policy

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.

American Timekeeper

Sold!

16-size 21-jewel Grade 227 South Bend

Watch Description

Watch Specs

Just What Restored Means

The Accessories

Display Domes

Storage Chests

Storage Chests

Storage Chests

Storage Chests

Storage Chests

Leather Straps

Storage Chests

Leather Straps

Buy Back Policy

The Warranty