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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Keyless railroad grade pocket watch

Illinois Watch Co. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Special Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This is a 55 mm gold-filled keyless pocket watch catalogued by Antiquorum as an 18-size railroad-grade movement finished at the end of 1902 by the Illinois Watch Co. Bearing movement serial number 1490403, it is marked 'B & O. R.R. Special' alongside an adjustment designation and 21 ruby jewels. The auction catalogue reports a private-label retailer inscription on the dial for Ajan Kuningas S. Alto of New York. The nickel full-plate movement features circular damaskeening, screwed jewel settings, a swan-neck micrometric regulator, a bimetallic compensation balance with timing screws, and a safety pinion, housed in a Philadelphia Watch Case Co. case.

Rear movement view of Illinois Watch Co. B & O R.R. Special pocket watch serial 1490403
Rear movement view of Illinois Watch Co. B & O R.R. Special pocket watch serial 1490403 — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Keyless railroad grade pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Illinois Watch Co.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
132
Source-reported date
1902
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
1490403

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Movement Construction and Specification

This Illinois Watch Co. movement, serial number 1490403, is an 18-size, full-plate movement finished in nickel with damaskeening. It features 21 jewels with gold settings and is signed 'B & O. R.R. Special'.

Technical features include a straight-line lever escapement, a cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, a blued steel Breguet balance spring, a swan-neck micrometric regulator, and a safety pinion.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 18 size, nickel, full plate, damascened, 21 jewels, the top ones in gold settings, adjusted, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallc compensation balance with gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan neck micrometric regulator, safety pinion.”
  • “Signed on the dial by the retailer, on back ?B & O. R.R. Special?.”

Case and External Features

The watch is housed in a 55 mm gold-filled 'bassine' case manufactured by the Philadelphia Watch Case Co. The case features a reeded band with a screwed bezel and back.

The auction catalogue describes the back cover as engine-turned with a flower, crescent, and geometrical pattern. These specific external details are reported by the auction source.

Evidence for this section
  • “Diam. 55 mm.”
  • “C. three-body, "bassine" by "Philadelphia Watch Case Co.", screwed bezel and back, back cover elaborately engraved and engine-turned with a flower, crescent, geometrical pattern, reeded band.”

Dial and Retailer Attribution

The watch is equipped with a white enamel, double-sunk dial featuring bold Arabic numerals and an outer minute track with red Arabic markers at five-minute intervals. The dial displays 'Parallel Spade' hands.

The movement and dial are reported by the source to feature a private-label retailer inscription for 'Ajan Kuningas S. Alto' of New York. The source dates the finish of the watch to the end of 1902.

Evidence for this section
  • “D. white enamel, double sunk, bold Arabic numerals, outer minute ring with five-minute red Arabic markers, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "Parallel Spade" hands.”
  • “private label Ajan Kuningas S. Alto, New York, U.S.A., finishedat the end of 1902.”

Open research questions

  • Is there existing institutional documentation verifying the business operations of 'Ajan Kuningas S. Alto' in New York in 1902?
  • Does the 'B & O. R.R. Special' marking represent a specific production contract or a localized branding exercise?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Illinois Watch Co. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Special Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Serial Number1490403“No.1490403”
Jewels and Plate Architecture18 size, nickel, full plate, 21 jewels“18 size, nickel, full plate, damascened, 21 jewels”
Retailer Private LabelAjan Kuningas S. Alto, New York, U.S.A.“private label Ajan Kuningas S. Alto, New York, U.S.A.”
Case MakerPhiladelphia Watch Case Co.“"bassine" by "Philadelphia Watch Case Co."”
Diameter55 mm“Diam. 55 mm.”
Movement GradeRailroad Grade“keyless Railroad Grade watch”

Visible details

  • Movement plate engraved 'B & O. R.R. Special', 'SAFETY PINION', 'Adjusted', '21 Ruby Jewels', and '1490403'
  • Engraved balance cock with swan-neck micrometric index regulator
  • Bimetallic compensation balance wheel fitted with screws
  • Gold-toned case frame showing reeded decorative edges and round pendant with bow

Research qualifications

  • The dial and case back are not visible in the catalogue photograph.
  • Retailer dial inscription and case back engravings are source-reported and not independently verifiable from the provided image.
  • Condition grading and overhaul advice represent the auctioneer's cataloguing statements.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

IIllinois Watch Co., Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Special, No.1490403, private label Ajan Kuningas S. Alto, New York, U.S.A., finishedat the end of 1902.Fine, gold-filled, keyless Railroad Grade watch. | The Art of American Horology & Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | New York, 28th November 2001

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 9b6266b25b

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.