Expert: Melvin Mills - 5/12/2009

Question
I have a gold pocket watch that I inherited from my grandfather when he died in 1947.

In tiny letters it says on the case "Wadsworth Pilot". The back cover is hinged.  On the inside back cover I can read "This case is guaranteed to be made of two plates of solid gold and is warranted to wear twenty-five years."

On the works it says "Illinois Watch Co., Springfield".  
The case is numbered 128804 and the works "1880763". The watch face has tiny letters.  As near as I can make out, they say "Marnod, Jacgard and King.  St. Louis". There are numbers F(?) 3197 appear to be scratched by hand and

My grandfather graduated from medical school in St. Louis, Mo., around 1897. The watch had a special pocket in his vest. He may have chosen it because its second hand allowed him to take people's pulse rate.

I will be grateful for any information you can share about this time piece.  

Answer
Loron,

Illinois Watch Co. is one of the most highly regarded watch companies to come from the U.S.  Based on the number on the works, it was manufactured in 1906.  The names on the face are from the jewelery store that sold it most likely.  When companies would ask a manufacturer such as Illinois Watch Co. to build a watch and put the company's name on it, it was called "Private labeling".  It was a very common practice.

The case is gold filled.  

That is a wonderful find.  I would suggest that you write all about your grandfather and then yourself and keep that piece of paper with the watch so when it is passed to  the next generation, it will have even greater sentimental value.

Kind regards,

Melvin