21 Jewel Sangamo Hunting Case Pocket Watch Movement 9 Adjustment SW-LS RR Grade in Open Face YGF RR Case Start Price USD 995.00 Current Price USD 995.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, October 04, 2008 End Time Monday, November 03, 2008 Location Hampton Falls, New Hampshire See more about '21 Jewel Sangamo Hunting Case Pocket Watch Movement ' Description Sangamo 16 Size 21 Jewel Rail Road Watch The 21 jewel Stem Wind-Lever Set Illinois Sangamo hunting case watch movement shown in a gold-filled railroad case was produced in 1906 (S#1811307) and at the time was the highest grade 21 jewel Illinois railroad watch you could buy.  In addition to 6 position adjustments (pendent up, pendent down, pendent left, pendent right, face down, face up) the Sangamo is adjusted for temperature and isochronism.   If you count temperature as “heat” and “cold”  that’s 9 adjustments. As the buyer had to pay extra for each set of jewels over 7, and extra for each adjustment, this was one of Illinois Watch Company’s most expensive movements, meaning relatively few were made.  Note the “21 ruby jewels” inscribed on the plate.   The color of the jewels is matched and notice that all jewels are in gold screw down jewel settings.  The train wheels are gold, the lever cap jewel is with a gold setting and notice the oversize gold timing screws in the bimetallic balance.  It was with watches like this that Patek Philippe and Vacheron & Constantin had to compete in the American market.  They might have put together grades that were equal timekeepers, but outside of observatory competitors, nothing better, and even here this grade was a good bet for the lead. Making the movement rarer still is the fact that it was made as a hunting case.  Side winders were OK, but railroad watches had to be in open face cases and for the most part all of them were designed to wind at 12 with the seconds bit at 6. Because we see that this watch winds at 3 but the seconds bit is still at 6 we know this was not just a matter of making a special dial.  This is a custom made, limited production variation of the railroad grade open face special ordered by a man who could afford the luxury of a show and tell lever set railroad grade for his 14- or 18K hunting case. As American watches were interchangeable in standard size cases, it’s very likely that out there in the marketplace is a 17 jewel 16 size Illinois watch in sharp 14- or 18 K hunting case that would fit this Sangamo like a glove with even the screw marks in the right place.  The buyer can look at this as a very fine sidewinder or a top of the line Illinois hunting case railroad grade movement looking for a proper home, and a very sharp open face railroad case: 2 for one. The damascening speaks for itself.     The watch is now over 100 years old and you can be sure that once cleaned and oiled it will run hundreds of years more and keep exact time.  That’s what so amazing about these watches:  They were a functional form of mechanism raised to an art so well made that with proper care and maintenance they should never wear out.   Working examples of watches from the 15th century help make that point.  As far as I can see the movement is pristine as shown and the double sunk dial is without hairlines chips or cracks. If you have anything to add, questions, or more photos are desired please do not hesitate to ask or call it to my attention.  If you see the value, add a bit of excitement to the auction, get things rolling early and be one up on the under bidder.   Buy it now or make an offer.   All reasonable offers will be carefully considered.   Bids at the last possible second will also be gratefully accepted. When bidding please allow $15.00 for careful Packing, Handling, Shipping and Insurance within the US, Priority Mail.   You can make any adjustments for that figure at your end.   I ship insured as a matter of course for all items with the exception of some foreign destinations where insurance is not available.  For International Shipping please contact me first. Thanks for Looking !   watchclockgo Store Place a Bid!