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The Illinois Watch Company was founded in Springfield, Illinois in 1867 by John C. Adams, John Whitfield Bunn, William B. Miller, John Williams, John T. Stuart, George Passfield and George Black. The company at the time was called Illinois Springfield Watch Company.

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The Illinois Watch Company produced its first watch in 1872 called the “Stuart” after one of the founders, John T. Stuart. They produced many watches over those years and were well known for their line of railroad quality watches like the “Bunn Special”, named after one of the company’s founders, Jacob Bunn, Jr. He took over the company in 1890 and ran it until his death in 1926.

In 1879, the company changed their name to the Springfield Illinois Watch Company, after they were reorganized due to financial difficulties.

In 1885, they changed their name again to the Illinois Watch Company.

In 1928, Hamilton Watch Company purchased the company and continued to produce watches under the Illinois Watch Company name.

Due to bad financial conditions like the stock market crash in 1929 and the Great Depression, they closed the factory in Springfield and production stopped in 1932.

Some of the most highly sought after watches are pocket watches from the 1870’s and wrist watches made from 1915 – 1932.

Illinois Watch Company Serial Numbers
1872 – 5,000
1873 – 20,000
1874 – 50,000
1875 – 75,000
1876 – 100,000
1877 – 145,000
1878 – 210,000
1879 – 250,000
1880 – 300,000
1881 – 350,000
1882 – 400,000
1883 – 450,000
1884 – 500,000
1885 – 550,000
1886 – 600,000
1887 – 700,000
1888 – 800,000
1889 – 900,000
1890 – 1,000,000
1891 – 1,040,000
1892 – 1,080,000
1893 – 1,120,000
1894 – 1,160,000
1895 – 1,220,000
1896 – 1,250,000
1897 – 1,290,000
1898 – 1,330,000
1899 – 1,370,000
1900 – 1,410,000
1901 – 1,450,000
1902 – 1,500,000
1903 – 1,650,000
1904 – 1,700,000
1905 – 1,800,000
1906 – 1,840,000
1907 – 1,900,000
1908 – 2,100,000
1909 – 2,150,000
1910 – 2,200,000
1911 – 2,300,000
1912 – 2,400,000
1913 – 2,500,000
1914 – 2,600,000
1915 – 2,700,000
1916 – 2,800,000
1917 – 3,000,000
1918 – 3,200,000
1919 – 3,400,000
1920 – 3,600,000
1921 – 3,750,000
1922 – 3,900,000
1923 – 4,000,000
1924 – 4,500,000
1925 – 4,700,000
1926 – 4,800,000
1927 – 5,000,000
1927 – Sold To Hamilton Watch Company
1928 – 5,100,000
1929 – 5,200,000
1931 – 5,400,000
1934 – 5,500,000
1948 – 5,600,000

Illinois Watch Company Values
We have seen prices from low $xx to a few thousand dollars, depending on the year, model and condition.

Popular Illinois Watch Company Watches And Pocket Watches
Abe Lincoln
Autocrat
Bunn Special
Currier
Lady’s Edgewaters
Mason
Miller
New Yorker
Sangamo Special
Santa Fe Special
Stuart

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3 Comments

Len Mathieu February 15, 2017
Hi I have my Grand Fathers watch ….Where do I find the numbers to Identify the year and see if it is worth refurbishing….thanks …..Len
gene barton January 23, 2015
I have an Illinois pocket watch serial# 614618. What would be an approximate value? Runs good. Thanks Gene Barton
bob moody April 12, 2013
I HAVE AN ILLINOIS WATCH COMPANY WATCH THAT IS IN ADOUBLE CASE. IT RUNS GOOD AND HAS FLOWERS IN THE CASE AND FLOWERS ON THE FACE INSIDE THE NUMBER ON THE CASE AND WORKS IS 11065862. IS THE CASE GOLD ?

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

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