[skypilot]

I mostly hang out in the Bulova/Accutron forum but I hope you will allow me to come here to pick your brains a bit.
I went to an estate auction this AM and there must have been 1500 watches for sale, mostly junk. They were selling them by the box and I bought a box to get a Railroad Approved Accutron. There were some other Bulovas in the box as well as some Timexes, some Walthams, a Gruen, a Wittnauer, a Hamilton, a Croton etc but here's the one I'm wondering about.
This illinois doesn't run and won't set, the crown can be wound off of it. Is it a escapee from the junk bin to which it should be returned or is it a candidate for resurrection.
Any information will be appreciated.

 

[RJ007]

Illinois Cushion...

That is a nice little Illinois "Cushion" and not junk at all.
These are very cool watches, and for the right price to fix it, this will look great!
Here are a few of mine:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now the Illinois "Cushion" is generally pretty plentiful (for Illinois)
and I wanted to see what I had on this cool little guy...

Here are a few you don't see every day!

This is perhaps the only known example of a Solid Green Gold
Cushion with Black Enamel

The Special dial "Illinois Meritime" with fine detail work adds
to the rarity of this cool little cushion.

Sides:

There are not too many Illinois that had enamel...
and this bezel has some very nice detail

Back:

Movement:
19J/607
Sub 6

The logo reads: Star Watch Case Co. 14K 585/1000 Fine

(FJF) Notes
Fred Friedberg (the master of all things Illinois)
has a very interesting little tidbit on the term "Cushion"
In his wonderful Book:

What is Cushion-Cushion?
Cushion-Cushion Round?
Cushion-Cushion-Cushion Plain?
----------------------------------------------------
Cushion case with dial and crystal= "Cushion-Cushion"
Engraved Bezel= "Cushion Engraved Oxidized"
Plain Bezel= "Cushion-Cushion Plain"
Cushion case with round/plain bezel and crystal= "Cushion Plain Round"
Cushion case with round/engraved bezel and crystal= "Cushion Engraved Round"
----------------------------------------------------

Value:
$450 to $650
$200 for custom dial
With Gold at these prices, add more for the solid gold value.
Rarity 6/6 (Almost impossible to find)

Wrist shot:

Now Illinois made some fun little (kinda inexpensive) Cushions with dials that had some cool sounding names.
Mind you, these were not an expensive watch at the time and maybe these
names "Jazzed-up" a rather simple design... hum?

Sportsman

Penn Special

Burlington:

Masonic Dial (Extremely Scarce)

Plain Dial

Note the detail:

RJ007 Notes:
The Cushion is one of the most common designs in Watch history.
They are fun to wear, and generally easy to find.
All the big American's made a Cushion variation...
Gruen, Waltham, Hamilton, Illinois and others.

If you are lucky to find one in solid gold, grab it.
Enameled versions are also very cool like the Chevalier.

Enjoy!:thumbup1:

 

[skypilot]

WOW ! A tutorial on Illinois cushion watches !
I've been to this forum enough to know that you would know the answer but I sure didn't expect anything like that. Thank you !
I guess I'm going to have to put it into the rotation for resurrection.
Any idea how old it is ? The man who owned it, whose estate was being sold, was 89.

 

[RJ007]

WOW ! A tutorial on Illinois cushion watches !
I've been to this forum enough to know that you would know the answer but I sure didn't expect anything like that. Thank you !
I guess I'm going to have to put it into the rotation for resurrection.
Any idea how old it is ? The man who owned it, whose estate was being sold, was 89.

Pop the caseback off and I will date it from the movement for you...
Clean up that puppy and it will look GREAT!

 

[skypilot]

OK, I popped the back off but I lack the camera and the skill to take a good picture of it. I will do my best if needed. The movement says 17 jewels and has a serial number 4934382. The rear of the case has a number E5675 on the rim. Does this help ?
I'm surprised at the quality of the machine work on the movement. It has convinced me that I must get it resurrected. Can you PM to me the name of someone to whom I could send it ?
I bought a total of 34 watches in the box and am having a great time going through them. My wife has laid claim to a Hamilton so I may bug those folks for some info about it.
I really appreciate all your help.

 

[RJ007]

OK, I popped the back off but I lack the camera and the skill to take a good picture of it. I will do my best if needed. The movement says 17 jewels and has a serial number 4934382. The rear of the case has a number E5675 on the rim. Does this help ?
I'm surprised at the quality of the machine work on the movement. It has convinced me that I must get it resurrected. Can you PM to me the name of someone to whom I could send it ?
I bought a total of 34 watches in the box and am having a great time going through them. My wife has laid claim to a Hamilton so I may bug those folks for some info about it.
I really appreciate all your help.

The date on the movement has it around 1927-1928.
Get that cleaned up!:thumbup:

Check your PM.

 

[skypilot]

WOW ! That old. Thanks for the PM, now I can hardly wait to have it running so I can wear it.
Accutrons are still my first love but I'm really going to enjoy this watch.

 

[RJ007]

WOW ! That old. Thanks for the PM, now I can hardly wait to have it running so I can wear it.
Accutrons are still my first love but I'm really going to enjoy this watch.

I know... isn't it amazing that something made almost 100 years ago is still
cool and can be pretty easily made to run like a champ again!

I have a feeling this month's version of a time telling cell phone will be deep in a landfill
100 years from now!:lol:

 

[Widows Son]

That is a nice little Illinois "Cushion" and not junk at all.
These are very cool watches, and for the right price to fix it, this will look great!
Here are a few of mine:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now the Illinois "Cushion" is generally pretty plentiful (for Illinois)
and I wanted to see what I had on this cool little guy...

Here are a few you don't see every day!

This is perhaps the only known example of a Solid Green Gold
Cushion with Black Enamel

The Special dial "Illinois Meritime" with fine detail work adds
to the rarity of this cool little cushion.

Sides:

There are not too many Illinois that had enamel...
and this bezel has some very nice detail

Back:

Movement:
19J/607
Sub 6

The logo reads: Star Watch Case Co. 14K 585/1000 Fine

(FJF) Notes
Fred Friedberg (the master of all things Illinois)
has a very interesting little tidbit on the term "Cushion"
In his wonderful Book:

What is Cushion-Cushion?
Cushion-Cushion Round?
Cushion-Cushion-Cushion Plain?
----------------------------------------------------
Cushion case with dial and crystal= "Cushion-Cushion"
Engraved Bezel= "Cushion Engraved Oxidized"
Plain Bezel= "Cushion-Cushion Plain"
Cushion case with round/plain bezel and crystal= "Cushion Plain Round"
Cushion case with round/engraved bezel and crystal= "Cushion Engraved Round"
----------------------------------------------------

Value:
$450 to $650
$200 for custom dial
With Gold at these prices, add more for the solid gold value.
Rarity 6/6 (Almost impossible to find)

Wrist shot:

Now Illinois made some fun little (kinda inexpensive) Cushions with dials that had some cool sounding names.
Mind you, these were not an expensive watch at the time and maybe these
names "Jazzed-up" a rather simple design... hum?

Sportsman

Penn Special

Burlington:

Masonic Dial (Extremely Scarce)

Plain Dial

Note the detail:

RJ007 Notes:
The Cushion is one of the most common designs in Watch history.
They are fun to wear, and generally easy to find.
All the big American's made a Cushion variation...
Gruen, Waltham, Hamilton, Illinois and others.

If you are lucky to find one in solid gold, grab it.
Enameled versions are also very cool like the Chevalier.

Enjoy!:thumbup1:

I'll take the one with the Masonic dial, PM me and I'll tell you where to send it!!!!!:001_wub: