Cleaning up some basement boxes, I found this pocketwatch that I recall Barbadee giving me when I was young. I would carry the watch around and use it sometimes.
I wound it up, and it is ticking and keeping time, here some 99 years later from the 1915 inscription.
The watchmaker is Rode Watch Co. You can see the F/S adjustment. It is set a bit to the slow side. There is a “Swiss” stamp on the edge of the mechanicals (not pictured.) The back interior case reads:
ILLINOIS
W.C. CC.
ELGIN
STERLING
7713912
To the right of Illinois is a smaller number: 734301 (from what I can tell.)
At the bottom there appears to be a mark of some kind like a signature.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47644390
Birth: 1862
Death: 1920
Burial: Saint Lawrence Cemetery
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Created by: Saratoga
Record added: Feb 06, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 47644390
http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us:2011/cdm/singleitem/collection/gadeaths/id/79824/rec/6
Title Toale, George E.
Birth Date: 1862-01-14
Age at Death: 58 years 11 months
City of Death: Augusta
County of Death: Richmond
Date of Death: 1920-12-29
Year of Death: 1920
Father’s Name: Edward Toale (b. Ireland)
Mother’s Name: Mary Tully (b. Ireland)
First Name: George E.
Last Name: Toale
Race or Ethnic Origin: Caucasian
Certificate Number: 35052
Sex: Male
Format: Document
Cite as: Death Certificates, Vital Records, Public Health, RG 26-5-95, Georgia Archives
Digital Collection: Georgia Death Certificates
Filename: 004178254_01209.jpg
Seems that I recall a “Toale-House Cookie”, so maybe he was the original cookie monster, who made cookies at his house….
From:
https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/734301/movement
Grade: 131
Manufacturer: Illinois
Manufacturer Location: Springfield, Illinois
Movement Serial Number: 734301
Grade: 131
Model: 1
Estimated Production Year: 1890
Run Quantity: 8,000
Total Production: 33,800
Size: 4s
Jewels: 11j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Gilt
Movement Setting: Lever
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Barrel: Going
Adjusted: No
Railroad Grade: No
Dial Feet Locations: 12.5, 40.0, 57.5
Case Screw Locations: 20.0, 49.0