Rare 16s 17J Illinois Electric Railroad Standard pocket watch c1907

This pocket watch is known as a TROLLEY watch

The term "Trolley Watch" is a bit misleading. Electric railways at the beginning of the 20th century were generally divided between city street railways and interurban railways. The interurban railways started as extensions of the city street railways and then evolved into a network of railways between cities. Most were lightly constructed with routes alongside existing roads or railroads between towns and street operation into the center of towns along the way. They mostly carried passengers from rural areas into town. Some built up a business with such local freight such as milk and produce. When the roads became paved and people bought cars they quickly died out. Almost all were gone between 1930 and 1940. The longest survivors became basically commuter railroads or had interchange with steam railroad for movement of freight.

It was the employees of interurban railways which needed accurate watches nearly the equal to railroad watches (i.e. the Hamilton Electric Interurban Special and the Illinois Electric Railway Standard). This was because they were usually single track with passing sidings. The crews therefore needed to know exactly what time to meet cars operating in the opposite direction. For this purpose a special employee's timetable was published which listed the meeting points and the times.

Movement – the nickel 3 finger bridge, grade 185 movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator. The movement is signed “Electric Railroad Standard, 17 Jewels, Adjusted” 2009255 and is in 90% mint condition – some small spots and marks

Case – the movement comes in a gold plated open face case, which has a screw off bezel and the movement is released from the winder and swings out from the front. The case has a smooth plain finish and is in 95% mint condition

Dial – the white enamel dial is double sunk and has a full set of blue steel hands. The dial is signed “Electric Railway Standard” and has gothic numbers. The dial is in 90% mint condition – hairlines on the 11 and 2-3

The watch has a mineral glass

The watch measures 53mm wide x 14mm deep

The watch is stem wound / lever set