Illinois Grade 33

Description

A rather small savonette pocket watch movement, or rather a movement for the first wristwatches, with a diameter of less than 30 mm, is the American Illinois Grade 33 from the beginning of the 20th century.

With its movement-side, screwed chatons, it makes a high-quality impression.

The fully perlaged base plate also indicates a good execution of this movement; however, one misses ruby bearings, as only the balance wheel bearing on the base plate has got them, which unfortunately makes this movement somewhat reminiscent of a gimmick that promises more than it can ultimately deliver.

The negative winding mechanism is interesting, in which, when the winding stem is pulled out, more precisely, when its insertion is released, the Breguet pinion is switched from winding to hand-setting.

The gear train, with its consistently brass-colored (this also applies to the escape wheel) and large wheels, has a classic design:
The mainspring barrel drives the central minute wheel, followed by the third wheel, the decentral seconds wheel at 6 o’clock, and finally the escape wheel.

A Swiss pallet lever is used in the escapement where the lever fork is equipped with a pin.

The balance wheel is bimetallic design with compensating screws. Its hairspring features a Breguet terminal curve, which compensates for the different positions and ensures the most accurate possible rate. A long regulator index allows for precise adjustment of the 18,000 A/h.

The dial-side part of the setting mechanism is clearly visible here, and also the two adjusting screws, with which the lever limit pins are set - typically American.

As said at the beginning, please not the lack of any bearing jewels, except for the balance!

Technical data

Usage gallery