Illinois Watch Co. 'Skyscraper'

The Illinois Watch Company is one of the most fascinating—and underappreciated—stories in American horology. Founded in Springfield, Illinois, in the early 1870s, it rose to prominence as a maker of high-quality mechanical watches, especially railroad-grade pocket watches that were prized for their accuracy and craftsmanship.

What makes Illinois especially interesting is its distinctly American origin story. It began as the Springfield Watch Company in 1870, born out of Midwest industrial ambition and financed by local businessmen, including John C. Adams and John Whitfield Bunn. A couple of reorganizations later, it became the Illinois Watch Company, with Jacob Bunn Sr.—a local industrialist and a friend of Abraham Lincoln—at the helm.

Under the Bunn family’s leadership, the company grew into a serious competitor in the U.S. market. By the early 20th century, it was producing large quantities of reliable, well-finished movements and became a go-to supplier of railroad watches—an essential tool in an era when precise timing was critical for safe train operations. Models like the Bunn Special and Sangamo Special are legendary among collectors today.

Illinois didn’t just make pocket watches. In the 1920s, it ventured into wristwatches with beautifully styled Art Deco and Streamline Moderne cases—now much admired for their design and rarity.

The company’s independence ended in 1927, when Hamilton Watch Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, purchased it. Hamilton operated the Springfield plant, shifted emphasis toward wristwatches, and eventually closed the factory during the Great Depression. The Illinois name lingered under Hamilton into the late 1930s, but the original company’s run effectively ended then.

For collectors today, Illinois watches represent a golden era of American watchmaking: precision engineering, elegant finishing, and a genuinely American horological lineage that still resonates.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.