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The Burlington Watch Co. was a subsidiary of the Illinois Watch Co., which was in operation from 1869-1948 and produced some of the best railroad-grade movements ever manufactured. Burlington watches were produced by Illinois in their factory in Springfield, Illinois and the company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
The porcelain-enamel railroad dial on this WWI-era Burlington is so iconic that it has its own name—the Montgomery dial. Developed by Henry S. Montgomery for the Santa Fe Railway, the design features individually numbered minute markers from 1 to 60, allowing the time to be read quickly and precisely. The Montgomery layout was later adopted by several American watch manufacturers and became one of the most recognizable dial designs of the railroad era. The Montgomery dial on this particular Burlington is in exceptional condition, making it an outstanding example of this historic design.
Underneath the dial sits Burlington’s Grade 274, a 19-jewel movement produced between 1912 and 1928 in collaboration with the Illinois Watch Company. The movement has been restored and refinished in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. All screws and steel hardware were thermally blued by hand over an open flame, a traditional watchmaking technique that improves corrosion resistance while producing a rich, iridescent blue hue that contrasts beautifully against the plates (read more here). The jewel chatons, balance, balance weights, and gear train were restored to their original golden tone, while the plates were brought back to a crisp silver finish without disturbing the factory damaskeening. Altogether, the distinctive Montgomery dial paired with the restored Burlington movement creates a piece that captures the classic look of American railroad era.
The timepiece is cased in our custom 316L stainless steel conversion case, crafted with adjustable lugs for effortless winding and setting while ensuring a comfortable fit across a range of wrist sizes. The case features front, back, and crown gaskets to provide water resistance up to 50 meters, though we recommend removing the watch before water activities. Fully serviced and meticulously inspected, this watch is ready for years of reliable wear and your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 300 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hands
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Burlington (Chicago, Illinois)
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1915
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 19 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm, adjusts to wrist size
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 2814524
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.