South Bend 'The Studebaker' Grade 223 Open Face Pocket Watch

Technical characteristics

Type

Railroad watch

Caliber

Studebaker Grade 223, Model 2

Place recorded

United States

Movement Serial

727372

Case Back Markings

Nickel - G852242

Jewels and Setting

17 Jewels, lever-set

Maker / attribution

South Bend Watch Co.

Case Dimensions and Material

50.4 mm nickel round case

Design

Visible features

• White dial bearing the cursive 'South Bend' signature below 12 o'clock • Black Arabic numerals marking the hours with an outer chapter ring displaying red five-minute numerals • Blued steel spade-style hands and blued subsidiary seconds hand • Subsidiary seconds register positioned at 6 o'clock • Polished nickel case with bow and crown at the 12 o'clock position

Dial and Visual Presentation

Direct visual inspection reveals a white dial featuring the cursive 'South Bend' signature located directly beneath the 12 o'clock position. The dial displays bold black Arabic hour numerals, paired with an outer chapter track that incorporates red five-minute markers. Time is shown via blued steel spade-style hands alongside a matching blued sub-seconds hand situated within a subsidiary register at 6 o'clock. The seller describes the dial surface as white enamel, housed in an open-face casing configuration with a bow and crown placed at the 12 o'clock position.

Casing and Physical Dimensions

The movement is housed in a polished nickel round case measuring 50.4 mm in diameter, expanding to 60.2 mm when including the crown, with a total thickness of 13.5 mm. Both the bezel and back are threaded screw-style components. The vendor notes that the rear cover features exterior engraving and records the interior marking as 'Nickel - G852242'. Neither the case back markings nor the exterior engraving are visible in the provided front photograph.

Reported Movement and Technical Specifications

According to the seller's cataloging, the watch contains an original South Bend Watch Co. manual-wind mechanical movement designated as Studebaker Grade 223, Model 2, bearing serial number 727372. The movement is reported to be size 16s with 17 jewels and a lever-set configuration. The seller states that the movement is railroad grade and adjusted to six positions, temperature, and isochronism, describing this as nine total adjustments. Additional production numbers reported by the vendor list a run quantity of 1,000 within a total grade or model production of 5,000 units. These movement details are seller-reported and are not visible in the front dial photograph.

Identification

Reference

Grade 223, Model 2

Serial number

727372

Source note

Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.