Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

I really don't have time to post regular updates to this eponymously titled thread, which I've carried over verbatim from the old forum's 7Txx section, but when I do see something unusual worth mentioning, I'll add an occasional post here.

As we know, there were literally hundreds of Seiko and Lassale variants of 7T32, nearly as many Orient and Racer HFA's besides the Pulsar and Yema Y182's, before you even start looking at the other obscure brands who used this humble Seiko quartz alarm chronograph movement. I've mentioned a few of them before in the old forum's thread, including: Alba, Aquascutum, Breil, MA-JI Masatomo, Puma, Radiant, Town & Country Surf Designs and even Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. (Yes seriously).

Well here's another unusual brand to add to that list: Illinois.

At lunchtime, I ran my usual set of searches on Yahoo Japan, but didn't find anything of interest. I search in both English and Japanese and before I finished I did a random search on 'クロノグラフ' (Chronograph). This came up in the results:

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/au ... 1005652891


It's fairly obviously a 7T32, from the two crown, three pusher and sub-dial layout with alarm. The Yahoo Japan seller has sussed as much from his translated description. Apart from the Illinois branding, it's unusual for a couple of other reasons, notably it's smaller than average (only 34mm diameter with 17mm lug width fitting), prominent chronograph pusher buttons @ 10 and 2 o'clock and the Rolex style knurled case-back, which presumably screws down.

Underneath the upper part of blue vinyl case-back protection film, it's possible to make out: Illinois Watch Co. Ltd.. Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, the Illinois Watch Company was a well-known mainstream US manufacturer of pocket watches. Whether this watch is a product of the resurrected Illinois Watch Company (owned by Craig Stone) or just some Chinese outfit ripping off the brand name while the company was dormant - your guess is as good as mine.

Edit: According to Wikipedia (and the date of trademark acquisition of 2009), I suspect it's more likely the latter.

Here's another unusual pair of re-branded 7T32's - or should I more correctly say Orient HFA's, which I stumbled across while searching Yahoo Japan this morning. They are branded as 'Kenwood Cup', which was an offshore yachting regatta held off Hawaii until 2002, when the Japanese appliances giant withdrew its sponsorship, or as the Independent wrote:
Sailing: Kenwood Cup is scuppered.

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/au ... 1008236697


https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s822988345


Neither listing description actually tells you very much about the watch. The black dialed one appears to be in almost NOS condition, but has a flat battery and also typically appears to have a rather short bracelet. The bracelet clasp is embossed KENWOOD CUP. The presentation box contains a Kenwood Cup booklet, presumably the instruction manual, but the lid of the box still has Orient molded on it. The photos of the white dialed version are much smaller, but at least this seller (who from his listing title has made the '7T32' connection) has included a photo of the case-back showing the Orient model # HFA201-70. Given their limited appeal, both are optimistically over-priced, particularly the white dial.

Hmm. In an interesting twist on the Japanese cross-platform proxy re-seller theme, I've just realized that a Thai eBay seller siamdo is listing what appears to be exactly the same white dialed Kenwood Cup Orient '7T32' HFA201-70. From their somewhat more realistic Buy-it-Now price of $99.99, larger size of photos (1600 vs 500 pixels) and rather more informed description, I think it's safe to assume they are the bona fide seller. Indeed, checking the revision history, they've been listing it for OVER TWO YEARS since July 2019 !!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-Cup-Or ... 4411954628

Joe Biden’s Seiko 7T32-6M90
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com ... -14-20/amp
Related Article “Let Biden Guide You as a Watch Collector”: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com ... -10-20/amp

jamesam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:04 pm Joe Biden’s Seiko 7T32-6M90
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com ... -14-20/amp
ACBCA2F1-C58E-4C57-B78C-5369A5739E6C.jpeg
Related Article “Let Biden Guide You as a Watch Collector”: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com ... -10-20/amp

I was actually standing one foot way from President Joe Biden a few nights ago, among a bunch of people trying to shake his hand.
I really wanted to see what watch he was wearing but couldn’t. I was wearing my 7T32 Orient Racer with Panda dial. But that wasn’t the hand I extended to him.