Rockford Grade 89

According to various catalogs, the Rockford Grade 89 is the gilt version of the nickel Grade 86. Produced in 10 distinct runs, the Grade 89 features gilt plates with 15 jewels in settings. The grade was offered as unadjusted (Grade 89) and adjusted to temperature (Grade 89x), though no differentiation is indicated in the Rockford Serial Lists. In the 1896 A.C. Becken catalog, the adjusted Grade 89x was sold at a $3.00 premium over the standard Grade 89. By 1899, the Grade 89x was no longer offered in the annual A.C. Becken catalog. However, the standard Grade 89 could still be purchased for $9.00. While the adjusted Grade 89 was offered, very few movements have been recorded that are marked "Adjusted." Despite the different levels of adjustment, all Grade 89 movements were fitted with a micrometric regulator. Early runs feature the "Type 4" regulator while later runs feature the "Type 5" and then the "Type 6" near the end of the Grade 89 production.

The last run of Grade 89 movements [436,301-437,000] is designated in Rockford Serial Lists as featuring 11 Jewels. However, this is inconsistent with other 15-Jewel runs and is noted as a continuation of the 11-Jewel count from the previous run, so this is considered to be an error in the factory lists.

Anomalies:
#296005: Verified as featuring a center jewel, yielding 16 jewels instead of 15. The center jeweling appears slightly different than the other train jewels, so it is possibly a post-factory upgrade.