Novice collectors typically think of all large pocket watches as railroad watches but in truth, only the best of the american production conformed to the continually evolving. Owners can trace their pocket watchs history by obtaining the unique serial number featured on the movement part of the watchnot the watch case, which displays only a case serial number. A few canadian railroad watches please add yours nawcc forums. Pocket watch identification and value guide the spruce crafts. And, contrary to common belief, there were many regulations in place before webb c. Railroad companies set their own standards, and those standards changed over time. Elgin made many railroad grade watches and proudly promoted this in their advertising. Farwell, father time in in 17 jewel through 21 jewel, w. This is a quality old watch from one of americas premier watch manufacturers. Antique elgin pocket watch repair, mechanical elgin pocket. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
By 1930, the post civil war dream factory imagined by a handful of american entrepreneurs had produced 32 million time machines. In between, pinning an individual elgin down to a specific year and model can be a bit of a chore. Antique elgin pocket watch circa 1927 railroad quality. Browse the best of ebay, connect with other collectors, and explore the history behind your favorite finds. For nearly 100 years the companys manufacturing complex in elgin, illinois, was the largest site dedicated to watchmaking in the world. A well maintained and adjusted watch kept in a fixed location at room temperature can reach accuracies normally only seen with quartz watches. We specialize in rare vintage railroad pocketwatches and wristwatches including illinois, ball, hamilton, elgin, waltham, and hampden for investment or hobby. A brief history of 3 dominant american watchmakers. A quick history of the elgin national watch company elgin was founded in 1864, right as the civil war was coming to an end. If you are new to collecting pocket watches my best advice is to take your time, even buying from me. This illinois hunter case pocket watch was special for a railroad company. Elgin had helped define the american pocket watch as unsurpassed in railroad accuracy. This watch has an 18s size 54mm base metal case with a beautiful etching of a train on the back.
An antique pocket watch from the elgin national watch company, circa 1890. A complete history of watchmaking in america, from 1809 to 1888 inclusive, with sketches of the lives of celebrated american watchmakers and organizers. Elgin shipped their first wristwatch in 1910, and later manufactured the first wrist watch to be qualified for railroad service, the grade 730a b. Elgin watch identification guide waterstone watches. The elgin national watch company, commonly known as elgin watch company, was a major us watch maker from 1864 to 1968. This video is focused on antique american pocket watches specifically those that are lever set.
When wadsworth got killed off, a few models were produced by. The last elgins talks about elgins durabalance and the railroad grade b. How to find the serial number on an elgin pocket watch. On april 19, 1891, a great train disaster occurred that would forever change timekeeping on the railroad. Unfollow elgin railroad pocket watch to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Round, goldfilled open face railroad watch by elgin, screwdown back. In 1958, they introduced the durabalance, an ingenious design for a freesprung balance. Elgin as a trading area had existed since 1882, the first business building probably having been erected in that year. The last elgins talks about elgin s durabalance and the railroad grade b. Railroad timekeeping standards were developed and the american watch companies needed to produce better and better grades of watches known as railroad grade. Railroad grade does not have just one meaning though. What should a wristwatch nerd know about american pocket watches and the industry that made them. Elgin open face antique pocket watches for sale ebay.
Here is a 16size elgin pocket watch with 21 jewels, made to railroad specifications in 1930. Elgin the collectors site for antique elgin pocket watches. Elgin bw raymond model patented gold filled pocket watch with updown indicator and subsidiary seconds. The elgin company diversified after world war ii making decorator clocks, transistor radios, wedding rings, but the hearts beat was the elgin watch. To accurately read the serial number, you will need to determine the best way to open the case, which varies from model, size and style. Vintage and antique elgin pocket watches collectors weekly. Retail window these are dates that we have seen the models advertised, its to provide an idea of how common a model might be.
Oct 20, 2019 one example of the misinformation contained in a short history of railroad watches is an 1893 requirement that watches be adjusted in five positions. Antique pocket watch pocket watch old elgin pocket watch vintage pocket watch free usa shipping by. Serial number 19900812 year 1916 grade 290 size 16s code h3n6p jewels 7j. This watch was in continuous production from 1941 to 1969. The last elgin movement made in america was produced in 1968. The specific definition of railroad grade evolved quite a bit over the years. In my opinion, from the late 1850s until just after wwii, the american watch industry produced more and probably better portable timekeeping machines than the rest of the world. The company sold watches under the names elgin, lord elgin, and lady elgin. Early on, these standards where lists of specific approved watches. How to set and wind a railroad grade pocket watch youtube. Model number case number name line subline cost jewels details. Hamilton, illinois, elgin, waltham, hampden, ball, gruen, omega, south bend, longines, wittnauer and other brands.
Specializing in the repair and restoration of american railroad pocket watches and vintage mechanical wristwatches. It shows how a 19j bwraymond works, with very good pictures. Beautiful condition enamel dial with blued steel hands. Raymond, past chicago mayor and member of the board of directors of the chicago and galena union railroad, promoted the construction of a watch factory in the west. The up down indicator refers to the 2ndary dial at 12 oclock which is a power reserve.
Elgin railroad pocket watch with updown power reserve. In doing so, it managed to produce the last railroad standard pocket watch to be made in the u. Awesome 105 year old class 117 7j open faced watch wow. Pair of railroad pocket watches, ruxton railroader incabloc, 17 jewels, 38mm face free of cracking, gold fill case. After decades of disastrous railroad collisions due to the lack of coordination between different lines, railroad companies realized that accurate timekeeping was crucial to helping ensure the safe and efficient operation of the nations railroad networks.
Illinoiss first company directors were john stuart, william miller, john williams, john bunn, george black, dr. Not over wound and starts on its own, both watches are. I think that you are ignoring the fact that private label watches were accepted into railroad time service in the us and canada into the 20th century. Welcome to our little catalog, its a work in progress and no doubt will never be 100% completed. Most importantly, the hairspring is white alloy metal, not blue steel. The gears, the jewel settings and the balance screws are gold. Adams, chicago watchmaker and timekeeper for the railroad serving the chicago area, along with benjamin w. Elgin national watch company, elgin, illinois rails west. New listing 1909 hamilton lancaster 21j 18s grade 940 model 1 railroad pocket watch b618. An article by paul chambre titled forgotten masterpieces. The railroad served as a link between class i railroads traveling to and from chicago, although it operated almost entirely within the citys suburbs, and only entered chicago where it served the u. How to find the serial number on an elgin pocket watch our. Nice, wind up elgin pocket watch was used by my ex, who was a conducter for the southern pacific railroad in california.
Throughout their history, the elgin national watch company was known for horological innovations. The elgin watch company, out of elgin, illinois, was in business from 18641964, and while active, was the largestproducing american watch company, manufacturing an estimated half of all pocket watches dollar watches not included. Unless a pocket watch is very rare small differences can make a big difference in price. That heart beat had been getting slower every year and elgin ceased to depend on the watch factory as its main enterprise. Elgin, union county, oregon oregon history and genealogy.
The hamilton 992b railroad pocket watch, hamilton railway special the hamilton grade 992b is a high quality antique mechanical pocket watch. Collectors weekly this was my great grandfathers watch. Advance, age, atlas watch co california watch, the chief model, the convertible model, the h. The clock tower of the national street plant was torn down october 7, 1966. Hamilton outlasted both elgin and waltham by a number of years. The elgin, joliet and eastern railway reporting mark eje was a class i railroad, operating between waukegan, illinois and gary, indiana. Raymond railroad pocket watch collectors weekly i thought our viewers might enjoy seeing my 18s elgin b. The first watch elgin made, an 18 sized b w raymond railroad grade watch, was finished in 1867 and over the next 100 years, they went on to produce about 60 million watches. The hands are set by pulling out a lever see first photo and turning the crown. Railroad grade vintage mens elgin pocket watches in this section, you will find a nice selection of vintage railroad grade elgin or the earlier national watch co. Elgin gold plated pocket watch for railroad conducter. Raymond pocket watch with a 24hour dial and a rose gold locomotive on the back cover. As early as the 1860s, railroad companies collaborated with american watch manufacturers to produce precision watches for. Top prices paid for vintage watches and watch material.
When he had to buy a new one in about 1984, he gave this one to my brother. The open face watch is a size 18 and has a nickel composition with side stem and inset second hand. A history of the elgin national watch company, 18641968. Brief history of the railroad watch on april 19, 1891, a great train disaster occurred that would forever change timekeeping on the railroad. This video describes how to set and wind a railroad grade american pocket watch. Nov 05, 2015 serial number 19900812 year 1916 grade 290 size 16s code h3n6p jewels 7j. It is a wonderful article on railroad grade pocket watches. Elgin national watch company serial number, elgin pocket watch.
We are severely handicapped by both the lack of legacy production records and by elgin s policy of not giving names to models. A railroad grade pocket watch is simply a watch that was approved by a particular railroad organization for use by conductors on their rail. Railroad grade pocket watches explained the vortic blog. Second elgin watch with a white metal fob, 46mm face free of cracks, silveroid case, movement serial number 6688368. The first watch elgin made, an 18 sized b w raymond railroad grade watch, was finished in 1867 and over the next 100 years. To be a railroad grade watch, the following criteria must be met. A few canadian railroad watches please add yours nawcc. Hamilton 992b railroad pocket watch, hamilton railway special. Elgin national watch company in the spring of 1864 half a dozen ambitious chicago businessmen decided that if massachusetts could build a factory that built watches illinois could, too. It was the genuine, audacious, selfreliant western spirit. Elgin watch collectors site information on watches from the elgin national watch company, its history and technical details pocket watch database.
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