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1885 Elgin 18 size M3 1885 Elgin 18 size M3 1885 Elgin 18 size RR 1885 Elgin 18 size RR 1909 Elgin 16 size M6 1909 Elgin 16 size M6 6 size Elgin hunter pocket watch 17 jewel 6 size Elgin hunter pocket watch 17 jewel 6 size Elgin, 15 jewel with a silver case and multi-colored dial 6 size Elgin, 15 jewel with a silver case and multi-colored dial 12 size Elgin 7 jewel, in a base metal case 1920's 12 size Elgin 7 jewel, in a base metal case 1920's 12 size Elgin deco open face pocket dress watch 12 size Elgin deco open face pocket dress watch 12 size Elgin open face 15 jewel, 1930's pocket watch 12 size Elgin open face 15 jewel, 1930's pocket watch 12 size Elgin open face pocket watch bold roman numeral dial 12 size Elgin open face pocket watch bold roman numeral dial 12 size Elgin open face pocket watch, yellow gold filled 12 size Elgin open face pocket watch, yellow gold filled 12 size Elgin pocket watch white gold filled 12 size Elgin pocket watch white gold filled 12 size octagon Elgin pocket watch, refinished dial 12 size octagon Elgin pocket watch, refinished dial 12 size open face 1920's pocket watch 12 size open face 1920's pocket watch 12 size open face sold 14k white gold case 12 size open face sold 14k white gold case 18 size Elgin pocket watch, 7 jewel 18 size Elgin pocket watch, 7 jewel 18 size Elgin pocket watch, roman numeral dial 18 size Elgin pocket watch, roman numeral dial 18 size open face Elgin pocket watch, white gold filled case 18 size open face Elgin pocket watch, white gold filled case 21 jewel Father Time, Elgin open face pocket watch 21 jewel Father Time, Elgin open face pocket watch Elgin 0 size hunters pocket watch - private label Elgin 0 size hunters pocket watch - private label Elgin 12 size open face pocket watch 1920's white gold filled case Elgin 12 size open face pocket watch 1920's white gold filled case Elgin 12 size open face pocket watch 1940's Elgin 12 size open face pocket watch 1940's

Elgin Pocket Watch Repair

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Contact Terry at watchrepair.cc


"I must say, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You ! Thank You for breathing new Life into my Uncle Art's watch. When I wound it up, saw the second hand moving along and heard the ticking, I felt my Uncle's spirit. He was so proud of his watch. I too will wear this watch proudly. And I know my Son will too."

I specialize in antique Elgin pocket watch repair and and Elgin pocket watch restoration. You might find my Elgin pocket watch repair page interesting as I've made available to you Elgin pocket watch production numbers that will assist you in dating your watch, as well as photos of a few of the Elgin pocket watches that I've restored for my customers. Regardless of the current condition of your Elgin pocket watch, know that they were originally made so perfectly, that with proper servicing and expert repair, it can again be an honest instrument again - for many years to come.



Ground breaking scientific research and American production methods brought us precision products whose superiority was acknowledged throughout the world. This genius of teaming skilled American craftsmen and scientists with America's famed production know how, is the reason for the mastery of Elgin timepieces. Beginning in 1864 the Elgin National Watch co. sprouted from a small wooden building to the worlds largest manufacture of high quality jeweled mechanical timepieces. These original building are long gone yet of their 55 million jeweled timepieces produced, many still exist. You may be the fortunate custodian of such a watch. Antique Elgin pocket watches come in a variety of models and designs from the functional open face type with the dial made readily visible to the Elgin hunters model - that has a spring loaded cover concealing it's dial. The development of these ingenious devises saw many refinements that improved durability, ease of repair and simplified use. Early Elgin pocket watches required a small key to wind it's mainspring and set the watches time. Later such winding and time setting was accomplished from the watches winding crown. Without consideration to what era your Elgin pocket watch originated in, or what model or size it is, it's potential of full functionality and trustworthiness is what I specialize in, and what I guarantee.
 watch dial refiningshing
Elgin National Watch Company made nearly 1/2 of all the high-grade watches ever manufactured in America. A fairly detailed list of Elgin Pocket watch models are listed below:

Elgin Pocket Watch Serial Numbers / Dates:

1867 - 9,000
1868 - 25,001
1869 - 40,001
1870 - 50,001
1871 - 185,001
1872 - 201,001
1873 - 325,000
1874 - 400,001
1875 - 430,000
1876 - 480,000
1877 - 520,000
1878 - 570,000
1879 - 625,001
1880 - 750,000
1881 - 900,000
1882 - 1,000,000
1883 - 1,250,000
1884 - 1,500,000
1885 - 1,855,001
1886 - 2,000,000
1887 - 2,500,000
1888 - 3,000,000
1889 - 3,500,000
1890 - 4,000,000
1891 - 4,449,001
1892 - 4,600,000
1893 - 5,000,000
1894 - 5,500,000
1895 - 6,000,000
1896 - 6,500,000
1897 - 7,000,000
1898 - 7,494,000
1899 - 8,000,000
1900 - 9,000,000
1901 - 9,300,000
1902 - 9,600,000
1903 - 10,000,000
1904 - 11,000,000
1905 - 12,000,000
1906 - 12,500,000
1907 - 13,000,000
1908 - 13,500,000
1909 - 14,000,000
1910 - 15,000,000
1911 - 16,000,000
1912 - 17,000,000
1913 - 17,339,001
1914 - 18,000,000
1915 - 18,587,001
1916 - 19,000,000
1917 - 20,031,001
1918 - 21,000,000
1919 - 22,000,000
1920 - 23,000,000
1921 - 24,321,001
1922 - 25,100,000
1923 - 26,050,000
1924 - 27,000,000
1925 - 28,421,001
1926 - 29,100,000
1927 - 30,050,000
1928 - 31,599,001
1929 - 32,000,000
1930 - 32,599,001
1931 - 33,000,000
1932 - 33,700,000
1933 - 34,558,001
1934 - 35,000,000
1935 - 35,650,000
1936 - 36,200,000
1937 - 36,978,001
1938 - 37,900,000
1939 - 38,200,000
1940 - 39,100,000
1941 - 40,200,000
1942 - 41,100,000
1943 - 42,200,000
1944 - 42,600,000
1945 - 43,200,000
1946 - 44,000,000
1947 - 45,000,000
1948 - 46,000,000
1949 - 47,000,000
1950 - 48,000,000
1951 - 50,000,000
1952 - 52,000,000
1953 - 53,500,000
1954 - 54,000,000
1955 - 54,500,000
1956 - 55,000,000


Elgin 18 size pocket watch models: Advance, Age, Atlas Watch Co.. California Watch, the Chief model, the Convertible model, the H.L. Culver, The Elgin Watch co. models in 7 jewel through 21 jewel, the Charles Fargo model, J.V. Farwell, Father Time in in 17 jewel through 21 jewel, W.H. Ferry, Mat Laflin, National watch co. in 7,11, 15 jewel, M.D. Ogden, the Overland model, Pennsylvania Railroad co., B.W. Raymond in 15,17 19 and 21 jewel, J.T. Ryerson, Solar Watch Company, the Standard watch co., Sundial, the H.H. Taylor, the collectible models of the Veritas in 21 and 23 jewel, G.M Wheeler in 13,15 and17 jewel, and the models that were known and listed as numbers: No. %, No. 17, No 23, No. 316-317, no. 326-327, No. 335-336,, no 378-379, 348-349, and the mode no. 345. View Movements »

Elgin 17 size pocket watch models: The Avery in 7j, the Leader in 7j, the Sunshine model in 15 jewel, model 11, and the key wind in silvered.

Elgin 16 size pocket watch models: The blind mans watch, the Convertible model in 13 jewel, 15 jewel, and 21 jewel. The Elgin Doctors watch in 15 jewel, the Elgin Watch co. inn 7j, 9j, 11j, 13j 15j, 17j, 19j, and 21 jewel. The three finger bridge model in 15, 17 and 21 jewel, the famous Elgin Father Time model in 17 jewel and 21 jewel. The Lord Elgin pocket watch in 21 and 23 jewel, the highly respected B.W. Raymond model in 17 jewel, 19 jewel, 21 jewel, and 23 jewel, The 21 and 23 jewel Elgin Veritas, the G.M Wheeler, the WWII 17 jewel and 21 jewel pocket watch. Models that were given no names but rather numbers: Grade 270, grade 280, grade 290, grade 291, grade 312, grade 381, grade 145, grade 156, grade 162, grade 72-91, grade 571 in 21 jewel. View Movements »

Elgin 14 size pocket watch models: The Lord Elgin, the early key wind in 7 jewel, the early key wind in 11 jewel, the key wind in 13 jewel, the early key wind in 15 jewel - all known as the model one, and the model two stem stet in 7 and 15 jewels.

Elgin 12 size pocket watch models: The Elgin watch company model 30, model 189, model 190-194, model 236-237, model 301-302, model 314-315, model 383-384, the 15 jewel 12 size in open face and hunters case, the 17 jewel open face. View Movements »

Elgin 10 size pocket watch models: the Dexter Street model, the Frances Rubie, the Gail Borden, the Lady Elgin model, and the model 21-28.

Elgin 6 size pocket watch models: The Atlas model, the various Elgin Watch co. models in 7j and 15 jewel in hunting cases 10k, 14k and 18k. View Movements »

Elgin 0 size pocket watch models: The Atlas watch company model in 7 jewel, various models of "Elgin Watch co." in 7j,15j,19j, Francis Rubie.

Elgin 3/0 and Elgin 5/0 watch models: The Lady Elgin, the Lady Raymond, and the Elgin Watch co. model in 7 jewel hunting case.

The formation of the Elgin Watch Company:
(National Watch Company)
Elgin, Illinois 1864 -1964

The Elgin National Watch Company furnishes a striking example of American enterprise and business sagacity. It cannot be said that the credit of conceiving and organizing this company is due to any one man or set of men, but rather to a combination of western push and business enterprise and Eastern horological skill, a union which had developed a watch manufacturing business which today stands second to none in existence. As early as 1863 the idea of starting a large watch company in the West was talked over by Mr. J.C. Adams, of Chicago and N.P. Stratton, then connected with the American Watch Company, of Waltham Massachusetts. Mr. Stratton was sent to Europe by the latter company soon afterward so the matter was dropped for the time being.

In the spring of 1864, Messrs. P.S. Bartlett and Ira G. Blake, of Waltham, both of whom were at the time prominently connected with the American Watch Company visited Chicago and the idea of starting a watch company was once more agitated. Mr. Adams soon after went to Waltham where he interviewed a number of practical men who were anxious to go into a new company if men with large capital and business experience could be found to form the new company. Returning to Chicago, he soon interested several prominent business men who, early in August, 1864 took steps toward a corporate organization. This was effected by the 27th. of the same month under the name of the National Watch Company, with an authorized capital of $100,000.

Immediately after the organization of the preliminary company they began to cast about for a suitable place in which to locate their plant. Mr Raymond, Culver and Adams were appointed a committee on location and finally selected Elgin. The citizens there donating 35 acres of land to the company for the plant and homes for the foreman, and taking $25,000 worth of stock of the company. In the month of September following the first organization, Mr Wheeler accompanied by Mr. Adams, visited New England for the purpose of engaging a corps of practical men to start the machine shop. At that visit Messrs. Ira G. Blake, George Hunter, John K Bigelow, P.S. Bartlett, Otis Hoyt, Chas. E. Mason and D.R. Hartwell contracted with the company each for five years. They were all at this time in the employ of the Waltham Watch Company in more or less important positions. The reason these seven men wished to leave the old company, was that they were to have an increased salary, they were also each to received the dividends of from a certain amount of stock and be given a plot of ground containing a half acres as a homestead. They, too felt they could have more latitude in the new company than they could ever hope to have in the old. During the month of November 1864, machinery and supplies for a machine shop were purchased in the East and shipped to Elgin where a temporary wooded structured, 35' x 60' three stories high was erected on the water power to served the purposes of the company until the factory should be ready for occupancy.

Situated in a prairie country, far from the source of supplies, they found many obstacles to be overcome. Before even iron castings could be procured of the proper quality, they found it necessary to build and equip a foundry of their own. The workmen were all eager for results, however, and pushed the work forward without faltering. Mr Daniel G. Currier, and expert watchmaker, was hired from Waltham in April of this year and assisted Mr. Mosely in constructing the model watch. By June 1st. of that year the entire buildings were completed and sufficient machinery finished and set up so that work was now begun on the parts.

The first movement produced was an 18 size full plate, named "B.W. Raymond" after the President of the Company. The first of them were put on the market April 1 1867, or about 2 years and 7 months from the date of the organization of the company. The following is a list of the movement immediately succeeding the Raymond: The "H.Z. Culver", named after another of the directors. It was made after the original model and was the next grade below. It was put on the market July 16 of the same year. The next addition to the line was four movements having slow trains and right angle escapements: the "H.H. Taylor", the fully leveled "G.M. Wheeler", and the "Mat. Laflin" - plain jeweled. Later this line was further increased by the addition of four more grades of 18 size movements named the "W.H. Ferry", "M.D. Ogden", "J.V. Farwell", and the "Chas. Fargo". These were introduced between August, 1869 and August 1870. They were all named after gentlemen who had become connected with the directory.

The first stem wind watches issued by the company were delivered June 28, 1873, the model watch having been made by Mr. C.S. Mosely. Between that date and May 6 1875, stem winding attachments were applied to the Raymond, Culver, Taylor, Wheeler, Laflin, and Ogden grades. August 28 1874, the company brought out two new model full plate movement in 17 1/2 size named the "T.N. Avery" and the "Leader". They were placed at a low price and the odd size of these movement rendered them unpopular in the trade and their manufacture was discontinued in 1887. Between September 29 and December 29 of the following year, five grades of 14 size three quarter plate key wind movements were produced. These were more especially designed for sale in the English market, the company having opened an office in London.Between March 28 1878 and January 6 1879, four grades of 16 size three-quarter plate stem winding movement were made both nickel and gilt, in fine and medium grades. These embraced an entirely new feature in a stem winding device being interchangeable for hunting or open face cases with the winding stem at either three or twelve o'clock. In February 1880, this line was extended by the addition of two bridge movements, one nickel and one gilt. It is not too much to say that these movements have met with popular favor with the trade, especially the grade designated as the number fifty.

To meet the growing demand for Elgin watches many additions have been made to the original buildings. The first building already described contained a floor area of about 23,000 ft. Additional building additions have been made in 1873 - 8,000 ft, 1874 boiler house, an 1878 10,000 foot addition, and in 1881 two buildings were erected increasing the arena by 19,000 ft. The following year saw the last and by far the largest addition ever made in one year consisting of seven building and increasing the floor space by 72,000 feet. Outlying from these buildings is a full gas works, containing twenty four producers, supplying gas for eight pair of fifty hour power boilers and 24 dial enameling furnace fires. It is not too much to say that there is no large manufacturing corporation existing which has a better appointed and equipped factory for the production of their respective line of goods than this company has.

As the products of the company were so generally known as Elgin Watches, the stockholder at a special meeting held on May 12 1874, took the necessary legal steps to change and subsequently did change the name of the company from the National Watch Company to the Elgin National Watch Company, by which name it has since been and is now known.

A fact worthy considering is that no officer or director of Elgin Company since it's organization had ever had any previous experience in the watch manufacturing business. Consequently, it must be conceded that the great success of the Elgin Company is largely due to the careful management on their part, and especially to those holding the office of President, both past and present, under whose guiding hand, the business is to great extent, conducted; also the extreme care and judgement on the part of those men in charge the various mechanical departments. The production of movement has steadily increased from the start. On June 1, 1886, the company was manufacturing 1200 movements per day. To provide in part for the accommodation of it's 2300 employees, the company has erected a large boarding house with comfortable rooms to accommodate 400 persons, warmed by steam and lighted with gas, manufactured by the company with a dining room where 500 persons can be seated and served at the same time. Adjoining are large double parlors furnished with pictures, musical instruments, a good library and the current papers and magazines of the day for the use of the boarders. The company has also built on a piece of land purchased for that purpose, a number of cottages for the accommodation of it's operatives. The quality of the surface water in this locality proving ruinous to steam boilers, an artisan well was sunk by the company in 1881 to a depth of 2,026 feet where a vein of comparatively pure soft water watch struck, flowing at the surface line two hundred galls per minute. This water is pumped to an elevation of 75 feet into a distributing reservoir of 80,000 gallons capacity, situated 1200 feet east of the works. There is an ample supply is distributed suitable for every requirement of the factory and hotel. All these improvements are the property of the company and with dwellings erected by some of the employees, contiguous for a thriving village in itself. The Chicago & Northwestern and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Companies have erected depots close by the factory buildings which give the company and it's employees easy and frequent communication with the great center of Western trade. Female help constituted about 40% of the whole force. They have never look to Europe for operatives, although many foreign workmen have been hired through letter of recommendation. The company prides themselves on the fact that they were the first watch company in America that ever paid a dividend to it's original stockholders. The record speaks for itself. The Elgin Company is distinctly a Western institution and stands today a worth monument of Western enterprise.

The Elgin Watch Factory - Elgin, Illinois
This image is of what was once known as the largest watch factory in the world. The Elgin Watch company's factory began in 1866 and was demolished in 1966 after designing and manufacturing over 60 million quality timepieces. Do you have one of the watches that this great company made?

Elgin 16 size hunters case pocket watch,  15 jewels. Elgin 16 size hunters case pocket watch, 15 jewels.
Elgin 16 size hunters pocket watch, yellow gold filled case Elgin 16 size hunters pocket watch, yellow gold filled case
Elgin 16 size open face pocket watch in 14K yellow gold case Elgin 16 size open face pocket watch in 14K yellow gold case
Elgin 16 size roman numeral dial, 17 jewel Elgin 16 size roman numeral dial, 17 jewel
Elgin 21 jewel B.W. Raymond adjusted to 5 positions. Railroad pocket watch with up  down indicator. 1920s Elgin 21 jewel Veritas Railroad pocket watch, Montgomery dial
Elgin 1940's B.W. Raymond Grade 571 Railroad pocket watch Elgin 1940's B.W. Raymond Grade 571 Railroad pocket watch
Elgin B.W. Raymond tear-drop case 21 jewel open face Elgin B.W. Raymond tear-drop case 21 jewel open face
Elgin Father Time up down open face railroad pocket watch 16 size pocket watch. Elgin Father Time up down open face railroad pocket watch 16 size pocket watch.
Elgin open face pocket watch, octagon case in white gold filled Elgin open face pocket watch, octagon case in white gold filled


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