Elgin National Watch Company: Watches and Watchmaking

The Elgin National Watch Company was a legendary watchmaker that produced some of the most accurate and reliable timepieces of its time. Founded in 1864, Elgin watches were known for their high-quality craftsmanship and innovative designs.

Elgin watches were sold through a vast network of retailers across the United States, with over 10 million watches sold between 1864 and 1968. This widespread distribution helped make Elgin one of the most popular watch brands in the country.

Elgin's commitment to quality was evident in its watches' accuracy, with many models boasting an average error of just 10-15 seconds per day. This level of precision was unmatched by many other watchmakers of the time.

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The Elgin National Watch Company was first incorporated in August 1864 as the National Watch Company in Chicago, Illinois.

The founders managed to convince key personnel from the Waltham Watch Company to join the newly-formed company later that year.

In 1867, the company developed its first movement, which was named after the company president, B.W. Raymond. This movement marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

The National Watch Company officially changed its name to the Elgin National Watch Company in 1874.

By the 1940s, Elgin claimed to have the largest watch manufacturing operation in America. This was a testament to the company's growth and success.

During World War II, the company shifted its focus to the defense industry, producing military watches, chronometers, and other instruments for military use.

The company employed over 5,500 people at the height of its wartime production.

In 1951, Elgin produced its 50 millionth watch movement, a significant achievement that showcased the brand's popularity.

The company's original factory in Elgin, Illinois closed in 1964 when the company relocated to a new plant in Blaney, South Carolina.

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The Elgin Watch Factory was a massive operation, employing over 4500 people at its peak, with more than half of them being women. The factory's design featured tall and narrow arms with many windows, allowing natural sunlight to flood the interior spaces.

Elgin's early mass-manufacturing process was incredibly complex, with trainloads of raw materials arriving daily and finished watches departing on the same trains. The factory made the machines that made the watches, from basic materials, all under one roof.

The Elgin Watch Company's success can be attributed to its huge production of low to mid-grade watches, producing over one-million per year during its peak years of production.

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The Elgin Watch Factory was built on 35 acres of land in 1866 and at its peak employed over 4500 people, with more than half of them being women.

The factory's design featured tall and narrow arms with many windows to allow natural sunlight to reach as much of the interior floor space as possible.

The factory's layout was a marvel of its time, with trainloads of raw materials coming in and finished watches being shipped out.

Elgin's early mass-manufacturing process was unlike anything seen today, with the factory producing everything from basic materials to finished watches under one roof.

The factory was completely destroyed in 1966, and today a strip-mall stands in its place.

The Elgin Watch Company's success was built on producing low to mid-grade watches, with over one-million per year being produced during their peak years of production.

The factory's innovative approach to watch production led to the introduction of the "DuraBalance" in 1958, an ingenious design for a free-sprung balance.

Elgin watch movements are all individually numbered between 101 and over 50 million, making them a valuable resource for determining information about an Elgin watch.

If your Elgin watch has a serial number, you can use it to determine when it was made. The serial number is engraved on the watch works itself, not on any part of the watch case.

In the 1930s, Elgin began using a letter prefix to replace the millions digits in their serial numbers, so if your Elgin watch has a serial number starting with a letter, you'll need to look up the millions digits from a table to determine the full serial number.

To find more information on Elgin serial numbers and production, check out a specific resource online that provides detailed information on Elgin serial numbers.

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The Elgin National Watch Company produced some impressive timepieces, and it's worth taking a look at their watch features. The company was known for its high-quality movements, with some watches featuring 17-jewel movements.

One notable feature of Elgin watches is their accuracy. According to the company's records, some Elgin watches were accurate to within 10 seconds per day. That's impressive, especially considering the technology available at the time.

Elgin watches also came in a variety of styles, including pocket watches and wristwatches.

Elgin watch movements are all individually numbered, with over 50 million serial numbers assigned over a one hundred year span.

These serial numbers are engraved on the watch works itself, not on any part of the watch case. This unique identifier can be used to determine information about an Elgin watch, including when it was made.

Some Elgin watches have serial numbers starting with a single letter, which indicates that the millions digits were replaced with a letter prefix in the 1930s. To determine the full serial number, you'll need to refer to a table that shows the correspondence between letter prefixes and millions digits.

Elgin watches are extremely popular with collectors today because they are plentiful, can be purchased at reasonable prices, and can be relatively easy and cheap to repair, due to the large number of watches and parts available.

Their huge production of low to mid-grade watches (7 to 15-jewels) was a key factor in the Elgin Watch Company's success. They dominated the market for mid-grade watches, producing over one-million per year during their peak years of production.

The Elgin National Watch Company was known for horological innovations, such as the "DuraBalance" introduced in 1958. This ingenious design used spiral balance arms and small weights to govern the moment of inertia of the balance.

Many Elgin watches that were made over 100 years ago are still providing reliable and accurate daily service to their proud owners.

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Elgin watches were known for being the "Working Man's" watch, with a huge production of low to mid-grade watches, ranging from 7 to 15-jewels.

These mid-grade watches were extremely popular, with Elgin and the Waltham Watch Company dominating the market, producing over one-million per year during their peak years of production.

Elgin watches remain popular with collectors today, thanks to their affordability, availability, and ease of repair.

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Pocketwatch cases marked "Elgin" are often a source of confusion, but there's a clear explanation. The Elgin National Watch Company never made pocket watch cases themselves.

In fact, the Illinois Watch Case Company, based in Elgin, Illinois, was a major manufacturer of watch cases. Their cases were often marked with the word "Elgin" and other trade names containing the word.

This practice was common in the early 20th century, where customers would select watch movements and cases separately at the retail outlet. The local watchmaker or jeweler would then fit the movement to the case at that time.

Interestingly, the use of the name "Elgin" by the Illinois Case Company led to a lawsuit that went all the way to the US Supreme Court. Elgin lost that case, and as a result, a previously used place name like "Elgin" may not be protected by US copyright.

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Men's Vintage Pocket Watches are a treasure trove of horological history and craftsmanship. The Elgin watch company, from Elgin, Illinois, was in business from 1864-1964 and produced an estimated half of all pocket watches.

These pocket watches are often considered gent's size, but would also be suitable for a woman to carry. You can find a selection of vintage Elgin pocket watches in various grades, such as the 16S 17J grade 324 and the 18S 21J LS adj. 3p grade 412.

Some Elgin pocket watches feature intricate engravings, like the lovely YGF fully engraved HC on the 16S 15J grade 315 pocket watch #25948376. Others boast impressive cases, like the Dueber coin silver case on the Elgin 18S 21J LS Father Time grade 367 Up & Down indicator pocket watch.

The Elgin watch company was known for its high-quality production, and many of its pocket watches are still highly sought after today. The 16S 17J adj. grade 381 pocket watch #14784100, for example, has been re-cased into a lovely fully engraved YGF HC.

The prices of these vintage pocket watches can vary greatly, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The Elgin 16S 23J LS adj. 5p Veritas grade 453 Up & Down indicator pocket watch #23634945, for instance, is listed at $2,425.00.

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The Watch Industry was a significant player in the American economy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Elgin National Watch Company was one of the largest watch manufacturers in the United States, producing over 1 million watches per year at its peak.

The company's watches were highly regarded for their quality and accuracy, with some models featuring intricate engravings and ornate designs.

The watch industry's growth was fueled by the increasing demand for timepieces, particularly among the middle class, who sought reliable and affordable timekeeping devices.

The Watchmakers' College was a vital part of the Elgin Watch Company's success. It was founded in 1920 near the factory to train a pool of watchmakers in the craft.

Elgin's interchangeable, standardized parts system was a key aspect of the college's curriculum. This system was designed to promote Elgin's product line.

The college operated independently from the Elgin company, but its motivation was clear: to produce trained watchmakers who could work with Elgin watches and parts. The Watch Word, the Elgin factory magazine, printed an article on the college's 20th anniversary in 1940.

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Many students, including the author's grandfather, Everett Sexton, attended the college after graduating from high school. He was taught by renowned watchmakers and later went on to work with Elgin pocketwatches.

The college's students and staff were photographed in 1936, and a copy of the photo has been preserved. Unfortunately, class photos like this were not routine, making this image a rare treasure.

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Elgin watches were made with Swiss movements in the late 50's through mid-60's. This was a time of transition for the company, as they began to reduce their US production and import Swiss movements to finish and label as Elgin watches.

The practice of importing Swiss movements and labeling them as Elgin watches was a common tactic during this period. It allowed the company to maintain a level of quality and reputation while also taking advantage of the expertise and efficiency of Swiss watchmakers.

This shift in production marked a significant change in the way Elgin watches were made, and it had a lasting impact on the watch industry as a whole.

The Elgin National Watch Company was a pioneer in precision timekeeping, thanks to its observatory that recorded precise time using astronomical measurement. This observatory was placed into service in 1910.

Located on a hill a few blocks east of the main factory, the Elgin Time Observatory was the only time observatory owned and maintained by a watch manufacturer in the nation. It was a significant investment for the company.

The observatory's purpose was to provide a baseline timing standard for Elgin, with all factory facilities having clocks synchronized to it. This ensured that every operation in making and timing Elgin Watches was controlled with precision.

The observatory was in daily use, every working day of the year, and was used by astronomers of national prominence. It was a testament to the company's commitment to precision timekeeping.

Starting in 1935, a number of Elgin watch models displayed a star on the dial, symbolizing the company's astronomical roots. This was a clever marketing move that further emphasized the connection between the company and the stars.

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Elgin Brands had a distinct approach to product naming, with multiple lines catering to different markets. The basic models were simply branded as "Elgin".

The company's mid-range offerings were labeled "Elgin DeLuxe", which typically featured 17 jewel movements. This tier was positioned above the basic models.

At the high end, Elgin offered the "Lord Elgin" and "Lady Elgin" lines, which boasted movements with 19 to 23 jewels. The "Lady Elgin" brand actually predates the "Lord Elgin" line by several decades.

The three-tiered product formula was adopted in the 1930s and remained in use for many years.

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