We are proud to offer this beautiful men's 76 year old Elgin Deluxe17 jewel American made vintage1948 gold wristwatch.
The 10K gold filled case measures 1.1" X .92" and features a crisp white dial complimented by gold stick hour and minute hands, raised gold numbers and baton markers, black outer chapter, and sub-second dial @ 6 o'clock, all under a clear domed crystal.
The 17 jewel American made, grade 624 movement sets and winds as it should, is running strong and keeping very good time.
It has a snap-down Wadsworth case and is matched with what, I believe, may be it's orginal gold flex bracelet.
Note: I just noticed the gold link, at the bottom of the bracelet is missing 1/2 cap.
It is small and will be visible when worn.
Elgin Serial Number : J270608
Grade 624 may be marked for Deluxe or NONE.
STOCK CODE: E-8
ABOUT THE BRAND:
The Elgin National Watch Company, commonly known
as Elgin Watch Company, was a major US watch maker from 1864 to
1968. The company sold watches under the names Elgin, Lord Elgin, and Lady
Elgin.
For nearly 100 years the company's manufacturing complex in
Elgin, Illinois, was the largest site dedicated to watchmaking in the world.
The company was first incorporated in August
1864 as the National Watch Company, in Chicago, Illinois, by Philo Carpenter, Howard Z. Culver, Benjamin W. Raymond, George M. Wheeler, Thomas S. Dickerson, Edward H. Williams and [W. Robbins. In September of the
same year the founders visited the Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts, and successfully convinced seven of
Waltham's makers to come to work for their new company.
The growing young city of Elgin, Illinois, some 30 miles northwest of Chicago, was
chosen as the factory site. Initially, as part of the deal, the city was asked
to donate 35 acres (142,000 m²) of land for construction of the factory. A
derelict farm was selected for this, however the owners refused to sell the
property unless the city purchased their entire 71 acres for $3,550. Four Elgin
businessmen agreed to purchase the property and then donated the required 35
acres to the watch company. The company was re-organized in April 1865 and the
factory was completed in 1866. The first movement, delivered in 1867, was named
the B.W. Raymond in honor of Benjamin W. Raymond. The watch was an 18 size,
full plate design. In 1869, the National Watch Company won "Best Watches,
Illinois Manufacture" at the 17th Annual Illinois State Fair, for which it won a silver medal. The
company officially changed its name to the Elgin National Watch Company in
1874, as the Elgin name had come into common usage for their watches.
Later history
The company built the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory in 1910 to maintain scientifically
precise times in their watches. The company produced many of the self-winding wristwatch movements made in the United
States beginning with the 607 and 618 calibers (which were bumper wind) and the
calibers 760 and 761 (30 and 27 jewels respectively).
During World War II all civilian manufacturing was halted
and the company moved into the defense industry, manufacturing military
watches, chronometers, fuses for artillery shells, altimeters and other aircraft instruments and sapphire
bearings used for aiming cannons.
Over time a number of additional plants were operated, mostly in
Elgin. However, additional plants were located in Aurora, Illinois and Lincoln, Nebraska. The original, obsolete factory in Elgin
closed in 1964, after having produced half of the total number of pocket
watches manufactured in the United States (dollar-type not included). The plant was razed in
1966. In 1964 the company relocated most manufacturing operations to a new
plant in Blaney, a town near Columbia,
South Carolina which renamed
itself Elgin, South Carolina. A leased building in Elgin that housed offices as well as
casing, fitting, shipping, service, and trade material departments was
maintained until about 1970.
All US manufacturing was discontinued in 1968, and the rights to
the name "Elgin" were sold and subsequently resold multiple times
over the years. The rights eventually were purchased by MZ Berger Inc., which manufactures its watches in China and
distributes them outside traditional watch dealerships. Elgin-branded watches
produced after 1968 have no connection to the Elgin Watch Company.
Please note: We offer our products on multiple sites and do not remove them until payment has posted and very rarely multiple customers will "buy" an item but it will be sold to the first payment received.
We are Stonehenge Watch Company and have been selling vintage timepieces and new watches on the internet for over 17 years with hundreds of happy, satisfied, often repeat customers.
Seller information
stonehengewatchcompany (3142)
We do our best to accurately describe items on our site and, if for any reason, you are disappointed in your purchase we will provide a swift and satisfactory resolution to your concern.