Following on from my hallmarks article, this is a guide explaining how to properly read some of the many hallmarks you will find. Beautifully crafted dueber case with initials kae engraved. Bronze vintage brass antique cloisonne enamel case pocket watch fob watch for men women quartz stylish mini watch. An open face pocket watch has no cover over the face and it winds at the 12 oclock. This hallmark belongs to my 1881 size 10 elgin gold hunters case if wanting more photos please ask attached files.
Founded in chicago in 1864, the then national watch company was developed out of a consortium of local business leaders. Hoping to give their new company a jump start, the investors. Except for sites in the nawcc domains, the nawcc does not endorse any of these sites or the products or services that may be offered. Elgin national watch company serial number, elgin pocket watch. Make offer ordnance department pocket watch case size 16. On your pocket watch you should see two serial numbers, one on the case and one on the inner movement of the watch. Folks we are pleased to offer for your consideration this beautiful antique elgin gentlemans dress pocket watch circa 1896. Gibson jumbo black leatherette journal ruled, 7 x 9 assortment pack. Elgin pocket watch understanding serial numbers youtube. There are two main styles of pocket watch, the huntercase pocket watch and the openface pocket watch. Ww2 junghas military type alarm pocket watch amazing condition running. A hunting case pocket watch has a closed case that goes over the face of the watch. At the time he was working on the book british watchcase gold and silver marks 1670 to 1970.
It is fairly simple to confirm a watch is a waltham pocket watch and to identify the model and manufacturing date. See recent prices for elgin watches, learn the story behind the. Discussion in american pocket watches started by vandd, oct 19. It has a sterling silver case, and i am wondering if anyone can help identify the hallmarks. In between, pinning an individual elgin down to a specific year and model can be a bit of a chore. The star watch case company was a company in ludington, michigan, that operated from approximately 1905 to 1982. How can i tell if a 1908 elgin pocket watch is solid gold. In 1962 elgin simplified the identification process by introducing the case components book.
The following pricing is a guideline of what your pocket watch may need to again become a beautiful and dependable daily companion. Vintage and antique elgin pocket watches collectors weekly. I picked up a waltham hunters pocket watch at an auction recently. The cases were produced using a range of metals, from nickel to 18k solid gold, and were marked.
Gibson brown bonded leather journal ruled, 3 x 5 markings by c. Provides pictorial instructions on identification of the most common types of cases for vintage and antique pocketwatches. I have a 1908 elgin pocket watch that i have been told is solid gold. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you.
Pristine elgin pocket watch the gentlemens dress pocket. The pocket watches often have engravings on the bezel or hunter case, which. In response to quite a few requests for some information about english hallmarks, this is the result. There is a reasonably priced pocket version available that shows the different. Additionally, owners interested in information regarding the pocket watch case can determine the quality and rough date of production by identifying the grade of the case. The first elgin watch a pocket watch dates to 1867. Identifying the hallmarks on an old pocket watch is a great way to learn more about the piece in question.
Marks found in watch cases such as hallmarks, sponsors mark, date letter, assay office. Not sure what the difference is could the us ser no version be very slightly. How to find the serial number on an elgin pocket watch. Elgin pocket watches were an icon of american pocket watch production in the 20th century and reflect the massive progress of the age with durable yet elegant designs. Info, specs, and value american antique pocket watches, with serial number lookups for manufacturers such as elgin, illinois, waltham, and hamilton. Get the best deals on elgin pocket watches pre1920 when you shop the largest online selection at. A pocket watch or pocketwatch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed. Pocketwatch 101 how to identify pocket watch case types. If your watch isnt in poor condition as most 70 year old watches are, expect to pay less. However, some swiss watchmakers imported unassembled watches with no markings to the u.
Isologue martin queried why his two examples had two different caseback markings one with the us ser no marking and another with the more common ord dept. There are examples of pocket watch cases made in platinum, rhodium or other exotic metals but these are quite rare. Many materials have been used to produce oneofakind watch cases, but the materials listed above make up the vast majority of cases. Retail window these are dates that we have seen the models advertised, its to provide an idea of how common a model might be. Dueber watch case serial numbers showing of 3 messages.
These 14k gold hunter case pocket watches are getting hard to locate in good condition. Casker is a leading supplier of wrist watch, pocket watch, and clock parts to professional horologists. Get the best deal for elgin antique pocket watches from the largest online selection at. I find using my finger nail to be quite effective and it is soft enough to. Some history and reference pages about marks, their meanings, and dates. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Elgin pocket watch sale old vintage, antique elgin. Pocket watch identification and value guide the spruce. While opening a watch isnt rocket science, a watch can be damaged if you try to open it incorrectly. Materials used to make vintage watch cases pocketwatch 101. Second, attempt to identify the model by matching the case to known examples or to.
The 14k gold is a soft metal and many did not hold up over the last 121 years. Shop forand learn aboutvintage and antique elgin pocket watches. How to read english hallmarks antique pocket watch. Elgin pocket watches were an icon of american pocket watch production in the 20th century and reflect the massive progress of the age with durable yet elegant. Elgin watch identification guide waterstone watches.
Welcome to our little catalog, its a work in progress and no doubt will never be 100% completed. Some of the case makers had already used 45 digit numbers that look the same and can cause confusion, elgin also reused the 4 digit case numbers later on just keep you on your toes. Elgin was a prolific maker of pocket watches during their prime years of popularity. Antique elgin pocket watch repair, mechanical elgin pocket. This elgin hand crank pocket was is crafted of 18k gold. Beautifully crafted dueber case with initials kae engraved on the front and katie a. Philip has also written books on watch case sponsors marks covering the earlier period of 1631 1720 and the watch case maker dennison.
How to identify various types of pocketwatch cases. How to identify vintage pocket watches our pastimes. Make offer antique elgin 1907 open face pocket watch case elgin 7j running. To determine the year that your elgin pocket watch was made you need to. Elgin watches were manufactured in illinois from 1864 to 1968. The evaluation method detailed as mentioned in the general overview of how to evaluate a watch, there are four general aspects of a watch that effect its value and three major parts of a watch to evaluate, plus a lot of minor things. Often the watchmakers name will also be engraved on the inside of the case back. Get the best deal for elgin 15 jewels antique pocket watches from the largest online selection at. Most hunter style case breakage was due to wear from being pressed shut, like the old cowboy movies, crown should be pressed then front cover closed and release crown to engage holder.
Please use appropriate caution with vendor sites which do not provide locations or phone numbers. What is the significance of the keystone watch case co. Is there a mark or lack of marks that will indicate this. Antique mechanical pocket watch repair, cleaning, repair. How to identify a waltham pocket watch our pastimes. Sold for 350 via cortrie spezial auktionen september 2015. Starting around 1932, elgin used model numbers to identify unique case designs. From the serial number i have found that it is a 300 grade, size 16, 15 jewel movement made in 1904. What is the approximate value of a 1903 elgin pocket watch. This elgin pocket watch is a hefty size 16 and measures 2 inches in diameter the most popular of sizes. The last elgin movement made in america was produced in 1968.
The rich history of the elgin national watch company originally the national watch co. Elgin pocket watch serialnnn nnnnnnn case is by star watch case company with stars on it. Every watch i accept for restoration is fully disassembled. Marks in watch cases hallmarks, sponsors marks, etc. There are plenty of pages on how to read english hallmarks on the net, in this article ive tried to take the. 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. In a previous thread a question was asked about the outer caseback markings on elgin military wrist watches with the 7jewel 580 movement.
Elgin pocket watch w keystone case i used to wear it on a semi regular basis, but it has been dormant for several years now. Elgin 15 jewels antique pocket watches for sale ebay. The current condition of your pocket watch will determine all. Pocket post elgin multicolor gold 6 size hunters case pocket watch.
The other marks in your case are not well known brooklyn marks. Since you have to consider all aspect of all parts of the watch, it is easy to see that there are a large number of things to judge. Also, i have a howard and waltham i believe are as well. We carry all available brands of watch material including crystals. The star watch case company elgin, illinois started in 1897 making watch. Nice case except for the bow holes, which are badly worn, causing the bow to flop around.
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