Identify Elgin movement

[AlexeiJ1]

Hi everyone. 

I picked up a nice Elgin wristwatch from the bay for around $100 Australian dollars. 

It appears to have a broken Balance staff and due for a service. 

There are no markings under the balance cock, how do I go about finding the movement ID to get a new staff? 

Is it worthwhile trying to get it running? It looks a tad small on my wrist but I have a few vintage omegas in similar style. I'm not sure if it was originally a wristwatch or if it's a Hodge podge. 

I might send the case to Canada to get a up on the rolled gold. It's very thick gold I might add. 

I can measure the movement later. 

Cheers Alex. 

[JohnR725]

For the most part for Elgin if it has a serial number you go the pocketwatch database and look it up. Then if you're lucky on the parts tab ill Bill the finder parts. Unfortunately for balance staffs it isn't always that simple as there may be variations. Usually any time you restaffed any American pocket watch you always want to measure the before and after to make sure the replacement staff actually is the proper replacement staff that way you would avoid unpleasant surprises.

If you look through the parts go to the staff section you will get the image that I have below. You'll notice I highlighted something the staff conceivably has variations. Elgin unlike other watch companies for the staffs would have a part number but the part number would action referred to a whole bunch of staffs with variations. Typically it's just pivots size variation but other times other dimensions Very. Then when you order a staff online it may be a generic replacement that may not actually exactly fit the staff you have.

I'm attaching a second image it looks like I was correct there are some variations for pivots size. It would be really nice if one ear pivots still existed. But as a guess is this is a seven jewel watch it's probably the largest size which works out fine any staff would work then hopefully. Sometimes the generic replacement staffs are deliberately made over size as it's easier to reduce the dimensions than it is to add on to the staff.

Then one more image there's a reference to single and double roller normally that would be physically different staffs but in the case of this staff will work for either or so I variation in size you have will be the pivots.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/26620476

[AlexeiJ1]

Cheers
I have found by serial number that is a 462 movement. I am now sourcing some parts.
I got the train bridge running well.
My balance is broken, winding wheel missing a tooth and the click is worn down.

Very interesting crown design. The crown setting lever is in the case/crown.
The movement drops out without having to release a setting lever screw. Very peculiar and clever.

[JohnR725]

50 minutes ago, AlexeiJ1 said:

Very interesting crown design. The crown setting lever is in the case/crown.
The movement drops out without having to release a setting lever screw. Very peculiar and clever

Typically traditionally with American pocket watches and some Of the wristwatches this is what you have.

Also if you look carefully you'll notice that when the movement is out of the case it's now in setting. That's because the crown and stem in the case determined where the crown and stem are by the sleeve in the case.  If the movement is out it automatically goes in To the winding position. This then presents a problem if you're trying to run the watch as your now driving the entire setting mechanism. Watch manufacturers recognize the problem and Oftentimes provided a way to put the watch basically into a diagnostic mode which puts the watch back into running out of the case. Fortunately they all had slightly different methods. So I almost need to see the parts under the dial to tell you how to do it.