Today Is Lord Elgin Day

[jeffc83]

I promise, I won't do this to you guys every day but I wanted to do one more "watch of the day" pic:)  Below is a beautiful Lord Elgin that I picked up for under 25 dollars.  She runs so well, it is typically +/- 0 seconds per day, maybe 1 second off! Beat error is always between 0.2-0.5 with perfect amplitude readings.  It sports an Elgin 990 17 Jewel Swiss movement and was serviced prior to my purchase. (this one was very much cared for) Tonight, I will be polishing her up and replacing the crystal.

Edited February 4, 2016 by jeffc83

[Folkvisor]

Very nice. Very very nice.

[WillFly]

I'll join you - here's my Lord Elgin Clubman, Cal. 680:

[jeffc83]

Beautiful! I love the models with the small sub seconds too!!! When was she last serviced?

[WillFly]

Oh, don't know - certainly had a clean when I got her about two years ago. I have a lot of stuff, so they each get worn (the older movements at any rate) occasionally! The dial looks slightly spotted in close-up, but it's actually OK on the wrist!

[jeffc83]

I wanted to hit the report button when I read your reply but I understand it is not for this type of problem;)  All joking aside, I stay FAR FAR away from servicing many from my collection, especially the Tags, Rolex, etc..

Edited February 5, 2016 by jeffc83

[ramrod]

I promise, I won't do this to you guys every day but I wanted to do one more "watch of the day" pic:) 

 

i don't think you'll run the risk of getting flamed for posting watch pics - especially something like this. we all enjoy them

that is a sweet watch. and for 25 bucks, you can 't beat that kind of accuracy in an old watch.

[Folkvisor]

Speaking of accuracy, does anyone have any experience with the downloadable watch timers?

And another question, are Lord Elgin watches the same as Elgin watches?

Dave

[Folkvisor]

As for working on watches, I work on stuff that no one would miss if it blew up. I'm beginning to realize that I don't know very much at all...

Dave

[ramrod]

Speaking of accuracy, does anyone have any experience with the downloadable watch timers?

And another question, are Lord Elgin watches the same as Elgin watches?

Dave

i've downloaded WIldSpectra Mobile Light. i love it. it's free. give it a try. it usually takes a few minutes for it to settle down, but it gives BPH, plus or minus minutes or seconds per day. i put it on my tablet because it has a mic that is more easily accessible than on a laptop.

 

you've asked a question that i've been wondering about also.

[Folkvisor]

Thank you, I'll try it. Great minds think alike...

[jeffc83]

Should I not be using a timegrapher? What's the benefit of this program over a timegrapher? :)

[jeffc83]

i don't think you'll run the risk of getting flamed for posting watch pics - especially something like this. we all enjoy them

that is a sweet watch. and for 25 bucks, you can 't beat that kind of accuracy in an old watch.

That was the open door invitation I was hoping for;) Many many more pics to come!

[WillFly]

And another question, are Lord Elgin watches the same as Elgin watches?

Dave

Yes, Dave - a Lord Elgin is a particular model of Elgin watches - they also did a Lady Elgin, a Father Time, etc. (Father Time was the logo of the Elgin watch company.

[Folkvisor]

O, OK. Thank you. My grandfather gave me an Elgin years ago. I wish I could find it and see if I could get it going again.

[WillFly]

Just one thing to note when talking about US makes like Elgin, Waltham and Hamilton. There's a difference, for collectors, in the original US-made watches and those made in Switzerland after the companies sold out to Swiss groups. Elgin sold out to the Swiss in 1968, Waltham in 1957 and Hamilton in 1969/70. Hamilton was one of the three major companies to form the basis of the Swatch Group.

 

They're still excellent watches, even though not now made in America - I'm wearing a Swiss Hamilton as I write this - but I have a sneaking preference for the US made watches, particularly those from the 1930s and 1940s! (My Lord Elgin dates from 1953).

 

Cheers,

 

Will

[Folkvisor]

So, the Elgin my grandfather gave me in the early 60's was definitely made in the USA whereas my new Hamilton was made in Switzerland as are Elgin and Waltham watches these days. That's interesting and makes me want to find that Elgin even more.

[WillFly]

So, the Elgin my grandfather gave me in the early 60's was definitely made in the USA whereas my new Hamilton was made in Switzerland as are Elgin and Waltham watches these days. That's interesting and makes me want to find that Elgin even more.

If you find it, look at the serial number in the movement and check it against this database:

 

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/

 

You'll find year, production run, jewels, size, and other good stuff.

[Folkvisor]

Thank you. I'll try to find it - I'm sure it's somewhere safe and where I put it last.

 

One of my students told me she lost her flute. I told her I knew where it was; she brightened and asked "where?" I answered, "Where you put it last." It's dangerous making 13 year old girls angry. Anyway, the next lesson she said that I was right - it was precisely where she put it last.

[bobm12]

I got a question about Elgin: did they, at some point, started using Citizen movements in some of their watches? I've found some of those around -- maybe fakes or home brewed? -- and some Bulovas using Citizen movements too. Please, set me right about who owns what.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[WillFly]

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. So - yes - it's quite possible to see post-1968 Elgin watches with various movement brands under the hood.

[diveboy]

Elgin started importing movements in the early 1950s , cased them and sold them. during the early 1960's they started importing fully cased watches .

 

up until 1969 they were still producing domestic made movements in Elgin and then assembling them in South Carolina. After ceasing watch production in July 1969, they merged with TST Industries to become Elgin National Industries.

 

At this point, Elgin National Industries held Elgin Watch, Helbros, Harwood, Welby and Bradley. These were operating under the Time Products Division until 1974. At this point, Elgin watch was sold off to a Swiss firm "Societe Des Gardes-Temp", 

 

In 1979, Societe Des Gardes-Temp sold the Elgin Watch name and Waltham to Katy Industries. In 1983, Katy Industries sold the Waltham & Elgin Watch assets to MZ Berger & Co, which also included a plant in Miami.

[bobm12]

Thank you Will and diveboy for the information.

 

I used to live a few miles from Elgin, IL but was not interested in the watches at the time, therefore never found out about its "lineage". That was during my High School years. I got a part time at a local K-Mart "managing" a Jewelry and Watch department (read isle or counter) back then. I sold lots of Waltham and Elgin watches too. Funny because, back then, I wasn't even sure I wanted to have a watch and the one I used was because there were no cells...something has to give me the time for breaks and quitting time! Amazing how interests and times change...as a side note, parking lots didn't have "parking bumps" or any type of "hard divisions" just concrete and paint...we kids, used to go there and "slide" in the snow with our cars in winter!

 

Someone told me that Elgin, the town, was settled originally by Swiss folk so it is not unlikely there were watchmakers there and therefore how the brand Elgin started...but that is ancient history I guess, since last I knew, most of the original families moved to other places.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[gchavez1]

On February 3, 2016 at 8:27 AM, jeffc83 said:

I promise, I won't do this to you guys every day but I wanted to do one more "watch of the day" pic:)  Below is a beautiful Lord Elgin that I picked up for under 25 dollars.  She runs so well, it is typically +/- 0 seconds per day, maybe 1 second off! Beat error is always between 0.2-0.5 with perfect amplitude readings.  It sports an Elgin 990 17 Jewel Swiss movement and was serviced prior to my purchase. (this one was very much cared for) Tonight, I will be polishing her up and replacing the crystal.

 

 

Jeff, I also bought the same watch. Super reliable, and keeps very accurate time. I cleaned the case inside and out and the crystal, it looks like a brand new watch.

I noticed, however, that it was missing the movement mounting screws. The ones that keep the movement/dial restrained to the inside of the case. Would you happen to know what size they are? I'm trying to find replacements on line.

[jeffc83]

@gchavez1  First, welcome!  Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!  That strap goes quite well with it too, looks much better than the standard black leather:)  I will check my watch once I get home, will keep you posted!

Edited March 30, 2016 by jeffc83