The Library: Resources & Gallery
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I already refer to him as Dr. Elgin. :wink: Very nice collection you are assembling. The fact you do more homework than anyone I know, will advance Elgin/Lord Elgin collecting for many other collectors who happen by this forum! Not to mention the self satisfaction you can take from your work, congratulations! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
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Aw, gee, thanks, guys! There's a lot of information out there, but it's nowhere near as well organized and documented as it is for Hamilton. And to be honest, my collecting has been made easier by that fact. Cheaper, anyway - that 676 only cost me $36. Of course, it's got a crappy dial, it's not running, and 3 of the 4 case back screw holes are stripped. Hey, maybe it WASN'T such a deal.... :huh:
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GJ,
I have four or five interesting designed watches I have picked up as reclamation projects that I have to restore just be able to take before shots. :lol:
Hopefully, they will be something someday, and hopefully, I will be posting them sooner than later..........:001_unsure:
But, really, I have been amazed at how well some soiled dials clean up so, there is hope. Oh, and they are an Elgin, a Lord Elgin, a Benrus, a Waltham, and a Hamilton dating from the teens to the 50's.
I will post the oldest, an Elgin as soon as I take a couple of good pictures. :001_smile:
I have four or five interesting designed watches I have picked up as reclamation projects that I have to restore just be able to take before shots. :lol:
Hopefully, they will be something someday, and hopefully, I will be posting them sooner than later..........:001_unsure:
But, really, I have been amazed at how well some soiled dials clean up so, there is hope. Oh, and they are an Elgin, a Lord Elgin, a Benrus, a Waltham, and a Hamilton dating from the teens to the 50's.
I will post the oldest, an Elgin as soon as I take a couple of good pictures. :001_smile:
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That 676 dial isn't just dirty, it's also rubbed through the finish between 9:00 and 11:00, AND the applied markers at 3:00 and 9:00 are loose. 'Saliva on a Q-tip' did a little, but not enough! I think it's due for a trip to ID.
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Okay, so this isn't the oldest one. But, it is pretty cool. 14Kgf, with a 21 jewel 670 movement. Runs a little fast but, overall, in very nice condition. I think the dial shows just enough wear to look it's age.
I looked at ads for about an hour last night and didn't find a picture or, a name or model number. But, I did find another auction from a high-end seller, (that is not a sponsor, so, I am not posting a link) for a very nice example of this same watch.
In the other auction photos, I was surprised to see the triangular lines on the flared lugs were filled with black enamel. Makes for a very elegant look. I can't wait to try that with mine.
I will post some after photos when I get everything put in shape.:wink:
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As I said, "you are the man"! Thanks for the help!
58, that is just a minor affliction! (But, don't tell my wife I said that either!) Note to self, must sell some of my cast offs........................
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For future reference, here's how I do it:
Go to books.google.com. Type 'Elgin Watch' as the query.
A Life Magazine should appear as one of the results.
Click on it, then look in the upper left corner. Under a small picture of the cover, there's your query. Click the 'search all issues' box, and you can see all the Elgin Watch ads that were in Life magazine for about 30 years.
If you add a year to the query ('Elgin Watch 1954'), it will limit it to that year.
And it all started so innocently.
I wanted to buy more Hamiltons, then I noticed how much cheaper Elgins were. I start looking into them, and next thing I know, I'm picking them up at > 1/week! :scared:
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Now that I think about it, it's not 58 Elgins.
There are 5 Hamiltons, and 5 Bulovas. So it's only 48.
And two of those are women's models, so that's only 46.
6 of those are in pieces awaiting restoration, so that's only 40.
Mind you, this doesn't include the 30 or so parts movements I have....
There are 5 Hamiltons, and 5 Bulovas. So it's only 48.
And two of those are women's models, so that's only 46.
6 of those are in pieces awaiting restoration, so that's only 40.
Mind you, this doesn't include the 30 or so parts movements I have....
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No, but there's always this thread. That's got MOST of them.
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A magician doesn't normally give up his secrets but, I certainly appreciate you sharing your method!
That is the best I have seen to this point for Elgin watches specifically. I have been struggling looking for info and pictures since I got interested in watches.
I, to this point, have searched through the advertisement thread here on the 'American', and browsed the ebay listings for watch ads. But, this is definitely a very rich source of information! Thank you again for sharing! :thumbup1::thumbup1:
Greg, maybe this should be part of a sticky or a 'new' sticky at the top of the forum?
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Ever since Stan posted about all the old Elgin stuff in the Elgin museum, I've been wondering whether they might have catalogs, like the Hamilton catalogs posted on that forum. Makes me want to go there with a scanner and a laptop, and spend a week plowing through the files!
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I agree, that does sound like a good lead.
I visited the Elgin, IL Historical Society website and it seems they use the old watch manufacturing info mainly for specific inquiries people might have about a particular watch or movement.
http://www.elginhistory.org/research_services.html
For a fee of $10 they will research your watch and send you info on it and other related topics.
Sounds like a nice resource for families trying to find out info about a family piece. But, maybe not so much for collectors looking for more broad scoping information. I am sure it provides some revenue stream for a non-profit historical society.
Maybe Stan can refresh us on his experience there?
There is mention of an Elgin National Watch Company exhibit. But, not a lot about what it contains. They do picture a couple of historically pertinent pocket watches on the site.
I visited the Elgin, IL Historical Society website and it seems they use the old watch manufacturing info mainly for specific inquiries people might have about a particular watch or movement.
http://www.elginhistory.org/research_services.html
For a fee of $10 they will research your watch and send you info on it and other related topics.
Sounds like a nice resource for families trying to find out info about a family piece. But, maybe not so much for collectors looking for more broad scoping information. I am sure it provides some revenue stream for a non-profit historical society.
Maybe Stan can refresh us on his experience there?
There is mention of an Elgin National Watch Company exhibit. But, not a lot about what it contains. They do picture a couple of historically pertinent pocket watches on the site.
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GREAT IDEA!
I have re-tooled the thread and merged it into 'THE LIBRARY" at the top of the Forum...
Now we can head there for resources and photos for all to refer and add to!
Nice thinking!:thumbup1:
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