Lace Doilies

[Tom McIntyre]

Years ago, there was an article or perhaps research note in the Bulletin about this group of Elgin watches that were called the "Lace Doily" Elgins. These have long been my favorite of the 17J Elgins and were my friend Mike Laux' favorites also.

The 3/4 plate examples have gold escape wheels in addition to the rest of the train being solid gold. All have solid gold wheels.

It was very difficult to get a picture of all of them in a group shot that showed the damaskeening since the wheels are so highly polished.

If anyone knows the reference for the Bulletin piece on these watches, I would appreciate that information.

http://www.awco.org/Elgin/LaceDoilies/GroupMvt_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/Elgin/LaceDoilies/GroupMvt.jpg)
Click to make the picture larger.

[Tom McIntyre]

Years ago, there was an article or perhaps research note in the Bulletin about this group of Elgin watches that were called the "Lace Doily" Elgins. These have long been my favorite of the 17J Elgins and were my friend Mike Laux' favorites also.

The 3/4 plate examples have gold escape wheels in addition to the rest of the train being solid gold. All have solid gold wheels.

It was very difficult to get a picture of all of them in a group shot that showed the damaskeening since the wheels are so highly polished.

If anyone knows the reference for the Bulletin piece on these watches, I would appreciate that information.

http://www.awco.org/Elgin/LaceDoilies/GroupMvt_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/Elgin/LaceDoilies/GroupMvt.jpg)
Click to make the picture larger.

[Jerry Freedman]

Tom: Your comments about the 3/4 plate movements made me look at my two grade 161s. I never realized that the escape wheels were gold. It seems odd the the bridge movements are steel. It makes me wonder what the Elgin people were thinking when they did this.

[Jon Hanson]

Tom & Jerry,

Are we collecting serial numbers of these also?

[ron schneider]

jon arent these too common for number collecting

[Jerry Freedman]

How common is common? Total production of the 161 was 4000; The 155 was 6000; the 246 was 2000; the 243 was 4000. So, what is common?

[Jon Hanson]

16000 made, total--BIG potential!

[Tom McIntyre]

Jerry, not all the 155 and 161 have gold escape wheels. I think they are only on the first two runs.

doc ron, with over 2200 total production, we should not be seriously interested in the 1872 American Grade either. :biggrin:

It seems to me that the survival of the 3 finger bridge lace doilies is lower than the 3/4 plate examples but I have not kept any statistics.

[Jon Hanson]

Tom,

There are many, many more variations of 1872 Waltham American grades than your beloved Elgins, plus the total production is many times less!:biggrin:

[Greg Frauenhoff]

Tom,

There are some interesting notes in the Elgin master grade books re the grades 155 and 161.

For instance, on the 155:
"Rolled Plate Center 6462001"
"Put 2d grade oval arm 3rd & 4th wheel in #155-161, these wheels in addition to center from plated stock" (initialed and dated Nov. 14-1895 and Dec. 21, 1895)
There are also some "mongrel" 155s that have "10th series stems while all the rest of the wind and set parts are 6th series"