Kent
04-14-2005, 11:14 AM
Hi Paul:
Actually, there is a lot of information about your watch at the Elgin website (elginwatches.org/index.html). I suspect that it was a bit difficult for a newcomer to decipher it and navigate around the site.
Using the "Serial Number Lookup" I typed in the serial number 6744474 without any spaces or commas, along with entering a space and then "v=13" after the serial number. I got the basic information and notes on surviving examples will be included. These were as reported to Wayne, or as he found them on them internet. Then I went to "Watch Codes" from the menu in the left-hand side of the page, and found the abbreviation explanations.
I got the code h3g2p and that it was a 6-size, 7-jewel, grade 117 watch made in about 1896.
6-size is a bit small and indicates that its a ladies watch.
h = hunting case - its made for a case with a metal cover over the crystal.
3 = 3/4 plate design - you can see down into the movement.
g = gilt finish on the plates.
2 = model 2 (the basic movement design).
p = pendant-set - you pull up the crown the engage it to the hands.
Oh, it noted that 345,000 of this watch movement were made between 1891 and 1898.
Elsewhere on the Elgin website, there is section on sales catalogs. You can find the grade 117 under 6-size movements on page 192 of the 1896 Marshall Field Jewelry Catalog at:
<span class="ev_code_brown">www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1896_Marshall_Field/m_index.html</span>
<span class="ev_code_blue">To view, go to the </span><span class="ev_code_brown">Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page</span> <span class="ev_code_blue">at</span> <span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.com</span>, <span class="ev_code_blue">then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on </span>'Go'.
You'll be able to see where it fit in the Elgin line and what the movement cost in 1896.
At that time it was less common for the movements to be cased at the factory. Only a small percentage of American watches (or Swiss watches for the North American market) were cased at the factories prior to the mid-1920's (even then, uncased movements were furnished to the trade at least until the 1960's). Most watch companies just made movements (the "works") in industry standard sizes. The case companies made cases in those same sizes. The practice at that time was to go to a jeweler, select the quality of the movement and then pick out the desired style and quality of case. The jeweler would then fit the movement to the case in a matter of moments.
Or, watches were sold by mail-order. Large outfits such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, or T. Eaton (in Canada), would offer the movements in a variety of cases of different design and quality in their catalogs. Smaller mail-order retailers would case the watches, typically in a 20-year gold filled case and offer it only that way, with the buyer not having a choice of cases.
Is it possible that your watch's case was made by the Illinois Watch Case Co., Elgin, IL. At that time they used to prominently mark their cases with the name "Elgin."
Actually, there is a lot of information about your watch at the Elgin website (elginwatches.org/index.html). I suspect that it was a bit difficult for a newcomer to decipher it and navigate around the site.
Using the "Serial Number Lookup" I typed in the serial number 6744474 without any spaces or commas, along with entering a space and then "v=13" after the serial number. I got the basic information and notes on surviving examples will be included. These were as reported to Wayne, or as he found them on them internet. Then I went to "Watch Codes" from the menu in the left-hand side of the page, and found the abbreviation explanations.
I got the code h3g2p and that it was a 6-size, 7-jewel, grade 117 watch made in about 1896.
6-size is a bit small and indicates that its a ladies watch.
h = hunting case - its made for a case with a metal cover over the crystal.
3 = 3/4 plate design - you can see down into the movement.
g = gilt finish on the plates.
2 = model 2 (the basic movement design).
p = pendant-set - you pull up the crown the engage it to the hands.
Oh, it noted that 345,000 of this watch movement were made between 1891 and 1898.
Elsewhere on the Elgin website, there is section on sales catalogs. You can find the grade 117 under 6-size movements on page 192 of the 1896 Marshall Field Jewelry Catalog at:
<span class="ev_code_brown">www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1896_Marshall_Field/m_index.html</span>
<span class="ev_code_blue">To view, go to the </span><span class="ev_code_brown">Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page</span> <span class="ev_code_blue">at</span> <span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.com</span>, <span class="ev_code_blue">then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on </span>'Go'.
You'll be able to see where it fit in the Elgin line and what the movement cost in 1896.
At that time it was less common for the movements to be cased at the factory. Only a small percentage of American watches (or Swiss watches for the North American market) were cased at the factories prior to the mid-1920's (even then, uncased movements were furnished to the trade at least until the 1960's). Most watch companies just made movements (the "works") in industry standard sizes. The case companies made cases in those same sizes. The practice at that time was to go to a jeweler, select the quality of the movement and then pick out the desired style and quality of case. The jeweler would then fit the movement to the case in a matter of moments.
Or, watches were sold by mail-order. Large outfits such as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, or T. Eaton (in Canada), would offer the movements in a variety of cases of different design and quality in their catalogs. Smaller mail-order retailers would case the watches, typically in a 20-year gold filled case and offer it only that way, with the buyer not having a choice of cases.
Is it possible that your watch's case was made by the Illinois Watch Case Co., Elgin, IL. At that time they used to prominently mark their cases with the name "Elgin."