Need Help getting Instruction Manual for my Watch

[jhterceira]

I have just purchased my second pocket watch. It is a Elgin 1878 18kt Pocket Watch and I would like to find the instruction manual with this watch if such a thing exists. Does anyone have any ideas how to go about obtaining a copy?
Thanks...

[jhterceira]

I have just purchased my second pocket watch. It is a Elgin 1878 18kt Pocket Watch and I would like to find the instruction manual with this watch if such a thing exists. Does anyone have any ideas how to go about obtaining a copy?
Thanks...

[John Cote]

These watches did not ship with instruction manuals. The purchaser of this watch got his instructions from the jeweler who sold the watch. There was a lot of personal service involved back then.

However, if you have some specific questions about care and opperation of your watch, as them here and you will get good answers.

[bernie levine]

Jhterciera and John,

A loose round printed label found in the bottom of an Illinios
watch Co. 18 size two part metal shipping container reads as
follows:

"In order to time this movement or have it take to proper
motion when out of case, draw out the shifting slide near
the winding pinion, which will disengage the setting mechanism.
The Illinios Watch Company,
Springfield"
I am not offering this an answer to your question but as effort
by one American Watch Co. to aid the jewerler/watchmaker on timing
its newely received movements.

[Kent]

Hi jhterceira:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

Basic information about an Elgin watch, including its approximate date of manufacture, can be obtained by using the serial number on the movement (the "works"), not the case, to look the watch up on Wayne Schlitt's Elgin watch web site at <span class="ev_code_brown">elginwatches.com</span>. Choose "Elgin Databases" on the left-hand side of the page and then "Serial Number Lookup." Be sure to type in the serial number without any spaces or commas. If you enter a space and then "v=13" after the serial number, notes on surviving examples will be included in the ensuing report. These were as reported to Wayne, or as he found them on them internet. After you look up your watch, choose "Watch Codes" from the menu in the left-hand side of the page, that's where the abbreviations are explained. There is a lot of other good information on the site on Elgin watches and on pocket watches in general. Its well worth a couple of hours to go through different sections.

You may be able to find some sort of Elgin user information there, but probablly not. As others have said, not much came with the movements. If nothing else, Wayne's site has parts information in the Technical Documents section at the Documents & Pictures tab (left side of page at the website).

Oldwatch.com's Elgin Production Date Table (http://www.oldwatch.com/elgindate.html), or the PocketWatchSite's Elgin Date Table (http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/elginserials.html) also provide a means for determining the approximate production date. In general, we think of serial number lists (not just for Elgin, but for other watch manufacturers as well) to only be accurate within a year or two at best, and recognize that there are numerous exceptions wherein which the dates may be off as much as 3 years or more.

Pocketwatcher's website has instructions for Winding & Setting Your Watch (http://pocketwatcher.zoovy.com/category/watch_information.windingpocketwatches/).

Watches that are carried daily need to be cleaned and oiled at regular intervals. Railroad time service rules varied, but requirements for cleaning on a basis of once every year and a half were typical for railroaders at the turn of the century. By the mid-1920’s this was extended to two year intervals.

The “Sears, Roebuck and Co., Inc. Catalogue No. 104,” Chicago, IL, 1897, reprinted by Chelsea House, Philadelphia, PA, 1968 had this to say on page 371:

“We Guarantee for Five Years All the movements sold by us. This does not refer to the life of the movement, but that we will for five years from date of purchase, correct free of charge any fault which may occur from defective material or workmanship. Any well made movement will run a lifetime if properly cared for.
“Remember That your watch should not run longer than one and one-half years without having the old oil cleaned off and fresh oil supplied. This must be done at the expense of the purchaser.
“The balance wheel of all modern watches makes 18,000 beats or revolutions per hour; 432,000 per day, or 157,788,000 per year. An engine or sewing machine will be oiled several times per day, but we have known people to carry a watch for ten years without having it cleaned or fresh oil applied.
“Usually, a movement thus treated is of no value, being entirely worn out. Take good care of your watch if you wish it to perform its duty properly, for it is a very delicate machine. Our charge for cleaning and oiling is 75 cents. The regular retail price is $1.50.”

Watch cleaning and oiling costs a bit more today than it did a hundred years ago. Check out What You Need To Know About Watch Repair at Wayne Schlitt's Elgin Website:
<span class="ev_code_brown">www.midwestcs.com/elgin/help/watch_repair.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'.

Good luck,

[Mike Kenley]

jhterceira,

Exactly what problem are you having with the watch?

[Wes]

Here is another link from Pocketwatcher - Care of your antique pocket watch (http://pocketwatcher.zoovy.com/category/watch_information.careforantiquewatches/).

Enjoy your purchase! :smile:

[bernie levine]

Jhterceira,

Just another suggestion: POST your question
for an Elgin instruction manual etc on the
message board WATCH REPAIR.