Elgin

[doug sinclair]

o. c. kidd,

Are you able to post a picture of the Elgin? It must be marked with the grade number 543, I suspect, as I see no listing for that grade in my references. I rather suspect that it is a fairly modern watch. My 1915 Elgin materials list stops at grade 417. My guess would be 1940s or 1950s, if these grade numbers were used chronologically. When you are posting queries such as this one, you will likely generate more response if you give information such as serial number, etc. And particularly when dealing with a grade that you have found to not be listed anywhere, a picture. We pretty well all use the same reference material. Hopefully, putting this back at the top of the board will generate some replies.

I checked George Townsend's book on American watches. He lists 10-size Elgins, but they are all early key-winders. Are you sure on the size? With no list to refer to, how did you determine size? Is the particular serial number of the watch listed in any references that you checked?

Doug S.

[John F]

Doug's correct that these are 1940s-50s era. The 543 was a 10 size movement with a 14 size dial. They were (I believe) the last 10 size movements Elgin made. While Elgin eventually stopped using serial numbers around this time, there should still be a serial number on these Lord Elgins (with a letter prefix).

John

[Sheila Gilbert]

If you could post the letter that is in front of the number it would help to determine the information on this watch, or any other information that you have.
Sheila

[Kenny D]

o.c. kid,
In "American Pocket Watches, Beginning to End" by Ehrhardt & Meggers they list the "543" as 10s, 21j, open face, nickel, pendant set, adj. to positions, model 2 with detent stem.
In the "Swigart Manual" grade "543" is listed as models 5 and 6.
This is all I could come up with on that grade. I think the date would be 1950 or later but that is a guess on my part.
Hope this helps.

:smile:

[o.c.kid]

Thank you all for the information. The time you spend helping others is worthy of note and hopefully at a future date, we all can return the favors.

[Tom Huber]

Are you sure that it says adj to seven positions? Or, does it say seven (7) adjustments? If it says seven adjustments, that would be a watch adjusted to heat, cold, isocronism and 4 positions.

Tom

[Tom McIntyre]

I think I read here recently that in the 40's and 50's temperature became a single adjustment with the monometallic inherently compensated balances. So 7 adjustments could be temperature, isochronism and 5 positions.

[Tom Huber]

Tom, You are right. I forgot about the timeframe of the watch.

Tom