Elgin PW Info needed

[jkey]

Just found my Grandfather's Elgin PW.Need any info on it.
S/N 20926493, "Father Time", 21j, adjusted 5 positions.
Anything will help.
Thanks,
John Key NAWCC # 136299

[balloobear]

Just found my Grandfather's Elgin PW.Need any info on it.
S/N 20926493, "Father Time", 21j, adjusted 5 positions.
Anything will help.
Thanks,
John Key NAWCC # 136299

hi if you see my post re dating hamiltons use henry burgells table should give you all you need
balloobear

[HenryB]

Actually for Elgin movements you need to use this data base-

http://elginwatches.org/databases/elgin_sn_intro.html

Cut and paste the above link into your browser.

The Chapter 149 databases that Balloobear references only apply to Hamiltons, Hampdens, Rockfords, and South Bends.

[Kent]

Hi John:

To add to what HenryB posted (and perhaps to beat the subject to death):

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 elginwatches.org. 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 the 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.

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 vs. date lists - created by using the average number of watches produced over a period of years - 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. This is not just for Elgin, but for other watch manufacturers as well.

If you are an NAWCC member, there is an article about the Father Time grade:
"Railroaders' Corner - The Watch That Gets Forgotten: Elgin's Father Time," Ed Ueberall and Kent Singer, NAWCC Bulletin, No. 348, February 2004, pp. 63-72.

You can see a movement picture and catalog description, of your grandfather's 16-size, grade No. 454, Father Time, and where it fit in Elgin's line of 16-size watches, on page E4 of the 1917 Oskamp-Nolting Catalog at:
www.elginwatches.com/scans/sales_catalogs/1917_Oskamp-Nolting/m_index.html

To view, go to the Elgin Watch Collectors Site Home Page at elginwatches.org, then copy and paste the address in your browser's address bar and click on 'Go'.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Good luck,