Fry 1869 SN91845

[Sheila Gilbert]

I never mentioned my Elgins in the last post about movements and wanted to know if getting a case for this one will be hard too?
This one is my own personal HONEY. She is gorgeous, and clean as a whistle, but she is naked, and she needs a case. The dial is perfect and I only wish I knew if she is ALL original. My digital camera is not working, so I will have to give details here.
The dial says National Watch Co., Second hand is at the 6:00 O'clock, the movement says,
W H Ferry SN 91845, Elgin Ill. It's a key wind, and I have no key, but the dial has NO Cracks AT ALL. The hands are really thin on this one.
Any information as to this being all original?
This is supposed to be lever set, but I don't see it on this watch. Any ideas? Can I get a case too?
Thank you,
Sheila

[Sheila Gilbert]

I never mentioned my Elgins in the last post about movements and wanted to know if getting a case for this one will be hard too?
This one is my own personal HONEY. She is gorgeous, and clean as a whistle, but she is naked, and she needs a case. The dial is perfect and I only wish I knew if she is ALL original. My digital camera is not working, so I will have to give details here.
The dial says National Watch Co., Second hand is at the 6:00 O'clock, the movement says,
W H Ferry SN 91845, Elgin Ill. It's a key wind, and I have no key, but the dial has NO Cracks AT ALL. The hands are really thin on this one.
Any information as to this being all original?
This is supposed to be lever set, but I don't see it on this watch. Any ideas? Can I get a case too?
Thank you,
Sheila

[Tom Huber]

Hi Sheila, Your Elgin is a keywind and keyset. If you look at the center post, where the hands connect, you will notice that there is a square arbor. The watch is set by placing the key on this square and turning the hands.

The dial is appropriate for this watch. As for a case, you want a case for a keywind. An appropriate one for this age would be coin silver or gold, not silveroid, as silveroid did not come into use until the late 1870's. Appropriate coin cases are available, and I have seen decent ones at marts in the $60 range. The nice thing about a keywind is that it will fit into both an openface or a hunter case. Also, keys are available. Someone may correct me if I am wrong, but you want to look for a #5 key.

Tom

[Jon Hanson]

Yes, usually no 4 or 5 key will work but some of the arbors are slightly different in size on the earlier ones.

Silveroid KW cases generally run 60 for a nice one with a "good" crystal.

[Sheila Gilbert]

This is wonderful, I never knew what to put it in. I have always wanted a solid Silver, or Gold watch case, and for this honey, I will go for it. I know it will cost a lot more but this one is worth it. I love this watch weather it is good or not. It was one of my first Elgin movements without a case I got a long time ago with 5 others in with it. I only have 7 movements without cases, and 6 of them were together in 1 buy.
Bless you for the answers, I am so thrilled to know what my honey wears.

Last, Do all key wind have the hole in it or do some have something else?
I realize that I need access to the winding mechinism, is that all I need to know?
Sheila

[HenryB]

For your Early Elgin, the majority I see were either the Coin Silver or the Silveroid.

On that keyhole. The Keyhole movements had the hole drilled. If the hole is in the wrong spot, then you are in BIG trouble. You will have to open the dustjacket to wind it.

[Jon Hanson]

KW cases have the winding hole, SW cases do not.

Your mov't was originally a silver OF or H case, most silveroid cases are second generation.

[Sheila Gilbert]

Hi All, I found my other cam camera and I am going to try to take pictures of some of my watches so you can see them. All this key information is greek to me. I am new to cases and guess I need a lot more information, so I will be reading a lot this evening for sure.
Anyway, I will try to get my watches on my website and let you know as soon as I can.
Sure hope this works, cause it would be nice for you to see what I am working with.
Bless all,
Sheila
PS I can save the answers you have given me now, so that is really going to help me with the information you guys post for me.
HUGS!

[Tom Huber]

Jon, I don't know about case prices in Mass, but around here I can still get nice silveroid KW cases in the $25 range and nice Coin cases in the $60 range. Occasionally I get real lucky as I did in February and got a nice coin KW OF case for $10.

Tom

[Jon Hanson]

I'll take them all!

These KW case seem to sell from 50-65 without any trouble, decent ones, that is.

Sure we all rip buys occasionally but they (steas) are fewer and farther in today market.

[Tom Huber]

Jon, I agree that they are getting much harder to get. Not the great supply of 20 years ago. E-bay has taken its toll. It still sure is fun to hunt and get that good feeling when something is found.

Tom

[Don Dahlberg]

The following site talks about Civil War watches, but it shows you the features of an open face keywind case.

http://www.watchmaker.101main.com/watchmaker/cwar.htm

I don't think that anyone gave you information on your watch. It is an 18 size, grade 55 and dates about 1869.

Don Dahlberg

[Sheila Gilbert]

Don,
Great information on the watches, Thank you!
Perfect pictures too!
Thank you again,
Sheila