Elgin Ship Watch

I just bought a walnut? box with a brass or copper plate on top that says U.S.S.B. Ship Watch No. 983. The front of box says ELGIN also on a plate. Has a lift lid that opens with a button and a glass top to look at watch. Bottom has a key to open and has gimbels? to hold watch. There is no watch. Can't find anything on this in Shugert/Engle. What kind of watch fit in this case, scarcity, etc? Thanks

I just bought a walnut? box with a brass or copper plate on top that says U.S.S.B. Ship Watch No. 983. The front of box says ELGIN also on a plate. Has a lift lid that opens with a button and a glass top to look at watch. Bottom has a key to open and has gimbels? to hold watch. There is no watch. Can't find anything on this in Shugert/Engle. What kind of watch fit in this case, scarcity, etc? Thanks

[Tom McIntyre]

The box probably holds an Elgin free sprung Father Time deck watch or small craft chronometer. Here is an example from my collection.


Elgin Deck Watch

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Tom McIntyre
Past President, NAWCC Chapters 174 and 87
Member Chapters 8, 87, 149, 159, 161 and 174
NAWCC: Crafts Committee, Web Committee
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

There were also B. W. Raymonds and other watches mounted in tubs and gimbles for the shipping board, so it is not certain that your box would hold the Father Time.

If you could post a picture, we might be able to tell better.

[This message has been edited by Tom McIntyre (edited 06-25-2002).]