Time Capsule: Alaska Gold Rush Pioneer & His Lord Elgin Watch

[Robert Stokes]

For the detailed story of Alaska Pioneer Arthur Lutro’s watch, go to my website, www.TimeCapsule-Watch.com, and click on the <Presentation / Personal> menu button.

The Lutro Family were genuine Alaska Gold Rush Pioneers. Arne Lutro crossed the Chilkoot Pass in 1897, and discovered gold in the Eldorado Creek. He then joined the Klondike Gold Rush of 1902, and again struck gold. Arne’s wife, daughter, and son Arthur joined him in Eldorado in 1900; they moved to Dawson City in 1905.

Arthur helped mine the families claims for much of his young adulthood. He became a member of the Pioneers of Alaska in 1916. In 1947, Arthur was elected President of the Fairbanks Igloo No. 4, and was presented with a stunning 14k gold Lord Elgin watch (see photos below).

Thank you for looking! Please send me any of your comments...

 

[richiec]

Another nice one, Robert.

 

[Robert Stokes]

Richie -- Thank you for reviewing Arthur Lutro's story. It's hard to imagine how difficult life must have been living in mining camp -- or even in Dawson City -- in the middle of a Gold Rush. I will try to contact Lutro's great-grandaughter and possibly return the watch to her.

Thanks! I hope you had a chance to enjoy the rest of the stories on my website. What do you collect?

Bob

 

[richiec]

Waltham's and watches sold by my great, great, great grandfather's jewelry business, Cross and Beguelin on Miaden Lane, the "Centennial". Not a particularly high end watch but a piece of family history along with any documents and pieces I can find related to the business. I like what you are doing in finding and returning watches to families. I still have an M I Tobias from my great, great, great, great grandfather from 1847 from his men of the 7th Regiment, N Y state National Guard known as the silk stocking brigade due to the wealthy people who belonged to the group. I plan to hand it down to my cousin's son who's middle name, Brinckerhoff, is the same as the prior owner,
Andrew Bragaw Brinckerhoff. It is a shame that the 7th Regiment Armory in the NYC was taken away and turned into a women's shelter and some kind of art mecca. They still display the company rooms and some uniforms and other stuff.

 

[coronado]

Lutro's watch is a Lord Elgin Model 4505. It was introduced around 1941 and was sold through the late 1940s. The watch in the advertisement you pictured is a slightly different one... a Model 4504. But they are very similar, both have hooded lugs.

What a neat story, great research.

Here is the Model 4505 as pictured in the 1941 Elgin catalog. It came in yellow gold or rose gold.

 

[Robert Stokes]

Lutro's watch is a Lord Elgin Model 4505. It was introduced around 1941 and was sold through the late 1940s. The watch in the advertisement you pictured is a slightly different one... a Model 4504. But they are very similar, both have hooded lugs.

What a neat story, great research.

Here is the Model 4505 as pictured in the 1941 Elgin catalog. It came in yellow gold or rose gold.

View attachment 638778


Thank you so much for the additional information about Arthur Lutro's Lord Elgin watch! I have added your information to the <Lord Elgin Watch Gallery> section of his story. The watch will need repair -- the crown does not turn. If you know any good Elgin watchmaker, I would appreciate information on how to contact him.

Bob

 

[Robert Stokes]

Thank you for the additional information about the Lord Elgin watch!!! I have updated the <Lord Elgin Watch Gallery> section to reflect your new information.

The watch does not run -- the crown won't turn. If you know any good Elgin watchmakers, please let me know....

Bob

 

[coronado]

I've serviced thousands of Elgin wristwatches. These movements are well-constructed and easy to work on. I can certainly do it, but any watchmaker with a supply of mainsprings and parts for vintage American watches can do it. If you can't find someone local, please let me know.

 

[Robert Stokes]

Good morning! I haven't been able to find a good watchmaker in the Santa Barbara CA area -- and I'm still waiting for my Ventura NAWCC chapter to "go live" and actually meet folks. Could you email me at robert.s.stokes@hotmail.com with information about servicing my watch?

Thank you!

Bob

 

[River rat]

Hi Robert
I have enjoyed reading a lot of your threads and your detective work on finding the first owners history that go with the watches you collect. Wondering if you could give me some tips on this one a Depollier Waltham inscription on case back would like to find out about the owners military history. Got one tip with some one with the same name on face book being a III with the exact name mite email that person and see if related. I am third generation to my Grandfather who served in WW1 so a possibility. Thanks for any tips.

 

[Robert Stokes]

Dear River Rat,

I was happy to do some research for you; please see the attached PDF. As I noted, I could not find any direct reference to an "Albert B. Ulrich" in the USNR (U S Navy Reserve). Although I did find several Albert B. Ulrich's, I am confident that your watch was owned by Albert B. Ulrich Jr. from Chicago. His story -- and that of his father Albert Sr. - are quite interesting; both were members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There are several photos of Albert Sr.; I could not find any photos of Albert Jr.

I carefully conducted Google searches, and referenced Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com. Sometimes you "hit the jackpot" in terms of finding the complete history of person; other times (as with Albert Ulrich), you just find out enough to make an interesting story.

Please let me know if this helped you out.

Bob

 

[River rat]

One thing about finding military history is sort of hard. In 1973 a fire destroyed a lot of military records. Found that out when my Dad passed away trying to get the correct rank for his VA tomb stone had 2nd class when he was a chief. Ordered records from the Military and got very little no records of rank or medals or commands if it was not for his Navy retirement ID card saying chief on it I would of had a hard time getting the VA to correct the rank on his tomb stone. Mite be why hard to locate some military records due to a fire were military records were stored in 1973. I was told this is what happened to my Dads records. Even in todays military they mess up your records got a new Navy retirement ID card a year ago but looked at it a few months before Christmas noticed the wrong birth date on it it's the computer age took them 3-4 months to fix it I even supplied passport, DD214 and birth cert. remember when my military records use to be on micro fish. Thanks for your help. The person I bought it from is in Waltham MA but family move and so does stuff family sells. Think your right and his records ended up in a fire like my Dads.

National Personnel Records Center fire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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