#ELGIN POCKET WATCH SERIAL NUMBERS SERIAL NUMBERS#

Movement serial numbers provide useful insight in the manufacturing date of the movement. The DuraBalance logo first appeared in 1958.The Shockmaster logo first appeared in 1951.The DuraPower logo first appeared in 1946.A star first appeared on Elgin dials in August, 1933, and ceased appearing in the late 1940s.Model numbers were typically stamped inside the case back, as you can see in the picture at left. Model names were not stamped on the watches and our only clues to these is through other collectors, or through visually matching watches with advertisements and (scarce) catalog materials.ĭial markings can help narrow things down, but they don’t provide much help with model specifics. To a lesser extent, dial features, like the placement of the second hand and the shape of the sub-seconds (if any), are also very useful indicators. Pay close attention to things like the shape of the lugs, or the lines (or lack thereof) on the case. All watches of a particular model had the same case style (though the material may vary, i.e., yellow gold vs. The key to the identification process is to pay attention to details. When it comes to identifying the model of a particular Elgin, the bottom line is: It’s all about the case - movements don’t determine model, case designs do. Your best bet for verifying whether you have a private label Elgin is to search or browse the NAWCC’s Private Label Database. Elgin made a very large number of private label watches, that is, Elgins released under different brand names, typically with difference cases.Watches with dials that state “Elgin movement” are not Elgin watches rather they are watches that have been created by taking Elgin movements and putting them into third party cases.The presence of a signed crown will add another piece to the puzzle, however, they were not used for all, or even the majority, of models. Prior to the 1960s, the inside of the case back will typically be marked with “Cased and Timed by the Elgin National Watch Co.” The case back can also provide insight into the manufacturer. The only exceptions to this are the related or subsidiary brands, (discussed further on the “ About Elgin” page). Until the late 1960s, all Elgins are marked clearly on the dial with the word “Elgin.” In the late 60s and thereafter, a few models reduced the brand mark to the Elgin “E” logo, but the mark still always appeared on the dial. If that fails, identify and date the movement to narrow your search and try again to identify the case.Second, attempt to identify the model by matching the case to known examples (or to identification resources).First, establish that the watch is, in fact an Elgin.Identification of a watch is a process, typically done as follows: (The model numbers remained, however, and are the key to finding replacement parts for Elgins of the period.) In the 1950s, the use of model numbers was supplemented by individual model names. Starting around 1932, Elgin used model numbers to identify unique case designs. We are severely handicapped by both the lack of legacy production records and by Elgin’s policy of not giving names to models. In between, pinning an individual Elgin down to a specific year and model can be a bit of a chore. The last Elgin movement made in America was produced in 1968. The first Elgin watch (a pocket watch) dates to 1867.

Elgin pocket watch serial numbers