Job Number 170159

This is an Illinois Watch Co 18 size, 17 jewels, grade 65-E, with Ball regulator modification. It's lever-set, with a two-tone finish. It is also a private label "H.M. Jacobson & Son, Philadelphia", made about 1903.

Top it all off with a display back "salesman's" case!

New Arrival, What is a Display Back?

This watch features a "display back" case. There is a crystal on both side so that the movement can be viewed without opening the case. These are also referred to as "salesman's cases".

Hamilton 975, Display Back

This Hamilton 975 is in a "salesmen's case".  There is a crystal on both the front and the back.  The case is an actual Hamilton case, "Hamilton" appearing near the stem on both the front and the back.

 Interestingly, the case is snap front and back.  The front bezel is actually quite difficult to remove.  Since this is a lever-set movement, that means that presumably the salesman would have been unable to demonstrate setting the watch.

More about display back cases here...

Elgin Grade 55

This is a very early Elgin with a sub-ten thousand serial number.  It was made about 1868.

This is a grade 55, Mat Laflin model, 18 size, with 7 jewels.  It is key-wind and key-set, and features the original name of the company, just "National Watch Co" on the dial, and no "Elgin".

Of course the odd thing here is the case.  It seems to be a salesman's case, or sample case.  These had glass fronts and backs, to show off the movement.

It is perhaps worth mentioning here that watches were sold to end customers "bare" as it were.  Elgin, like most early American watch companies, did not make watch cases.  The customer would select the movement and the case separately at the time of sale.  This practice was the norm until well into the 1920s.

A typical salesman's case, looks like a normal watch case, with a crown and bow, and glass bask.  But this odd case has no crown, and no way to attach a watch chain.  I think this may be an early shipping container.  It is more durable than shipping containers commonly found.  It could be something that was used very early in Elgin's history.

JS076