Elgin Grade 83

 This watch is an example of an Elgin design with a sweep second hand, that is a second hand mounted in the middle of the dial rather than in a separate sub-dial.  These are sometimes called "doctors' watches".

To move the seconds to the center, the 2nd wheel has a tall post that come up through the back plate.  A sweep wheel mounts on that post.

The center wheel shaft is a hollow tube.  Into that goes a long shaft that will have the second hand at one end and a pinion, engaging the sweep wheel, on the back.

The 4th wheel, which normally carries the second hand, of course does not stick thing the front as they usually do.

The watch is an Elgin grade 83, 16 size, 15 jewels. This fine example made about 1882, and it was a treat to work on it as these are quite rare - in any condition.

That's one dirty mainspring!

The rest of the watch as not nearly so bad in appearance inside. This mainspring barrel is a great example of why old watches that have not been serviced in decades, should be.

This close up shows the center wheel, with the hollow center for the sweep seconds mechanism, and the 2nd wheel staff, with the unusually long upper pivot, that will extend out the back of the plate.

Here is the seconds pinion, and bridge, that will drive the center seconds hand. It mounts to the back of the movement.

The exposed wheel is friction fit to the seconds pinion. There is a special puller for removing these exposed seconds wheels. Trying to removing them with out that tool is one reason the unique parts for this movement are so rare today.

Here we see that the dial on this watch, having a sweep seconds hand, indeed has no sub-dial at 6:00 where it would, due to the location of the 4th wheel, usually be.

This watch is quite full of surprises. The case this watch was found in is an open-face case (having no front cover), as watch used for a professional or engineering purpose would be. The dial, correctly, was positioned such that the 12:00 and the stem would be up when holding the watch normally.

As an aside for a moment... These dials are typically held on by dial "feet" which are little posts that go into the bottom plate. Screws or pins go into the side of the feet to hold them. This watch has screws in the edge of the plate that tighten in against the feet and hold the dial. Or they would have. On this watch the dial feet have been neatly cut off.

Why? Elgin designed its dials with the feet in a certain arrangement such that the dial only goes one way. You can't put in on in a way such that the hole that a dial usually has for the seconds falls in line with the 4th wheel post where the second hand goes.

But there are two types of dials, one has the 12:00 opposite from the seconds for open-face movements (stem up at the 12:00, seconds at 6:00).  And the other dial will place the seconds 90 degrees from the stem, the stem being at 3:00, for a hunter case.

This watch has had its dial feet cut off so that the dial can be rotated for the 12:00 "up" at the stem, for its open-face case. This watch has no sub-seconds dial at the 4th wheel, so it doesn't matter. This movement, and dial, were actually made for a hunter case!

Without the dial feet, this dial is held on by friction. A neat metal band has been attached around the edge of the dial. This makes a lip which snaps over the edge of the main plate perfectly. There is a tiny cutout for the setting lever. The cutout is blurry but visible in the image here, at the rear edge.

Was this done at the factory?  I can't say, but it is extremely good work.

Elgin Grade 208

Here is an example of Elgin National Watch company's grade 208. It is a big watch, 18 size, with 7 jewels, made about 1903. 

What is a safety pinion? Check here.

Two Unfinished Elgin Movements

This is a pair of unfinished Elgin pocketwatch movements that were taken from the factory before it was torn down. These are both 16 size convertible movements, and for the watch nut (or maybe just the Elgin nut) there several interesting things to note. 

These two uncompleted Elgin 16 size convertible movements have no decoration, obviously, but there are also completely rough. There is flare around some drilled holes, some hole are not yet threaded, and some holes are completely missing. For example, we see that neither of the two stem hollows and openings exist.

Here is some information on an example of one of Elgin's several 16 size convertible grades.

Each unfinished movement is stamped on the dial side of the base plate with a partial serial number consisting of just two digits.

I'm not sure it's possible to tell what grade these are, and when they were made. But here is some more information about one convertible Elgin National Watch Company grade.

Also, find more examples here.

Year End Blog Wrap Up

My most popular blog post, by far, remains:
http://elgintime.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-open-pocketwatch-case.html

Followed by, at #2:
http://elgintime.blogspot.com/2009/09/watch-running-too-fast-too-slow.html

Elgin Grade 345

This is an Elgin grade 345 It is a 12 size movement, 17 jewels, made about 1925. 

This dial is very unusual. The raise marks on the seconds sub-dial are not common.

Waltham 1879 Model

This is a fantastic American Waltham 1879 model, W. M. Ellery, 18 size, 11 jewels, lever-set, made about 1881.

These first couple of images show the lever-set mechanism on the dial side.

The movement is in a heavy sterling swing-out style case.

Great watch!

Attendance at Meeting, 1933

This is a document relating to meetings in connection with the National Industrial Recovery Act, dated July 1922. Listed are jewelers and watch companies.