Elgintime Vintage Horological: 2020

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200168

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NFZdfCGRyDkraf9y8

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200168_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200170

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6EFVb2bufz4Hy2kY6

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200170_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200166

The deterioration of the dial is pretty typical of the metal finishes use by Elgin and others in the '20s. For some reason they didn't hold up well.

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zjMEkzNMJ9BKNdHj7

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200166_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrivals, Job Numbers 200163 and 200164

Albums for these projects:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hhLGtFvbEywd5XdV6
and
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qd59de3uzw5Chw2j7

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200163_et
https://pluspora.com/tags/200164_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

Job Number 200155, Elgin Grade 582, "Jitterbug"

This is a nice example of Elgin's grade 582, 16 size, 15 jewels, a military timer, often called a "jitterbug" (stopwatch) made about 1942.

This one was jammed up somehow so I needed to figure that out before disassembling so that no blocked up tension would send anything flying across the room. Careful inspection step by step through the mechanism reveals that nothing is broken or bent, so I figured the problem had to be the… I’m not sure what it’s called, but there’s a complicated gear-like part at the left that controls the functions start, stop and fly-back. A little gentle coaxing of the lever that is supposed to push that piece around from mode to mode got it all working normally. I guess it’s just in need of a tiny about of strategic grease. It actually doesn’t even look like this piece has seen much use.

Many parts in this piece are off-the-shelf Elgin 16 size pocketwatch parts, but a little different…

This part drives an extra wheel on the dial side that carries the sweep hand. It’s off the 4th wheel, so it’s getting what would be a seconds reading, except on this movement it’s much faster. This is something like watches that have a sweep-second hand except that the extra wheel is under the dial instead of at the back.

Here the movement’s tiny little balance wheel with a normal 16 size double roller assembly and hairspring. Elgin’s design for the timer cleverly used a more or less normal, but much heavier duty, version of their 16 size movement with a balance from, I think, a zero size product? Anyway, the balance is so light it doesn’t even “dangle” from the cock by the hairspring. And it just flies when it runs, at a brisk 144,000 BPH (beats per hour).

A great way to tell that a watch has been treated well by watchmakers is the lack of tool marks on the pallet bridge left by pushing it into place with steel tweezers rather than a stick of pegwood.

At first glance it looks a lot like Elgin’s no-frills automotive and aircraft movements, also based on 16 size designs.

The movement is really, really thick on these timers. The stop works are all under the dial, and very heavy duty - large thick parts. The dial stands high on pillars to make space.

One challenge with these is that in normal operation they ought to be “self-starting”, meaning the escapement starts it’s cycling on its own just through winding. This is not typical of vintage watches, which generally need at least a tiny amount of motion to bump the balance wheel slightly to one side of the other, though getting it all going. Often the movement the watch gets just via the act of winding is enough.

The problem here is that the balance wheel is so light relative to the hairspring that the hairspring can actually keep the balance still. To even approach self-starting therefore the beat has to be dead center, which is hard to do since a timing machine will not read one of these, or at least mine won’t. It’s much too fast.

The hairspring will actually pull the tiny balance wheel to dead center when there's no power. Slight wind will then move the pallet and start the cycle.

It also helps to have pallet locking on the “light” side. This watch looks factory as far as that goes.

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UvMkyWHT3Wr17dcs6

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200155_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200156

See the album for this project here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eWGpZt64sLYjWC836

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200156_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200159

See the album for this project here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aZ7HSdmabpnFHa3V8

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200159_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200153

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hd56w2ryVUbBYCe46
Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200153_et
Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200155

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UvMkyWHT3Wr17dcs6

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200155_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200139

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NueJKKyLtTuazSv66

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200139_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200135

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AgQdtAeqeUzvGmCa9

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200135_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200129

Album for this project:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VGB4SksMhtjjTcR49

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200129_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200128

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2Buafa8PEDMRQMGv6

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200128_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200127

Album for this project:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/f49aAftGhcAfJZsv5

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200127_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival,Job Number 200126

Find the album for this project here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/REaqTjLHDyqZw9Gp9

All the posts for this project here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/200126_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200124

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200124_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200122

I’m told this has been in another shop. That’s always a red flag. But it’s a nice watch, an uncommon Elgin grade, and does not appear to have been handled badly as far as I can tell.

Project link (all the posts):
https://pluspora.com/tags/200122_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Number 200120

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200120_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Number 200118

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200118_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Number 200117

New Arrival, Job Number 200116

New Arrival, Job Number 200114

Follow all the projects in detail here:
https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Number 200112

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200108

Album for this project:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wT6LwPyJEUfcn5Df8

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200108_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200107

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200105

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200105_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200104

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200104_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200110

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200110_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200092

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200092_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

New Arrival, Job Numbers 200102

A case has provided separately for this one.

Project link (all the posts):

https://pluspora.com/tags/200102_et

Follow all the projects in detail here:

https://pluspora.com/tags/elgintime

Do you have a vintage watch to be serviced?

Maybe I can help. Take a look here for information - specializing in Elgin, Hamilton, Waltham and other antique American makes.

http://www.elgintime.com

Elgin National
American Waltham
Rockford
Hamilton
New York Standard
Illinois Watch Company
Hampden
And Others

Jeff,
I received my grandfather's watch which you restored for me yesterday. It is gratifying to see this watch in action after many years. It has probably not been working since 1912.
R. Z.

Hi Jeff!
Thank you so much! My watch looks great! The CD is great too…again,
Thanks so much,
Anna

Hey jeff. I got the watch safe and sound and the cd today. The watch looks better than I had anticipated. Another good job again.
Steve

Thanks Jeff, I am so happy I found you for repairs on my watches.
A. T.

Hello Jeff
The watch came today works great, it`s neat to hear it run. I wonder how long its been since it ran, my great grandfather who owned the watch died in 1925. I want thank you for bringing it back to life
J. S.

Dear Jeff,
My Elgin pocket watch arrived today. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. My family will treasure it.
D. L.

Jeff,
Just a quick note to let you know the watch is back home. It is an absolute joy to see and hear it run again after all these years. It was extremely emotional for me. I remember playing with it as a small boy, and never known it to work. My father would be very proud and humbled to know it was working again. I'm sure he knows. Thank you.
S. Welsh

Jeff,
Watches look fantastic, run great. I can see why you're in high demand, you're a class act. You provide detail historical summary and preliminary review of watch prior to work, fair estimate, provide post work summary, along with high res images of watches to boot. Thanks again and will certainly share your name around.
Thanks!
D. H.

Jeff,
I received the watches today and must say I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you so much. It was wonderful to wind them up and here them tic again.
G. M.

I'm very pleased with the outcome and want to thank you for a job well done. The watch looks and runs great, and the hands you replaced are very much more in keeping with an Elgin watch of this time period.
As you might imagine, to send such a precious family heirloom all the way across the country to someone who I really didn't know, or know anything about, took a lot of faith and courage. You really measured up to my expectations.
Thanks and best wishes,
B. H.

Good Morning Jeff
I got the watch back and I'm thrilled! I really appreciate your professionalism and workmanship. It's really nice to have the watch back in working order! Especially since the local repair indicated that it couldn't be fixed! Thanks so much for everything. I'll certainly be back in touch when it needs maintenance.
M. H.

Hi Jeff –
I just received the watch you repaired for me. It’s absolutely fantastic! Thanks so much for your excellent service.
A. C.

Welcome!

Classic watches, watchmaking, antique tools, history, vintage ephemera and more!

Learn about mechanical timepieces and how they work, the history of the American watch industry and especially all about the Elgin National Watch Company! Check back for new content daily.

Although this is technically a blog, the content is not generally in a time-based sequence. You can find interesting items throughout. Down the page some is an alphabetical word cloud of keywords used here. A great way to dig in is to look through those topics and click anything you find interesting. You'll see all the relevant content.

Here are a few of my favorites!

There are some large images on some posts, so that might impact your load times, bit I think you will find it worth the wait. Thanks for visiting!

Blog Archive