Elgin Grade 81

This is Elgin's grade 81, 18 size, 13 and 15 jewels variations, made about 1882.  

This is the ratchet wheel. It's nice to see it in such good condition, no broken teeth. It's been awhile since I had any replacements for this part.

This is the click.

Here is the ratchet wheel and click in place, dial side. They are held by a round cover.

 Moseley's patent...

Nice hunter case on this one, with a lot of hinged parts.

These older movements are held in their case by just one case screw. Opposite the screw there is supposed to be a pin sticking out. This pin goes into a hole in the inside edge of the case, thus holding the movement on that side.

For whatever reason, these pins are very often missing or broken off. This one is missing. When they're broken off, the hole has to be drilled out and re-tapped..

 ...Which requires making a new one.

The pin is brass, and it threads into the movement edge.

Ready to go.

Here is the pin installed.

All set!

Elgin Grade 62

This is a particularly early Elgin, a  grade 62, 18 size, 15 jewels, made about 1867. It's a Howard Z. Culver model.

Culver was one of the original incorporators of The National Watch Company, in 1864.

The Z in H. Z. Culver stands for Zoroaster.

Moseley was Charles Moseley who held several patents, including the one the mark "Patent Pinion" refers to on many Elgin watches.

The regulator arrangement on this watch was also one of his.

The particular style of dust ring used on early Elgin products was Moseley's work as well.

The US Patent Office has these entries attributed to Moseley:

• 45512, Tool, Watch Barrel Closer, 1864
• 77078, Watch Cock or Bridge, 1868
• 89328, Watch Mainspring Ratchet, 1869
• 95128, Watch Dustproof Movement, 1869
• 104756, Watch Safety Pinion, 1870
• 157021, Watch Regulator, 1874

Burt's Patent

What is Burt's Patent?

Very early Elgin watches are marked "Burt's Patent".

Burt was Merritt Burt (1828-1849) and his invention, later improved by Moseley, protected the watch train in case of breakage of the click, click spring or mainspring; patent No. 44,161 dated September 13, 1864.

From the History of the City of Elgin, published by The Chicago Republican, 1867:

Another advantage will highly recommend itself particularly to the absentminded. Everybody knows that whenever the click-spring of a watch gets out of order, or the click itself breaks, the entire power of the spring acts directly upon the train, and a disaster must occur somewhere, and some of its delicate parts must give way. Most everybody knows, too, that a thoughtless turn too much with the key will very likely break the mainspring, with a like disastrous result to the train. The possibility of these calamities is entirely obviated here by the peculiar construction of the center pinion, which receives its motion from the barrel wheel, and communicates it through the center wheel to the rest of the train. 

In all other watches, the center pinion and staff are one piece. Through the center pinion of the National watch is a tapering hole, and the center staff is turned with a corresponding taper to fit. A concave or screw washer and a nut hold the pinion up. The staff thus fitting closely to the pinion, there is friction enough between them to prevent revolution, and to carry the train. Should the spring break, however, the recoil, instead of acting upon the train, simply turns the pinion around the staff, and no harm results to the train. This improvement, the invention of Mr. MERRITT BURT, of Cleveland, Ohio, which is exclusively owned by the National Watch Company, is called Burts patent,and alone gives a practical value to this watch over all others in existence.