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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch

Elgin B. W. Raymond Railroad Pocket Watch Model 15 Grade 472

Partially verified

This open-faced Elgin B. W. Raymond railroad-grade pocket watch is dated by the seller to 1927 and is powered by a 16-size manual-winding Model 15, Grade 472 movement. The 21-jewel mechanism is reported to be adjusted to five positions and equipped with a swan-neck regulator. The watch features a white dial with bold black Arabic hour numerals, an outer minute track with red five-minute designations, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial marked 'INVAR BALANCE' at the 6 o'clock position. The movement is fitted in an engraved 10K yellow gold-filled Wadsworth case.

Front view of the Elgin B. W. Raymond pocket watch showing the white dial and engraved bezel
Front view of the Elgin B. W. Raymond pocket watch showing the white dial and engraved bezel — SECOND HAND HOROLOGY. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Elgin National Watch Co.
Reference
Model 15 Grade 472
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA-0412
Source-reported date
1927
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
29720819

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Hands

The pocket watch presents an open-faced white dial with bold black Arabic numerals and an outer minute track featuring black markers accompanied by red-numbered five-minute intervals. At the 6 o'clock position, a subsidiary seconds dial features black Arabic numerals and includes the text 'INVAR BALANCE'.

The time is indicated by three blued steel hands: sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes, and a blued stick-shaped hand for the subsidiary seconds.

Evidence for this section
  • “The white ceramic dial features bold, easy-to-read black Arabic numerals, black and red numbered minute marks, and a sub-second at the 6 position.”
  • “All three hands are blued steel, with the hour and minute hands sword-shaped and the sub second hand is stick-shaped.”

Case Construction and Markings

The case measures 50 mm in diameter and 14.1 mm in thickness, with a reported lug width of 14.4 mm. Visual observation confirms engraved geometric patterning along the bezel and bow, while the seller describes the metal as 10K yellow gold-filled with an art deco engraved style.

According to the listing transcript, the interior of the caseback is inscribed: 'B. W. Raymond Model, Cased and Timed by Elgin National Watch Co., 10 K Gold Filled, Wadsworth Quality, BOW Patented 7814984'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case Diameter: 50 Case Thickness: 14.1 Lug Width 14.4”
  • “The inside of the caseback is signed B. W. Raymond Model, Cased and Timed by Elgin National Watch Co., 10 K Gold Filled, Wadsworth Quality, BOW Patented 7814984.”

Reported Movement and Setting Mechanism

The movement is stated by the seller to be a 16s manual-winding Elgin Model 15, Grade 472 mechanism with 21 jewels, adjusted to five positions, and bearing serial number 29720819 (dated in the listing to 1927). The seller also describes it as featuring a 'J'-shaped or swan-neck regulator.

The listing specifies the winding and setting configuration as pendant-wind and 'level set' (likely intended as lever set). Because internal components are not visible in the front dial-facing photograph, these mechanical specifications, jewel counts, and movement signatures reflect seller report rather than independent verification.

Evidence for this section
  • “This pocket watch is a manual-winding watch with an original Elgin open-faced movement 16s, featuring 21 jewels, model 15, caliber grade 472, adjusted to 5 positions and has a sub second hand.”
  • “The model is the first 16F 'J'-shaped/swan-neck regulator, and is a pendant wind, level set.”

Open research questions

  • Does direct physical inspection confirm whether the setting mechanism operates via a standard railroad lever-set lever underneath the bezel?
  • Can the movement serial number 29720819, jewel count, and regulator design be confirmed by opening the caseback?
  • Does the patent marking 'BOW Patented 7814984' correspond to a specific Wadsworth bow patent or a typographical transcription error in the listing?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Elgin B. W. Raymond Railroad Pocket Watch Model 15 Grade 472
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Serial Number29720819“serial number 29720819, dated from 1927”
Movement GradeGrade 472“original Elgin open-faced movement 16s, featuring 21 jewels, model 15, caliber grade 472”
Jewel Count21 Jewels“signed B.W. Raymond, 21 Jewels, 29720819, Adjusted 5 Positions”
Case Material10K yellow gold-filled“cased in a stunning 10K yellow gold-filled art deco engraved case.”
Case Diameter50 mm“Case Diameter: 50”
Case Thickness14.1 mm“Case Thickness: 14.1”
Movement InscriptionB.W. Raymond, 21 Jewels, 29720819, Adjusted 5 Positions, Elgin Nat'l Watch Co.“The movement is signed B.W. Raymond, 21 Jewels, 29720819, Adjusted 5 Positions, and Elgin Nat'l Watch Co.”
Case ManufacturerWadsworth“Wadsworth Quality, BOW Patented 7814984”

Visible details

  • White dial featuring bold black Arabic hour numerals and a outer minute track with five-minute markers numbered in red
  • Blued steel hour and minute hands alongside a blued stick sub-seconds hand
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at 6 o'clock inscribed 'INVAR BALANCE'
  • Engraved geometric patterning visible along the bezel and bow

Research qualifications

  • Internal movement features and inside caseback hallmarks are reported by the seller and are not directly visible in the dial-facing photograph.
  • A chain mentioned in the listing is an accessory and not permanently integrated into the pocket watch.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

1927 ELGIN B. W. Raymond Railroad Pocket Watch Model 15 Grade 472 Move – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 1a13ad3f21

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Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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