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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Elgin National Watch Co. Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Elgin National Watch Co. pocket watch, dated to circa 1905, is currently held by the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen. The timepiece features a white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial located at the six o'clock position. The dial displays red-printed five-minute interval markers around the perimeter. The watch is presented in a metallic case with a prominent crown and bow assembly. Documentation from the holding institution identifies the movement number as 11490349. Measuring approximately 6.90 cm in height, 5.40 cm in width, and 1.40 cm in depth, the watch was acquired by the museum through a donation from Colette Starkey of Hayward, California. It is catalogued under the German designation 'Taschenuhr' within the museum's permanent horological collection records.

A front-facing view of the Elgin National Watch Co. pocket watch, showing the white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals and red five-minute markers.
A front-facing view of the Elgin National Watch Co. pocket watch, showing the white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals and red five-minute markers. — German Clock Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Elgin National Watch Co.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1905
Source-reported place
United States
Source-reported serial
11490349

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 Exterior

The dial is finished in white enamel and features bold, black-painted Arabic numerals for the primary hour indicators. A subsidiary seconds dial sits at the six o'clock position, incorporating a secondary minute track and a dedicated hand for counting seconds. The main dial also includes a red-colored outer track with numbers at five-minute intervals from 5 to 60, surrounding the center.

The timepiece is fitted with blued steel hands, which provide a distinct aesthetic profile against the light background of the enamel. The crown is located at the top of the case, allowing for manual operation of the movement housed within.

Evidence for this section
  • “height: 6.90 cm, width: 5.40 cm, depth: 1.40 cm”

Movement and Identification

The internal mechanism is registered under movement number 11490349, as recorded by the museum's technical archives. The watch is associated with the production of the Elgin National Watch Co., a manufacturer active during the early 20th century. This specific reference allows for the tracking of the object's identity within the German Clock Museum's inventory.

The watch is dated to approximately 1905, placing it within the historical manufacturing period of the Elgin factory. The documentation provided confirms the movement serial and manufacturer details as extracted from the institution's official records.

Evidence for this section
  • “movement no. 11490349”
  • “Pocket watch, Elgin National Watch Co., Elgin, circa 1905”

Provenance and Collection

The watch is currently held in the permanent collection of the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen. The records indicate that the item entered the museum through a donation provided by Colette Starkey of Hayward, California. The object is catalogued as part of the museum's digital archive.

The museum's records characterize the object as a 'Taschenuhr' and maintain data regarding its physical dimensions and origins.

Evidence for this section
  • “Donation of Colette Starkey, Hayward, Ca, U.S.A.”
  • “Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Furtwangen”

Open research questions

  • What is the base metal or material composition of the watch case?
  • Does the movement include specific caliber markings or production adjustments?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Elgin National Watch Co. Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerElgin National Watch Co.“Elgin National Watch Co.”
Datecirca 1905“circa 1905”
Movement Number11490349“11490349”
Height6.90 cm“height: 6.90 cm”
Width5.40 cm“width: 5.40 cm”
Depth1.40 cm“depth: 1.40 cm”
Holding InstitutionGerman Clock Museum“German Clock Museum”
ProvenanceDonation of Colette Starkey“Donation of Colette Starkey, Hayward, Ca, U.S.A.”

Visible details

  • White dial with black Arabic hour numerals
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at six o'clock
  • Red-printed five-minute track on the dial perimeter
  • Blued steel hands for hours, minutes, and seconds

Research qualifications

  • Material composition of the case remains unverified by provided records
  • The watch's functional status is not specified in the source documentation

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch, Elgin National Watch Co., Elgin, circa 1905

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record c8ba24f4bf

Terms in this record

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

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