Elgin National Watch Company

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

Elgin National Watch Company's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1864 · Career

   Founded (Elgin, Illinois)

   Profile text · see Sources

2. 1864 · Career

   The company was incorporated in 1864 as the National Watch Company in Chicago by a group that included Philo Carpenter, Howard Z.

   Profile text · see Sources

3. 1867 · Career

   Operations were moved to a custom factory site in Elgin, Illinois, where the first movement was delivered in 1867.

   Profile text · see Sources

4. circa 1872 · Catalogued piece

   Elgin / Titus Bros 5 oz Coin Silver Hunter Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Antiques Boutique

5. 1874 · Career

   Following the success of its watches, the firm officially changed its name to the Elgin National Watch Company in 1874.

   Profile text · see Sources

6. c. 1880s · Catalogued piece

   Elgin 14K Gold Keyless Wind Hunter Case Watch

   Provenance: Bonhams

7. circa 1890 · Catalogued piece

   American gold hunter case keyless lever pocket watch, Elgin National Watch Co.

   Provenance: Christie's

8. 1905 · Catalogued piece

   1905 Elgin Grade 289 Hunter Case Pocket Watch

   Provenance: Second Hand Horology

9. 1910 · Career

   The company established an observatory in 1910 to ensure scientifically accurate timekeeping for its watch movements.

   Profile text · see Sources

10. 1910 · Catalogued piece

    Elgin B.W. Raymond Grade 240 Pocket Watch

    Provenance: Second Hand Horology

11. 1928 · Catalogued piece

    Elgin Grade 315 Openface Pocket Watch

    Provenance: Second Hand Horology

12. 1940s · Catalogued piece

    Elgin WWII 8-Day Aircraft Cockpit Clock

    Provenance: Second Hand Horology

Current watchmaking & later fate

• The Elgin National Watch Company ceased all manufacturing in the United States in 1968.
• The rights to the Elgin brand were eventually acquired by MZ Berger Inc., which produces watches in China.
• Watches branded as Elgin and produced after 1968 have no relation to the original company.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

B.W. Raymond

Named in honor of Benjamin W. Raymond, this 18-size, full plate design was the company's first movement, released in 1867.

Caliber 607

Introduced as one of the company's first self-winding wristwatch movements, this caliber featured a bumper wind design.

Caliber 760

This self-winding wristwatch movement, featuring 30 jewels, was among the calibers produced by the company.

Major innovations

• Large-scale automated component production
• Wartime precision instrument manufacture
• The company established an observatory in 1910 to ensure scientifically accurate timekeeping for its watch movements.
• Elgin produced several self-winding wristwatch movements, including the bumper wind 607 and 618 calibers.

Known markings

• 'Elgin Nat'l Watch Co.'
• Grade names on higher grades only
• The company sold its watches under the Elgin, Lord Elgin, and Lady Elgin brand names.

Serial numbers

Elgin serial tables are well documented; grade is determined from the serial number in published lists rather than from plate markings alone.

Collecting significance

Volume production means condition and originality, rather than rarity, usually determine desirability.

Identification and dating notes

• Watches produced prior to 1874 may be marked with the original National Watch Company name.

In the object catalogue

81 catalogued objects are recorded under Elgin National Watch Company. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• 1892 Elgin Gold Plated Case Hunter Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · 1892
• 1905 Elgin Grade 289 Hunter Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · 1905
• 1908 Elgin Grade 291 16s Open-Face Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 1908
• 1924 Elgin B.W. Raymond Railroad Grade Pocket Watch, Grade 472Railroad watch · 1924
• 1926 Elgin Ladies Pocket Watch, Grade 465Open-face watch · 1926
• American Elgin 14K Multi-Color Gold Hunting Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · Circa 1898
• American Elgin 14K Yellow Gold Hunter's Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · Circa 1885
• American gold hunter case keyless lever pocket watch, Elgin National Watch Co.Hunter-case watch · circa 1890
• Early Double-Sunk “Elgin Nat’l Watch Co.” Dial, c.1874 (Back View)Dial · c. 1874
• Elgin / Titus Bros 5 oz Coin Silver Hunter Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1872
• Elgin 10K Gold Filled 15 Jewel Open Face Pocket Watch Size 12sOpen-face watch · circa 1924
• Elgin 14 Karat Tricolor Gold Hunter Case Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · Circa 1908

Browse all 81 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 81 catalogued pieces by Elgin National Watch Company were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Collectors, owners and donors

• Donation of Colette StarkeyProvenance · Elgin National Watch Co. Pocket Watch

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.