Jkay Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Someone else's post of their IWC (Illinois Watch Co) piece made me remember I had this in a bag in the closet ... I keep meaning to have it serviced. The hands are blued, and only appear to be black. I love the subtle etchings all over the plates and the delicate silver flowers inlaid on the dial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Looking at the pictures, I felt bad that the case was so grubby and took a nice Cape Cod cloth to the gold and ..... YES my camera has purple bloom around highlights .. it's 7 years old .. sue me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Very nice! The detail on these old pocket watches is incredible. Especially when you consider many of them are done by hand. Any story behind this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Very nice! The detail on these old pocket watches is incredible. Especially when you consider many of them are done by hand. Any story behind this one? It's an Elgin Napoleon in a hunter style 25yr Illinois Case Co. case, ca1902 by the serial number. I picked it up at an antiques trade show which was open to the public, about 10 year ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I recently received a book on the History of American Watchmaking. This one: Amazon Listing A lot of interesting information in there. For starters I learned that it was in fact the American companies that revolutionized the manufacture of precision time pieces and standardized parts and the Swiss followed suit years after the fact. Anyway, the structure of you piece looked familiar. Must have read about it in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 The 3 finger bridge is what makes this Elgin movement special. Instead of a solid plate for the wheel train, it's been replaced by 3 floating finger bridges, which almost completely expose the wheels. Thank you for your kind words, btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asf Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 that movement is breathtaking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 What's also neat about that structure is when they made it they all started out as one large plate (like the full or 3/4 plate designs) and then were cut up to create the three separate bridges. Very lovely piece. The dial inlay, as you mentioned, is quite something. The overall condition is incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobster Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Thanks a lot for posting those pics!! She is an absolute beauty! You can stare at that movement for ages and let time fly by. I need to get myself a nice vintage pocket watch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Detail of the micrometer adjustment for regulation .. note the threaded rod is curved, and the carriage nut which moves the regulating needle when you spin it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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