Some business decisions involving the manufacturing level were made without using the input of first line. Suit by the elgin national watch company against the elgin razor. The company established in 1864 and built its factory on a 35acre site on the east bank of the fox river just south of downtown. Their goal was to create watches that were durable. Elgin national watch company in the spring of 1864 half a dozen ambitious chicago businessmen decided that if massachusetts could build a factory that built watches illinois could, too. It was the genuine, audacious, selfreliant western spirit. A brief overview of the history of the elgin national watch company, from founding. In 1874 the name was changed elgin national watch company. Max and solomon eppenstein continued to make cases as the illinois watchcase company until the 1940s.
Elgin illinois watch case company of elgin and elgin. But right from the start folks referred to the new products as watches from elgin, or elgin watches. Introducing elgins 100th anniverasry line that was never released in 1964. Elgin serves the following industries through a global network of dealers. Plaintiff has a trademark elgin which was registered in the united states patent office on. The house of wonders 1931 the elgin watch company duration. Howard elgin national hamilton hampden illinois other pocket watches rockford south bend. Its been a while since we have added to the site but dont worry, we have been busy building a delorean to travel back to 1864 and find some undiscovered coverage and details from the start of national watch company that is sure to impress. All jewelry all newly listed all pocket watches all wrist watches american waltham ball e. National watch company, elgin, illinois by debra a.
As of 20102014, the total elgin population is 588, which has shrunk 10. Just south of elgins downtown is the section of town most closely associated with the elgin national watch company. Elgin national watch company production dates by serial number. In 1838 a dam was built on the river, and soon several mills were in operation. Elgin national watch company observatory wikipedia. The elgin national watch company and the illinois watch case company are not sister companies, they didnt even always get along very well. Located roughly 35 mi 56 km northwest of chicago, it lies along the fox river. Read about the efforts of mr john walker barriger iii and mr jack pugh in modernizing the railroad. With operations in the united states, australia, china, india. In 2016, the percentage of foreignborn citizens in elgin, nd was 1. The first watch elgin made, an 18 sized b w raymond railroad grade watch, was finished in 1867 and over the next 100 years, they went on to produce about 60 million watches. Max and solomon eppenstein founded the company in 1886. Vintage and antique elgin pocket watches collectors weekly.
If youve always wanted to own a piece of functional american history, without breaking the bank, then a wrist or pocket watch from the elgin national watch company may just be exactly what youve been looking for. Elgin was founded in 1835 by james talcott gifford, a settler from new york, and named for a scottish hymn. Elgin street sweeper products utilize all variations of todays street sweeping technology mechanical broom street sweepers, vacuum street sweepers, and regenerative air street sweepers, and now waterless dust control street sweepers, alternatively fueled street sweepers, and high efficiency filtration. National register properties city of elgin, illinois. About 50 years later, when watch companies started selling cased watches, enwco went out and bought the wadsworth watch case company of kentucky, even though it might. The elgin national watch company observatory is a historic building in elgin, in the u. Bounded by villa, center park, north liberty, and south channing streets. Factory records differ from yeartoyear and factorytofactory. It was built in 1910 to serve the elgin national watch. Potawatomi indians were early inhabitants of the region. Industrial film depicting the elgin watch factory in elgin, illinois, and showing each step in the making of an elgin watch. About the elgin national watch company waterstone watches.
As of this uploading, absolutely no information about this film is known. Elgin pocket watch sale old vintage, antique elgin. Elgin national industries brands of the world download vector. A history of womens employment and involvement with the elgin. The elgin national watch company was founded in 1864 in elgin, illinois as the national watch company. The company developed their first movement in 1867 and named it in honor of the company president b. We serve cookies our website uses cookies, which help us to improve our site and enables us to deliver the best possible service and customer experience, as well as to provide social media features. Adams, chicago watchmaker and timekeeper for the railroad serving the chicago area, along with benjamin w. This is the elgin national industries company profile. Real news reliable news elgins number one local news source. A few years later after producing about 20,000 cases the firm was lured to elgin by the offer to assist with a building and by the land upon which. The rich history of the elgin national watch company originally the national watch co. Elgin equipment group companies manufacture equipment for a wide range of industrys. Little league international has announced a suspension of all league activities until at least may 11 and illinois has extended that to the end of may.
Founded in chicago in 1864, the then national watch company was developed out of a consortium of local business leaders. Elgin is driven to turn the basic capital equipment procurement. It lies on the fox river, about 40 miles 65 km northwest of downtown chicago. Elgin watches, some of the most indemand antique watches in the market today, are a perennial favorite among watch collectors. Elgin national watch company, elgin, illinois rails west. As of 2018, the city had an estimated population of 111,683, making it the eighthlargest city in illinois. As of 20102014, the total elgin population is 110,906, which has grown 17. Elgin national watch company serial number, elgin pocket watch. Elgin pocket watches were an icon of american pocket watch production in the 20th century and reflect the massive progress of the age with durable yet elegant designs. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local children. You may have noticed a new addition on the menu nwco, this will cover the years 1864 1874. For this reason, many factory production dates are approximate. The elgin national watch company, commonly known as elgin watch company, was a major us watch maker from 1864 to 1968. Elgin national watch company elgin, illinois suggest new definition.
Elgin national watch historic district city of elgin. Elgin national watch company how is elgin national watch company abbreviated. A quick history of the elgin national watch company elgin was founded in 1864, right as the civil war was coming to an end. As one of the few true american watch manufacturers, the elgin national watch company produced around 60 million watches over the course of its 100year history, making it the largest american watch manufacturer in terms of total production volume. Ben model silent film accompanisthistorian 52,830 views 23. For nearly 100 years the companys manufacturing complex in elgin, illinois, was the largest site dedicated to watchmaking in the world. Elgin national watch company how is elgin national watch. The mission of the elgin theatre company is to produce a broad range of theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality. Mason, with financial backing from former chicago mayor benjamin w. The company was established in chicago in 1886 and, within a few years, moved to elgin, il. Select your category below for a more detailed equipment listing from elgin separation solutions solids separation, elgin power solutions, and elgin separation solutions liquid solid separation. Production year approximate date the movement of a watch is produced.
All content is posted anonymously by employees working at elgin national industries. This opens a new chapter in elgins watch production that. Elgin watches serial numbers elgin national watch company. Elgin was first in 1960 with a railroad approved wrist watch. The company sold watches under the names elgin, lord elgin, and lady elgin. Elgin, city, kane and cook counties, northeastern illinois, u. Shop forand learn aboutvintage and antique elgin pocket watches. The elgin national watch company was founded in 1864 in elgin, illinois as the national watch company, and some of the organizers were later to become the some of the biggest names in the american watch industry.
Magazine1873 national elgin watch almanac, july, 1869, excerpts from etc. In 1874, the national watch company officially changed its name to the elgin national watch company. In fact, they even went to the point of suing each other all the way to the supreme court. Elgin community college ecc located in elgin, il, offers high quality technical, career, adult education, distance learning, advanced degree opportunities and facility rental services. In 1968, all us manufacturing was discontinued and the rights to the name. New taiwan dollar 10,000,001 50,000,000 main product main export market.