Description:

Elgin 16S 7J grade 291 pocket watch #36835876, attractive nickel split plate movement with an elaborate concentric circle damaskeen pattern, single sunk (SS) porcelain enamel dial with fancy Arabic numbers, red Arabic 5 minute markers and a black-marked subsidiary seconds register has a bold black Harley Davidson shield emblem above the center post, dial has a few faint hairlines, blue steel spade & whip style hands, re-cased into an engraved yellow gold filled (YGF) screw back & bezel (SB&B) case with vermicelli engraving among large floral designs, a center engraved circle and a fancy monogram shield at the bottom of the case, shield has a fancy monogram, possibly "HI", coin edge engraving on the frame and a fancy bow, case is showing moderate to heavy wear with notable smoothing to the engraving and lines of brass on most elements of the case, measures approx. 49mm in diameter x 67mm in length x 13mm thick (crystal included). A handsome vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle advertising watch from the 1930s, running great and ready to carry everyday in very good overall condition!


Item Specifics:

  • Year Made: 1937-1938
  • Company: Elgin
  • Movement Size: 0516S
  • Jewels: 217J
  • Setting/Movement Type: pendant set
  • Model/Grade: 291
  • Serial #: 36835876
  • Movement Finish: nickel
  • Dial Material: porcelain enamel
  • Dial Details: Harley Davidson advertising
  • Hand Style: spade & whip
  • Case Style: SB&B
  • Case Material: Gold Filled - Yellow
  • Case Details: re-cased, monogram, fancy bow
  • Case Width/Diameter: 49mm (1.93 inches)
  • Case Length, bow included:  67mm (2.64 inches)
  • Case Thickness:  13mm (0.51 inches)
  • Crystal Material: plastic
  • Condition: Very Good
  • Gender: Gentlemen's

Logo Info:

On all but a few of the advertising logos, mainly Packard from the Hamilton company and Studebaker from South Bend, the logos would have been commissioned through a professional dial company after they left the factory to have the logo applied. For instance, a car dealership might have them added as a promotion, a motorcycle club would have ones done for each of their members, etc.


On the watch/logo combinations that may not match up on a timeline (the watch was made prior to the automobile company being formed, for instance), what we understand could have happened is, say for a car club, the members would need to provide their own watch to which the emblems would be added. Someone might have wanted a Harley logo on "Grandpa Bob's" old pocket watch, and would have had the dial pulled from that. Other than the Packard/Hamilton & Studebaker/South Bend arrangements, it was a free-for-all on the pairings and you could find just about any combination of manufacturer with the different logos.


We do also have a pretty good selection of the vintage dials that have emblems on them, but that are not attached to a watch yet. Often in the past, a customer would want a watch without the advertising, so we would just pull the printed dial and replace it with a similar-style plain dial, then set the printed one aside. If you have something specific you are looking for, please drop us a note to see if we have anything in our stock that might work for you.