Elgin 16S 17J adj. 3p G.M. Wheeler grade 337 pocket watch #12005771, beautiful 3-finger bridge nickel movement with screw-down jewel settings and a bar-style damascene pattern, mint double-sunk (DS) porcelain enamel dial with fancy Arabic-style numbers, red 5 minute markers, a subsidiary seconds register and the jewelers' mark "Chapman & Armstrong Galesburg, Ill", blue steel spade-style hands, re-cased into an outstanding yellow gold filled (YGF) fully engraved hunting case (HC) with tight, crisp engine turning behind the large elaborate floral designs on both covers, one cover has a fancy blank monogram shield while the reverse side has a small engraving of a building in the woods, vermicelli-pattern engraving on the frame, glass crystal and large bow, case is showing hardly any wear with the exception of one shallow scratch near the hinge on one cover and a small patch of brass on the interior of the bow (likely from wear against a chain swivel, display dome hook, etc.), measures approx. 51mm in diameter x 73mm in length x 13mm thick. A high quality vintage Elgin in a case that must be seen to be truly appreciated in near-mint condition overall!
- Year Made: 1906-1907
- Company: Elgin
-
Movement Size:
0416S
- Jewels: 1117J
- Setting/Movement Type:
pendant set
- Adjustments: 1-3 positions
- Model/Grade: G.M. Wheeler grade 337
- Serial #: 12005771
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: 3-finger bridge layout
- Dial Material: porcelain enamel
- Dial Details: jewelers' mark "Chapman & Armstrong Galesburg, Illquot;
- Hand Style:
spade
- Case Style:
HC
-
Case Material:
Gold Filled - Yellow
- Case Details: re-cased
-
Case Width/Diameter:
51mm (2.01 inches)
-
Case Length, bow included: 73mm (2.87 inches)
-
Case Thickness: 13mm (0.51 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
- Condition:
Near Mint
-
Gender:
Gentlemen's
The Elgin watch company, out of Elgin, Illinois, was in business from 1864-1964, and while active, was the largest-producing American watch company, manufacturing an estimated half of all pocket watches ("dollar" watches not included). By 1956 they had produced over 55 million pocket and wrist watches.
As an additional resource, we've posted a
Serial Number Production List which includes information for Elgin serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
The NAWCC also has a
comprehensive article about the company.
You may browse all of our men's pocket watches from this manufacturer at our
Vintage Men's Elgin Pocket Watches category.
This watch is in good running condition, unless otherwise noted in the description. This means that on receipt, pending any item-specific running conditions noted in the description, you can expect the watch to be winding and setting properly and to run smoothly while keeping reasonable time. We consider "reasonable time" to meet these basic guidelines:
- Railroad Grade Watches will be keeping +/- 5 minutes per day
- Pocket and Wrist Watches with 15 or more jewels will be keeping +/- 10 minutes per day
- All key wind watches and watches with 14 or fewer jewels will be keeping +/- 15 minutes per day
The above guideline is the lowest standard in which we would ship out a watch, however in most cases, you will see much better timekeeping. Most of our watches have been in storage for many years, so if you plan on carrying/wearing them everyday, you should consider having them cleaned and oiled soon, and then once a year thereafter to keep them in top running condition. If the watches will be for occasional use or display, they should be cleaned and serviced every 3 to 5 years depending on use.
We do have a professional watchmaker that does all of our cleaning and repair work for us. To have your watch serviced before shipping, simply add this
Cleaning/Service Agreement to your shopping basket. The cleaning and timing service is $95, and depending on the time of the year, has a turnaround time of 1 to 3 weeks.
Please note that we provide this service in addition to the listed purchase price of our watches. If you do purchase this option and later decide to return the watch, this fee is non-refundable.
This watch comes complete with an appropriate, intact glass crystal; however, on request PM Time Service can replace the current crystal on this pocket watch for you. We offer a number of new and vintage crystal choices for pocket watches; you can select your desired choice from the dropdown menu below.
Please note that the average turnaround time for all pocket watch crystal replacements will be two days from the placement of the order.
Contact us with any further questions or for an estimate on any shipping delays.
Please note: if you add this watch with a crystal exchange option to your
shopping cart but later change your mind on the crystal selection type, you'll need to remove the watch from the cart in order to make a new crystal selection. Once that is done, you can return to this page and add that new combination to the cart. We apologize for the limitations to our system that prevent you making that change from the shopping cart directly.
Unlike modern quartz watches, most vintage watches need daily winding in order to keep the watch functioning for timekeeping. Additionally, there are a number of different ways to set the time other than simply pulling the crown away from the watch body. We are happy to provide an overview of each of the different setting types on our
"How To Use" page, where we also provide information on proper winding techniques for each style and some suggestions for the proper long term care and storage of your watch.