Elgin 18S 21J lever set (LS) adj. 5p Father Time grade 367 Up & Down indicator pocket watch #21098139, incredible nickel split plate movement with a free sprung regulator, raised gold screw-down jewel settings, diamond endcap on the balance bridge, gold center wheel and an elaborate concentric circle damascene pattern, mint single sunk (SS) porcelain enamel Montgomery & Canadian style dial with bold fancy Arabic numbers 1-12, smaller bold Arabic numbers 13-24, red & black Arabic minute markers, a black-marked subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock and a black 0-40 marked subsidiary power indicator register at 12 o'clock, bold blue steel spade & whip style hands.
Impressive 6oz. Dueber smooth polish hinge back & bezel (HB&B) coin silver case with offset gold recessed hinges, an extra large heavy bow and an extra thick glass crystal, case is showing normal even wear overall with scuffs and light scratches consistent with age however the only notable scratches can be found on the dust cover and interior of the back case from slips while opening the case with a knife or similar, measures approx. 63mm in diameter x 94mm in length x 22mm thick (crystal included). One of Elgin's most attractively finished movements from the early 1900s with a number of uncommon finishing options makes this a must-see watch for the Elgin, military or high grade watch collector, excellent+ overall condition on this heirloom quality railroad grade watch!
Please note: for this particular item, due to U.S. export limitations, we can only ship to domestic U.S. addresses.
- Year Made: 1919-1920
- Company:
Elgin
-
Movement Size:
0318S
- Jewels: 0721J
- Setting/Movement Type:
lever set
- Adjustments: 5 positions
- Model/Grade: Father Time grade 367
- Serial #: 21098139
- Movement Finish: nickel
- Movement Details: wind indicator, diamond endstone, gold jewel settings (GJS), screw-down jewel settings, gold center wheel, free sprung regulator
- Dial Material: porcelain enamel
- Dial Details:
Canadian style, Montgomery style
- Hand Style:
spade & whip
- Case Style:
HB&B
-
Case Material:
Silver - Coin
- Case Details:
Dueber 6oz., extra-thick glass crystal, offset gold hinges
-
Case Width/Diameter:
63mm (2.48 inches)
-
Case Length, bow included:
94mm (3.70 inches)
-
Case Thickness:
22mm (0.87 inches)
- Crystal Material: glass
- Condition:
Excellent +
-
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; additional information may also be found on
Wikipedia.
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.
As of September 17th, 2025, we are not offering a cleaning and service option through PM Time Service. While we do hope to offer this again in the future, we are unfortunately unable to meet customer requests for watch servicing at this time. Please note that, unless otherwise mentioned within the "Full Description" tab, this watch is being sold in good running condition and is ready to wear or carry on arrival.
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 and/or band exchange option to your
shopping cart but later change your mind on the crystal and/or band selection type, you'll need to remove the watch from the cart in order to make a new selection. Once that is done, you can return to this page and add that new crystal and/or band combination to the cart. We apologize for the limitations to our system that prevent you from making that change within the shopping cart.
This is considered a "railroad-grade" pocket watch. To be a railroad-grade watch, the following criteria must be met:
- be 16S or 18S
- have 17 or more jewels
- be lever set
- be in an open face case
- be adjusted to 5 or more positions.
- have easily-legible Arabic dial numerals
In order to ensure the accuracy of pocket watches used by railroad employees, with the ultimate goal of preventing train accidents, the General Railroad Timepiece Standards Commission published a set of guidelines for railroad companies and watch manufacturers in 1893. These guidelines, which specified the criteria for a railroad-grade watch, were prepared by Webb C. Ball, the general time inspector of North American railroads and founder of the Ball Watch Company.
For more information, visit this
Wikipedia article on railroad chronometers or this
Smithsonian National Postal Museum article on the influential train wreck tragedy that resulted in the establishment of railroad watch standards.
Our entire collection of such timepieces may also be viewed at our
Railroad Grade Watches category.
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.
For your gift giving convenience, please find a consolidated overview of the information on this item, with no reference to the price, on this
printer-optimized page.
