- Dueber Pocket Watch Case Serial Numbers
- Pocket Watch Display Case
- Dueber Case Serial Number
- Pocket Watch Storage Case
- Dueber Watch Case Markings
Dueber watch co pocket waltham 21 jewel 1892 vanguard 18 size watch case serial numbers hden dueber 14 karat yellow gold 1920 illinois bunn special pocket watch. The passenger had been wearing a Dueber-Hampden watch bearing the serial number 3,039,347. By looking at the serial number on the watch, the authorities were able to contact the Dueber-Hampden Watch Works and trace the number back to the owner.
Including Elgin Watch Serial Numbers and Production Dates
Elgin, Illinois
1864 - 1967
The Elgin Watch Company (also known as the Elgin National Watch Company) was the largest American watch manufacturer in terms of total production volume. In fact, Elgin produced approximately one-half of the total number of better-quality pocket watches manufactured in the United States. Total production over their 100 years of operation reached nearly 60 million watches, which is nearly 50% of ALL the jeweled watches produced by American watch companies! This makes Elgin one of the most commonly collected vintage watches since there are still so many examples available at reasonable prices.
The clock tower at the Elgin National
Watch Company
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: J. C. Adams, P. S. Bartlett, D. G. Currier, Otis Hoyt, and Charles H. Mason, with financial backing from former Chicago Mayor Benjamin W. Raymond. The factory for the National watch company was completed in 1866, and the first movement produced was an 18-size B. W. Raymond model which sold in April of 1867 for the astounding price of $115. This identical watch, serial number 101, was sold at auction in New York in 1988 for $12,000. In 1874, the company officially changed their name to the Elgin National Watch Company, and that name remained until they stopped producing watches in the 1960's.
The 'Working Man's' Watch
The Elgin Watch Company's success was not built on its production of the highest-grade watches, though some of their higher grades were top-quality, exquisitely made timepieces. Their success can be attributed to their huge production of low to mid-grade watches.. 7 to 15-jewels. Together with the Waltham Watch Company, they dominated the huge market for mid-grade watches, producing over one-million per year during their peak years of production. Elgin watches remain extremely popular with collectors today because they are plentiful, can be obtained at reasonable prices, and can be relatively easily repaired due to the large number of watches and parts available.
Elgin shipped their first wristwatch in 1910, and later manufactured the first wrist watch to be qualified for railroad service, the grade 730A B. W. Raymond. Throughout their history, the Elgin National Watch Company was known for horological innovations. In 1958, they introduced the 'DuraBalance,' an ingenious design for a free-sprung balance (no regulator pins) which used spiral balance arms and small weights to govern the moment of inertia of the balance. They also produced the only American-made automatic wristwatch movements: grades 607, 618, 760, and 761. These movements featured bi-directional, full-rotor winding, and had two automatic winding gear ratios, which were automatically engaged as the mainspring tension increased.
The contributions of the Elgin National Watch Company to American Horological industry cannot be overstated. Many Elgin watches that were made over 100 years ago are still providing reliable and accurate daily service to their proud owners.
Swiss Elgin Watches
During the last few years that Elgin was in business (late 50's through mid-60's), they began to reduce their US production and began importing Swiss watch movements which were finished and labeled as Elgin watches. Much of this assembly work was done at a new Elgin plant in Elgin, South Carolina.
For more information on Swiss Elgin watches, including a listing of Swiss Elgin grades and their equivalent Swiss movement calibres, please view our Swiss Elgin page.
Elgin Watch Cases: Illinois Watch Case Company
The Illinois Watch Case Company of Elgin, Illinois should not be confused with the Elgin Watch Company. The Illinois Watch Case Company (I.W.C.Co) was a major manufacture in the city of Elgin, Illinois. It manufactured watch cases under many brands, such as 'Elgin Giant,' 'Elgin Pride,' 'Tivoli,' 'Spartan,' and 'Elgin Commander.' The use of the name 'Elgin' in their brand names, or marking the cases with 'Elgin USA' has often led people to believe that a watch was made by the Elgin National Watch Company when it was actually made by another manufacturer, or to think that a watch no longer has its original case because it is 'now in an Elgin case.' Keep in mind that watch movements and watch cases were usually made by different manufacturers. Elgin watches are entirely different than Illinois 'Elgin' cases.
Modern Battery-Powered 'Elgin' Watches
The Elgin National Watch Company went out of business in 1964. They never made any battery-powered, quartz watches. If you have a recently-purchased, modern Elgin watch, please see our Modern Elgin Watch page for more information.
SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENTS
Elgin National Watch Company
Total Production: Approx. 55 Million Watches
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1867 | 9000 |
| 1868 | 25,001 |
| 1869 | 40,001 |
| 1870 | 50,001 |
| 1871 | 185,001 |
| 1872 | 201,001 |
| 1873 | 325,001 |
| 1874 | 400,001 |
| 1875 | 430,000 |
| 1876 | 480,000 |
| 1877 | 520,000 |
| 1878 | 570,000 |
| 1879 | 625,001 |
| 1880 | 750,000 |
| 1881 | 900,000 |
| 1882 | 1,000,000 |
| 1883 | 1,250,000 |
| 1884 | 1,500,000 |
| 1885 | 1,855,001 |
| 1886 | 2,000,000 |
| 1887 | 2,500,000 |
| 1888 | 3,000,000 |
| 1889 | 3,500,000 |
| 1890 | 4,000,000 |
| 1891 | 4,449,001 |
| 1892 | 4,600,000 |
| 1893 | 5,000,000 |
| 1894 | 5,500,000 |
| 1895 | 6,000,000 |
| 1896 | 6,500,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1897 | 7,000,000 |
| 1898 | 7,494,001 |
| 1899 | 8,000,000 |
| 1900 | 9,000,000 |
| 1901 | 9,300,000 |
| 1902 | 9,600,000 |
| 1903 | 10,000,000 |
| 1904 | 11,000,000 |
| 1905 | 12,000,000 |
| 1906 | 12,500,000 |
| 1907 | 13,000,000 |
| 1908 | 13,500,000 |
| 1909 | 14,000,000 |
| 1910 | 15,000,000 |
| 1911 | 16,000,000 |
| 1912 | 17,000,000 |
| 1913 | 17,339,001 |
| 1914 | 18,000,000 |
| 1915 | 18,587,001 |
| 1916 | 19,000,000 |
| 1917 | 20,031,001 |
| 1918 | 21,000,000 |
| 1919 | 22,000,000 |
| 1920 | 23,000,000 |
| 1921 | 24,321,001 |
| 1922 | 25,100,000 |
| 1923 | 26,050,000 |
| 1924 | 27,000,000 |
| 1925 | 28,421,001 |
| 1926 | 29,100,000 |
| Year | S/N |
|---|---|
| 1927 | 30,050,000 |
| 1928 | 31,599,100 |
| 1929 | 32,000,000 |
| 1930 | 32,599,001 |
| 1931 | 33,000,000 |
| 1932 | 33,700,000 |
| 1933 | 34,558,001 |
| 1934 | 35,000,000 |
| 1935 | 35,650,000 |
| 1936 | 36,200,000 |
| 1937 | 36,978,001 |
| 1938 | 37,900,000 |
| 1939 | 38,200,000 |
| 1940 | 39,100,000 |
| 1941 | 40,200,000 |
| 1942 | 41,100,000 |
| 1943 | 42,200,000 |
| 1944 | 42,600,000 |
| 1945 | 43,200,000 |
| 1946 | 44,000,000 |
| 1947 | 45,000,000 |
| 1948 | 46,000,000 |
| 1949 | 47,000,000 |
| 1950 | 48,000,000 |
| 1951 | 50,000,000 |
| 1952 | 52,000,000 |
| 1953 | 53,500,000 |
| 1954 | 54,000,000 |
| 1955 | 54,500,000 |
| 1956 | 55,000,000 |
Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch. Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Can’t find your serial number in the table? Click here for an explanation and example of how to use our serial number tables.
Need help finding the serial number on your watch? Click here for instructions on how to identify and open most common case types. Printshop mail crack.
Dueber Pocket Watch Case Serial Numbers
In the 1930s, Elgin began using a single-letter prefix to replace the 'millions' digits on their serial numbers. So if your Elgin watch has a serial number starting with a letter, you must determine the millions digits from the table below in order to determine the full serial number.
| Letter | Millions Digits |
|---|---|
| X | 38 or 39 |
| C, E, T or Y | 42 |
| L | 43 |
| U | 44 |
| J | 45 |
| V | 46 |
| H | 47 |
| N | 48 |
| F | 49 |
| S | 50 |
| R | 51 |
| P | 52 |
| K | 53 |
| I | 54 |
At Renaissance Watch Repair, we are experts in the repair and restoration of vintage watches made by the Elgin National Watch Company. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair of your Elgin watch. Kuja graha stotram telugu mp3.
Look up your Hampden Pocket watch serial Number Here
The Hampden Watch Company was known for its high quality watches while it was in business. Today, many of the watches made by this company are collector items. If you collect Hampden watches, you'll appreciate knowing more about the company history. Read on..
Company Origins
The Hampden Pocket Watch Company began its existence as the Mozart Watch Company in 1864. Established by Donald J. Mozart, the company was originally located in Providence, Rhode Island. After several failures, Samuel Rice joined Mozart and the name was changed to the New York Watch Company. It moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in October, 1867, where they produced two grades of watches; the 18 size, ¾ plate Springfield and the 16 size, ¾ plate State Street. In 1877, the company changed its name to the Hampden Watch Company.
Meanwhile, in Newport, Kentucky, John C. Dueber had established a company that made watch cases called the Dueber Watch Case Manufacturing Company. In 1886, he bought controlling interest in the Hampden Watch Company in order to protect his business from the Watch Case Trust. In 1888, Dueber moved the company from Massachusetts to Canton, Ohio. The watch company and the case company were housed in separate factories located right next door to each other. Advertisements for the company listed it as the Dueber-Hampden Watch Works, although the two companies were not formally merged together until around 1925.
The Watch Trust
The Watch Trust included many different watch making companies. They formed the trust to restrict trade so that watch movements could not be sold without cases. It was common practise at the time for the watch case to be made by a different company than the movements, as was the case with Dueber's watch case company and Hampden Watch Company. They also made it difficult for jewelers to purchase movements and cases from any company that was not part of the trust. Dueber suffered from this practice and sued the companies involved, claiming that they wanted to form a monopoly and keep his company from competing in the market. Dueber won the case after several months' deliberation, but in 1896, the Trust was close to forming again. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act played an important role in bringing down the Watch Trust and the government filed suit against many of the companies that were in violation of the anti-trust legislation.
Railway Watches
Railroad pocket watches were an important staple for most watch companies. Standards had to be met in order for a watch to be used by railroad personnel. It had to be open faced, keep accurate time and have clear Arabic numerals in black on a white face. In its previous incarnation as the New York Watch Company, Hampden had an 18 size, 15-jewel Railway pocket watch that was one its highest grades. It remained at the top of the Hampden line after the reorganization. Soon a new model was introduced that used the stem to wind the watch. It was first made only in a hunting case. A hunting case is one that opens to show the watch and closes to protect it. The same watch was offered open face, but instead of being listed as a Railway grade, it was listed as grade 60. After the factory was moved to Ohio, the company began making an open faced Railway grade Hampden pocket watch. Years later, this grade was discontinued when Dueber introduced his new line of 17-jewel watches. Railway watches in the new lines were known as Special Railway and New Railway grades.
Some facts about Jeweled Watches
You may hear of a 17 jewel or a 23 jewel watch, but what does it mean? The jewels are not for decoration; they are put into the mechanism to act as bearings on the gears. The jewels don't get worn away as do metal grinding on metal bearings, hence improving accuracy and enhancing the life of the movement. A watch with no jewels won't work for long. The jewels most often used in watch-making are rubies, diamonds and sapphires. Each wheel in the watch mechanism has a shaft that is threaded through a donut shaped jewel that reduces the friction. These industrial grade gemstones help define the quality of a watch. A lesser quality watch would only be made with a few jewels. The Hampden pocket watch started with 15 jeweled models in their early railroad watches, (15 jewels being the minimum standard for a railroad grade). Eventually they introduced 17 jewel watches, then 21 jewel and finally 23 jewel for their top of the line. It is also worth mentioning that some Hampden pocket watch makers added false jewels to give an otherwise fairly ordinary watch an undeserved 'high quality' tag.
Hampden Pocket Watch Special Models
The Hampden Pocket Watch Company made some special models, or grades. The William McKinley grade was a thin, 16 size watch introduced in 1902 or 1903. It came in either 17 or 21 jeweled versions. The watch was named after President William McKinley, who had been assassinated a few years earlier. He was laid to rest in Canton, Ohio, where the watch factory was located.
The Dueber Watch Company grade was made in both 16 and 18 size, in 15 jewel, 17 jewel and 21 jewel models. The company placed ads listing them as passing inspection on all roads, which leads one to think that perhaps the watch in question wasn't acceptable to some of the railroads.
The Molly Stark was a 3 size, 7 jewel gilded ladies' watch. It was introduced in 1896. Another grade named after her husband, General Stark, was a 16 size, 17 jewel nickel watch that came in both open face and hunting case versions. General John Stark was a hero at Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War. Since the watch factory was located in Stark County, Ohio, the company decided to honor the General and his wife by associating watch grades with their names.
Pocket Watch Display Case
Hampden Pocket Watch Sizes
| Watch Size | Inches | mm |
|---|---|---|
| 11/0 | .833 | 21.17 |
| 8/0 | .933 | 23.71 |
| 5/0 | 1.033 | 26.11 |
| 3/0 | 1.10 | 27.91 |
| 6 | 1.367 | 34.71 |
| 12 | 1.567 | 39.79 |
| 16 | 1.70 | 43.18 |
| 17 | 1.733 | 44.03 |
| 18 | 1.767 | 44.87 |
The End of the Hampden Pocket Watch Company
In 1925, the company was sold to Walter Vrettman. He went bankrupt in 1927 and sold all of the watch making equipment to Amtorg, a Russian company. It took almost 30 boxcars to remove all the equipment when it left Canton in 1931 along with 21 former employees of Dueber Hampden. They were contracted for a year to teach the craft of watch making to the Amtorg employees.
While little is known about what happened after the equipment left the factory due to the closed borders of the former Soviet Union, there is a note that horology professor Henry Fried of New York University reported seeing Dueber-Hampden machinery used in 1986 in China.
The Hampden name did not get sold along with its equipment. The brand name was purchased by the Clinton Watch Company, which was owned by the Wien family of Chicago. Apparently they still own the name as they have a facility in the Virgin Islands known as the Hampden Watch Company.
Collecting Hampden Watches
Dueber Case Serial Number
Pocket Watch Storage Case
Hampden pocket watches are highly collectible, but you may not find them worth as much as the bigger, more well known companies like Elgin and Waltham. Hampden was known for making a good quality watch, however. Because they were made by a smaller company, new collectors may find Hampdens to be a good place to start. The material used for the case may affect value (whether it was gold, gold-filled or base metal), but the movement itself is the most important. Many excellent Railroad movements were put into less expensive cases. New collectors should read and research to learn as much as possible about the Hampden company and the watches they made. Knowing the little stories and histories of each model can make a watch more valuable. If you can find out personal history of the particular watch you want to collect, that adds value, too. This personal history is known as the provenance. Having a written record of the watch's provenance helps a lot when you get it appraised and can add to its value.
Happy Collecting!
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