Info on an Elgin Pocket Watch?
Hello everyone. About 20 years ago my mother gave me this shadow box containing a photograph of some of my ancestors and some of the patriarch’s possessions. In addition to a pair of reading glasses you’ll see an Elgin pocket watch with a strap featuring what appears to be a Schnauzer dog. Can anyone provide any details about the watch from this image alone? I never had an opportunity to inspect it before it was framed up.
A little background: the couple seated front-center are my Great-Great-Grandparents. I only know them as Father and Mother Bratke. The others are their children. I believe Father and Mother Bratke were German immigrants to the USA and all children were born in the US. I’m not sure where or when the photo was taken, but I want to say Idaho at some time between 1890-1905. The woman sitting to the right of Mother Bratke is Francis, my Great-Grandmother (my mother’s father’s mother). The family story goes that my great-great-uncle standing rear-right ran off to the Klondike Gold Rush and his parents hired Pinkerton agents to find him and brink him home.
Mildly obsessive novice fan of mechanical watches. Science/Engineering professional with an interest in philosophy. I exist in a gray miasma of justified uncertainty.
Very nice heirloom!
Hopefully someone can give you some ideas, but it would be worth it to open it up to get some more info.
The best way is to get info is to see the markings on the movement. It will also give you a date based on a serial number.
Understood and agreed. Opening up the shadow box is a project for another day, as it will prompt me to repair some of the matte that is lifting up. As with so many things, one task triggers a slew of contingent tasks. Next thing you know, I’ll have a polished and working antique Elgin pocket watch.
Hi . As someone with Many Pocket Watches . The only way to tell about the watch Is to open the case back. The Watch is most likely Coin silver or sterling silver. It could also be nickel. It usually had the model name on the movement and date number on it the will give you the approximate date. Good Luck !🍀. If it works and keeps good time I would Wear It ! Enjoy. Eric
BTW it is a open faced one on a leather watch fob . It maybe leaver set which means you have to unscrew the front of the watch to pull a lever out to set the time. Like I said. Good luck with your research.
Looks great! I think the dial is enamel, given the lack of fading.