1869 H. Z. CULVER Antique ELGIN National Watch Co Size 18 COIN Pocket Watch Runs
Item History & Price
1869 Elgin National Watch Company 15 Jewels Adjusted H.Z. Culver Grade 62 Full Plate Quick Train Size 18s Key wind and set Pocket Watch very early serial number 26, 964. Massive 5 oz. Warranted Coin Silver Open Case. Massive O.M.D. gold filled chain with a key. Runs!An original dial signed National Watch Co. Massive 5 oz. Warranted Coin Silver Open Case low serial number 21, 416. The case opens and closes very well. Crystal Glass with some scratches came with many years being... in use. Winds and sets as it should. Massive Antique O.M.D Gold Filled Chain with T-bar and a key is included. Runs but was not tested for accuracy or reliability, so I assume some service may be needed.Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864, right as the civil war was coming to an end. The first watch Elgin was finished in April of 1867 and over the next 100 years, they went on to produce about 60 million mechanical watches. (Elgin Factory brochure was added for interest only and is not related to this watch). Howard Zoroaster Culver was one of the original investors in theNational Watch Company and part owner of Culver, Page & Hoyne - astationary and printing business in Chicago that published many of the earlyElgin marketing materials. Culver was also president of the American InsuranceCompany, and evidence supports these companies were all entwined in businessdealings. He was on the board of directors at the watch company from 1864-1887.Elgin was originally called the "National Watch Company". The name never really stuck and in 1874, they changed their name to the "Elgin National Watch Company" because most of the watch trade and public were calling them "watches from Elgin". They kept that name until the late 1960s when they stopped producing watches.Grade: 62
