I saw an old thread about this but I was wondering if anybody knows the history behind the Columbia private label on Elgin pocket watches? Google turns up zippo which kind of shocked me.
Posts: 7 | Location: Maryland in the USA | Registered: July 09, 2017
Some very helpful people will be happy to research it for you but Kevin is right, must have the movement number and yes, a picture would be a big help.
Lindell
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
The United States was often referred to as "Columbia" and there is a patriotic song... "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" that was popular a century or so back.
My thinking is the Columbia watch may have been a private label to capitalize on the well-known name. There are many towns and cities named "Columbia" and I grew up in a house on "Columbia Avenue" attending an elementary school by that same name.
By the way Elgin number 26035093 that Lorne referenced comes back as a rather common Grade 313 (524,000 produced) Elgin 15-Jewel with no "Columbia" reference shown in the Elgin records. Seems more and more like a private label to me.
Lindell
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
