I just finished servicing an 1892 vintage Elgin HC watch that belongs to a prospective new "185'er" and which with a stagger-hinged case presents well for "looks" when carried at his Civil war "Re-Enactment" events.

When I first looked at it, I was impressed that someone (before he got it at the swap meet) evidently tried to "wind up" the Hairspring with the usual disastrous results. The staff was still good once I got it untangled from the hairspring so . . .

In researching this serial number; 4812192 the elgin database reports;

"grade 96; total made 566,000; runs 106; first yr 1884; last yr 1898; class 6; size 18; jewels 7j"

BUT, this has 17 Jewels, all "swiss style (no jewel screws) jewelled". I would guess it is a Student watch" which was carried for some time by that "student" as a Watch Maker and with service and a new Hairspring it remains in very nice condition . . .

In a very nice "Loco" case for re-enactments of our beginnings as a free nation.