Good evening all. Here's one that I was just tickled to get. It needs some work, but I think it's great and will fit perfectly between a couple of other watches that I have. This is an 18s Elgin from roughly 1887. I would love as many comments and as much info as you guys can stand to give. Here come the pics. The first one is from the front. It's missing a crystal, the second hand and the hour hand is broken, but somehow the face doesn't even have a hairline crack as far as I can see.
Posts: 260 | Location: Worthington, Ohio in the USA | Registered: December 20, 2005
And here's the main inside cover. I think I've seen the Blauer name before, but I'm not sure where. So there we go. Again, any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Posts: 260 | Location: Worthington, Ohio in the USA | Registered: December 20, 2005
In response to your question I believe the "2 1/2" should refer to the case being of that weight in coin silver. Looks like you need an hour hand and a seconds hand, but be careful the minutes hand may break during straightening. Apparently someone attempted to set the time without the proper key. Good news, all that and proper service is available from IHC Members.
Very cool item!
Lindell
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
Once cleaned and straightened up, they're fun to carry too! I have a 15j H. H. Taylor of 1869 vintage that gets vest carry quite often, and keeps very good time too!
They're great watches!
Regards! Mark
Posts: 3837 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
Thanks Lindell and Mark. I have a Waltham and an Illinois that I believe are one year on either side of this one. Both have nice coin silver cases so when I saw this one I jumped on it. Anything special about the lion or is that just the hallmark that Blauer used? Also, is this officially a hunter case? One of these days I'm going to get the hang of all this! Also, will this take just about any key? I have one here for either the Waltham or the Illinois and it would be great if it worked for this watch too. And don't worry Lindell, I know better than to even pretend to work on this myself. This will be ending up at an IHC member sometime in the next month or so! Thanks again for the thoughts!
Posts: 260 | Location: Worthington, Ohio in the USA | Registered: December 20, 2005
It will be either a #4 or 5 size key. Every 18s Elgin keywind I've owned has been a #4 so far, but check. It can vary due to wear on the arbors.
Technically, no, this is NOT a hunter, but these keywind movements were made to fit either a hunter OR open face case. This is an hinged open face case.
Regards! Mark
Posts: 3837 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
the minutes hand may break during straightening. Apparently someone attempted to set the time without the proper key. Good news, all that and proper service is available from IHC Members. 
