Here is my latest acquisition, a 1951 Elgin BWR. T he subjecect of this post is not the watch but the box.
The seller (a very nice person) told me that the watch was always in his family and was passed down to him inside the wooden box you can see in the picture.
The box doesn't have any lining or writing on it.

My question is the following: Does anybody knows if Elgin in the '50s used to sell watches in wooden boxes like this or was this just a jeweler standard packaging?

Regards
Peter

Peter, I have seen other watches in wooden boxes but none without the watch mfg. name on them, it wouldn't make sense to do that because there is no advertising benefit from doing it....neither would a jeweler, in my opinion....

My guess on this one is that someone early on had this box and decided that they would use it to store the watch in and that is what was used to pass it on to the next in line, as it were....sort like, years ago, people used cigar boxes to store items in....until the cigar boxes became collectibles and now nobody has them much anymore....

You do have a nice wooden box and a very nice watch too, I might add....

Just my opinion....

Regards,
Jerry

Jerry, I realy appreciate you opinion, thank you for taking the time. It makes perfect sense, I simply thought that the name could have been on the lining (if there ever was one).

Speaking about te watch, I also have the same model from the '40s and there are quite a few differences between the two, if you want me to elaborate further on the subject, let me know.

Best Regards
Peter

Absoultely show your watches, Peter....Any BWR is worth looking at and just holding in your hand....

I have a few of them and they are nice to look at....

Here is one of mine and it is from 1940, with a star dial....

Regards,
Jerry

The movement....s/n 39385160

Well. Jerry, I'll be..... we have the same watch, with very close s/n's, mine is 39385076!
Here is a picture of both of mine together, you probably already know the differences between the two, so I'll point out some obvious and hidden ones for everybody else's benefit.

The jewels in the older one are screw-mounted while they are press-fit in the newer one. Both hairsprings are white but the balance wheel is cut on the older and is solid in the other.
The serial # is engraved on all the major parts in the old one and only on the top plate in the other. Also quite a difference between the micrometric regulators, the adjustement screws facing different directions.

The clics are different and in the newer one the stem is mounted the Swiss way, with the locking screw. And the list goes on..The lever set mechanisms, the case screw location, the pinning point of the hairspring, etc. etc. ten years between the two... which is the better one?

On the face side, strangely enough, the crystal is glass on the older and yellowed plastic on the newer. This I don't understad, I thought that by the '50s they had better quality clear plastic material.
Monty, star dial (timed to the stars) in the '40s and dp (dura power, referred to the mainspring) in the '50s.

I see yours has a more substantial crown than mine, I suspect it was upgraded, infact mine, with its puny crown, is a pain to wind.

If anybody else wants to comment, please, feel welcome.

Regards
Peter

And the dials

Nice, Peter....I have a 571 also, like the R742071, made in 1946....You will notice mine does not have the B W Raymond on the dial....

Can you lighten up your photos a little so that we can see the movement better...?

Here is my 571....

Regards,
Jerry

Movement # U844285

HI Jerry, interesting, yours is the first dial I see with both the star and the dp.
Here is a lighter picture, this is the best I can do without taking it again.
It is past midnight here, I'll be back tomorrow.
Regards
Peter

No, that didn't work, it's the same picture...if the same kind soul who corrected my posting mistake early in the day is listening..please remove the last picture..Thanks.

Well,I guess I'm allowed only one mistake per day.
To continue (or conclude) this post here is a clearer photo of the 1951 BWR. If the writing on the movement is still not readable, hre it is: ELGIN 571 U.S.A., R742071, 9 ADJUSTEMENTS, 21 JEWELS...B.W.Reimond.

The 9 adjustements must be the highest number I've ever seen on a watch, it is certainly the highest of my collection.

Peter

Yes, OK, ..."ADJUSTMENTS" and "Raymond". I really got to start wearing my glasses!

Peter,

Getting back to the box you posted . . . your watch wasn't originally sold it.

Elgin railroad watches of that era normally came in pull-apart cardboard boxes like the one in the photo below.



B.W. Raymond Gr 571 in Original Box

HI Edward, I guess this settles the argument once for all, thank you for your posting. Well, it is a nice box and it came as a bonus, I'll find some use for it!

Peter

Hello Peter, thanks for the lighter photo....I wanted to be able to read the movement and can do so now....

The 9 adjustments are generally the maximum for any pocket watch....I have not heard of more....

Thanks to Edward for showing that Elgin Box....It does demonstrate the method of packaging coming from the factory....I guess most of the watch manufacturers used similar type packaging....

Regards,
Jerry