Internet Horology Club 185
Elgin 18 size 2-tone
October 18, 2009, 18:04
Samie L. SmithElgin 18 size 2-tone
Here is one i have posted before but maybe some of the new members would like too see one of a few 2-tone elgins ever made..
October 18, 2009, 18:05
Samie L. Smithin this picture i shaded the camera lens so the damanskeening would show better..
October 18, 2009, 19:48
Jerry KingA real beauty, Samie....They are very seldom seen....
Thanks for showing it again....
Regards,
Jerry
October 18, 2009, 20:54
Claude GriffithHampden, Illinois and Waltham seem to have more than their fair share of two tone movements but I think that you could probably count the number of Elgin two tone grades on one hand maybe two. You very rarely ever seen any pop up on ebay except for the 12 size two-tone from time to time.
October 18, 2009, 21:06
Mike LaForestProfessor Smith!
I am one of those new members here that have never seen a 2-tone Waltham, let alone yours. Honestly, I never thought about seeing a 2-tone waltham until now. That is one heckofa beautiful movement!!! Maybe one day I will see it here again on a members only auction

Mike
PS Anybody, does a gilt movement with polished silver winding wheels count as a poor man's 2-tone? ..........................I didn't think so

October 18, 2009, 21:10
Samie L. SmithYes these rae hard to find i own several 2 -tone 16 and 18 size movements from several different co,s and these are seldon seen..
This one will be on ebay tonight i just bought several gold watches and plan on selling a few of my watches in the next few weeks.
October 19, 2009, 06:56
Phillip SanchezHere Is Samie's auction.
2-tone ElginOctober 19, 2009, 10:25
Jerry KingI didn't see your note till this morning, Samie, and I see that Phil already has it there for you....That's good....
Good luck with your auction....It should do well....
Regards,
Jerry
October 19, 2009, 12:00
Claude GriffithIt is a bit surprising that Elgin didn't make more two-tone movements. Hampden made a bunch and some nice looking ones with the Special Railway 18s series, ditto for Waltham with the 18s Crescent series (1892)and Illinois seemed to cover 12/16/18 sizes, and I have a nice looking 12s two tone Illinois but except for a few grades Elgin did not join in on the two-tone trend. Here is a link to some two tone movements
http://barrygoldberg.net/twotone.htm and if my memory serves me correctly on the 1892 18s Crescent Street movements the barrel bridge was gold and most of the other main plate was nickel.
Another link to a Hampden Special Railway,
http://www.darlor-watch.com/images/hampden501_big.jpgOctober 19, 2009, 12:15
David AbbeThanks Samie for opening this post. Two of the Flagship watches in my collection are as much "art" as function. The beauty of this work is just like fine music to my eyes, in fact I imagine some of the more strident Tchaikovsky passages when lookng at them.

October 19, 2009, 12:28
Claude GriffithDavid I wish I had more two-tone movements but I only have the one Illinois 12 size and usually when you see them on ebay everybody and their brother, mother, sister and uncle is bidding on them. Collectable, beautiful and when it comes to Elgin, pretty darn rare.

add pictures of my 12s 17j Illinois Central
October 19, 2009, 21:02
Theodore J. Brown Sr.Seth Thomas also did a lot of really beautiful 2-tone 18sizes.The 1892 model Waltham P.S. Bartlett's were pretty sharp lookers too!
October 19, 2009, 21:27
Claude GriffithTheodore, I think the PS Bartlett is the one I am thinking of, 21J 1892 and not the Crescent Street and I totally agree it is a very nice looking movement.
October 20, 2009, 00:03
David AbbeThese are some of my 2-tone 1892 PS Bartletts and they are both 17 Jewel. Now I gotta dig them up for better pics. Then hunt through the Elgins . . . Great Topic Samie!
October 20, 2009, 19:39
Ray HallenbeckGreat looking watch Samie, love the intricate designs in the damaskeening.
Here is a Paillard Non Magnetic Illinois two tone.
October 20, 2009, 21:06
Samie L. SmithWhen i get time in the next few days i will post a picture of one of my favorite seth thomas 2-tones.
At one time i owned 3 of the Hamilton 2-tones here is a picture of one i sold a Hamilton 937.