Elgin Observatory

Wayne,
Nice piece of ephemera. Do you know anything about the history of the observatory or where the scope now resides?

One from the Illinois Watch Co is now at an observatory in Central Illinois. Follow the link for more info.

Peoria Astonomical Society

Mike Miller

William W. Payne, a professor at Carleton College was employed to assist in selecting a location location and equipment for the observatory. A knoll about one block east of the factory was selected. The hill’s gravel composition help insulate the building from vibrations transmitted through the earth. Underground cables connected the site with the factory. The Observatory was opened in February 1910, and Payne was hired to be its director.

The Observatory was equipped with four German-made Riefler clocks. These precision instruments were used in conjunction with celestial observations to achieve the highest accuracy in time measurement. The clocks were set on concrete piers separate from the rest of the building to guard against the slightest vibration. Electrically wound every 36 seconds, they were sealed in glass jars, the air in which was kept at a uniform pressure. Meteorological instruments were installed because weather conditions were believed to affect the clocks. A change of one millimeter on the barometric scale was sufficient to change the rate of the clock 18 thousandths of a second. Temperature and rainfall at this station were recorded for the U. S. Weather Bureau from 1910 to 1926.

A 3-inch transit telescope was used to observe the stars. Like the clocks, it was anchored in its own concrete pier. Since all time observations were made on the meridian, it was set exactly north and south. In other words it could not cast about to look at the sky in general. It could only move up and down the horizon on a true north-south line. Looking into the eyepiece of the telescope, the observer would see two horizontal and eleven vertical hairs. The distance between them was less than seven-thousandth of an inch. A star appeared as a bright point of light moving between the horizontal hairs. Whenever it passed one of the vertical hairs, the observer pressed a button that recorded the reading on a chronograph. An instrument for testing the operator corrected for human error. Ten or more stars were observed on clear nights, and the average of all the readings kept a master clock accurate to one-hundredths of a second.

The building included an office and a bedroom to enable the astronomer to nap between observations.

The factory's Timing Department “caught” the correct time coming in from the observatory. That set the master clocks in the factory. Watch movements were checked to see that they ran within a prescribed accuracy for 24-hour periods: 7-jewel, one minute allowance fast or slow; 15-jewel, 30 seconds; 17-jewel, 15 seconds; 21 jewel, 5 seconds; 23 jewel, one second.

The observatory was deeded over the local school district in 1960. At that point, it had not been used for several years to time watches. The school district constructed an addition to the building for use as a planetarium. Astronomy related classes are held there, however the telescope, while still there, is not in use. The fate of the building as a classroom is somewhat uncertain as the teacher who operates it will soon retire.

Bill Briska
Thanks very much for the information.

Thank you Bill,

I hope that the scope will have good stewards in the future. Perhaps if a group in Elgin is interested in preservation, our group could help in a letter-writing campaign. These scopes played a very crucial role to the success of the watch companies. We wouldn't have had the quality watches to collect today, without the science of astronomy!

Thanks again!

Mike Miller

Hi Bill,
Welcome to Chapter 185! What Bill may have been too modest to mention is that the information about the observatory is excerpted from an outstanding new book on the history of the Elgin National Watch Co.

It is entitled "Elgin Time: A History of the Elgin National Watch Company" and is co-authored by E.C. "Mike" Alft & William H. Briska.

On a side note, I get a chuckle out of the fact that despite living in the same town and sharing a common interest in Elgin watches, my first opportunity to "meet" you is through the 185 board. Hope to see you soon!

Jack Davis

back view of Elgin observatory.

Wayne,

This thing has a back? Here I thought that it was some type of brass plack from a building dedication. Apparently it is something else entirely. Any thoughts on what it is?

Jack,

Thanks for the head's up on the Ringer I had a feeling that once I read that entry I was among "greatness." The next day the Mart arrived and I saw Bill's ad for the book.

Bill,

Looks like you will be making a book sale to me very soon

Mike Miller

Mike,
It appears to be a display given to Elgin jewlers..inside is this letter.

Someone please advice where to buy the "Elgin Time: A History of the Elgin National Watch Company", not found at Amazon..

Carlos,

From the first listing of the Mart magazine, p 103

quote:

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Elgin Time
A history of the Elgin National Watch Co. 1864-1969. New limited addition book. 120 pages. 100+ illustrations. $32.

Circle of Time
1-hour documentary video on Elgin Watch Co. and its relationship to the City of Elgin. $25

Bill Briska, Elgin Area Historical Society, 360 Park Street, Elgin IL 60120...

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and their web site:

Elgin Area Historical Society and Museum

Hope it's OK with everyone to put the info here

Mike Miller
NAWCC Member# 154831
NAWCC-IHC Charter Member# 27

Heartland Horology

This book is newly published, in a limited press run of 1100 copies. The Elgin Area Historical Society web site, run by a volunteer, has not been updated with information on the book, yet. However, the details you need are in the official press release which reads:

Elgin Time: A History of the Elgin National Watch Company, 1864 to 1969 is the first book length history of America’s most prolific manufacturer of jeweled watches. The 120 page, hard bound volume includes more than 100 illustrations plus an appendix. This limited edition book is available for orders after November 15, 2003. The retail price, for sales at our Museum store, is $24.95 plus Illinois sales tax. For copies order by mail the price is $32.00, which includes all postage, taxes and handling fees. Personal checks and money orders accepted. Elgin Area Historical Society is located at 360 Park St, Elgin, IL 60120. 847-742-4248.

The authors are E. C. “Mike” Alft and William Briska. Mr Alft has authored four other hard bound books, seven soft cover booklets, and 1000 newspaper columns on Elgin area history. Mr. Briska is author of the 1997 book, The History of Elgin Mental Health Center: Evolution of a State Hospital. He is also the Historical Society’s watch specialist who answers queries about Elgin watches.

The authors used the resources of the local resources of the Gail Borden Public Library, the Society’s collection of watch company related documents and artifacts, as well as libraries in Chicago and Lincoln, Nebraska.