Elgin National Watch Co. – A-11, A-17, WWII and Cold War field watches

 

Elgin National Watch Co. — Military Watch Overview

Founded: 1864, Elgin, Illinois
Role: Primary U.S. military wristwatch supplier from WWI through the early Cold War
Legacy: Standardized the look and function of the modern field watch

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 Elgin A-11 (WWII, c. 1942–1945)

Historical Importance

• Known as “The Watch That Won the War”

• Issued widely to U.S. Army Air Forces pilots, navigators, and ground crew

• Elgin produced more A-11 watches than Waltham and Bulova combined

Military Specification

• Type: A-11 (later AN-5740 Army-Navy spec)

• Issue status: Officially issued government property

Case & Dial

• Case size: ~32–33 mm

• Case material: Parkerized steel or stainless steel

• Lugs: Fixed bars

• Crystal: Acrylic

• Dial: Matte black

• Hands: White pencil or sword

• Numerals: White Arabic, high-contrast

• Seconds: Center seconds (critical for navigation)

• No date

Movement

• Elgin Grade 539 (6/0-size)

• 15 jewels

• Manual wind

• Hacking seconds

• Temperature-compensated balance

• Extremely durable, easy to service in the field

Caseback Markings

Common engravings include:

• “A-11”

• “AN-5740”

• “U.S. Army” or “U.S. Army Air Forces”

• Contract and serial numbers

Collector Notes

• Elgin A-11 dials show minor font and logo variations

• Many surviving examples were re-cased post-war—original cases matter

• Original radium lume should appear aged, not bright

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 Elgin A-17 (Late WWII → Early Cold War, c. 1944–1950s)

What Is the A-17?

• Successor to the A-11, developed to improve readability and navigation

• Issued primarily to U.S. Air Force pilots and navigators

Key Differences from A-11

• Larger case: ~35–36 mm

• Dial: Black with white Arabic numerals and minute hash marks

• Seconds: Center seconds with hacking

• Improved legibility under low light

Movement

• Elgin Grade 571 or 572

• 17 jewels

• Manual wind

• Hacking seconds

• Higher finishing than A-11 movements

Caseback Markings

• “A-17”

• “U.S. Air Force”

• Contract numbers (often MIL-W-6433)

Collectibility

• Scarcer than A-11

• Strong interest from aviation collectors

• Original examples command a premium

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 Elgin WWII Ground & Field Watches (Non-A-11)

Elgin also produced non-aviation field watches for soldiers, engineers, and support units.

Typical Features

• Smaller cases (31–34 mm)

• Sub-seconds or center seconds

• Black or white dials

• Radium lume

• Less standardized markings than A-11/A-17

These are less famous but historically important and often more affordable.

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⌚ Elgin Cold War Military Watches (1950s–1960s)

Transition Era

• Military needs shifted toward improved water resistance and shock protection

• Elgin remained a key supplier until U.S. production declined

Notable Specs & Models

• MIL-W-3818 (early field watch specification)

• Improved hacking mechanisms

• Stronger cases and crystals

• Issued during:

  • Korean War

  • Early Vietnam era

Movements

• Elgin manual-wind military grades

• Later contracts included imported Swiss movements as U.S. watchmaking declined

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Why Elgin Is a Cornerstone Military Brand

• Backbone of U.S. wartime timekeeping

• Direct ancestor of modern military and field watch design

• Huge production numbers ensure availability, but correct examples are increasingly scarce

• Historically tied to WWII aviation, Korea, and early Vietnam

The Founders of The Elgin Watch Company

 

The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864 by a group of key figures in American industry and watchmaking. It did not have a single founder—Elgin was created by a founding team, backed by Chicago financiers and guided by an experienced watchmaker.

Main Founders

1. Benjamin W. Raymond

• Former Mayor of Chicago

• Considered the principal founder and driving force

• Organized the funding, secured the site in Elgin, Illinois, and led the company’s early development

2. J.C. Adams

• Former executive of the Waltham Watch Company

• Helped plan and design the factory

3. Philo Carpenter

• Chicago businessman and early financial supporter

4. Thomas S. Dickerson

• Investor and part of the Chicago founding group

5. George Hunter

• Also part of the original financial backing team

Guided by Master Watchmaker

** – Charles H. Moseley**

• A leading watchmaker from Waltham

• Brought technical knowledge that shaped Elgin’s movement design and production style

• Often credited as the technical founder of Elgin’s watchmaking approach

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In Summary

The Elgin National Watch Company was founded by:
Benjamin W. Raymond (lead founder), J.C. Adams, Philo Carpenter, Thomas S. Dickerson, George Hunter, and watchmaker Charles H. Moseley.

Raymond is the closest to being called the single founder, but Elgin was fundamentally a team-led industrial project.

Elgin “Navigator’s Watch” / GCT Master Navigation Timer (WWII)

 

Elgin “Navigator’s Watch” / GCT Master Navigation Timer (WWII)

• Used by U.S. Army Air Forces navigators.

• 24-hour dial, large pocket-watch style case.

• 22-jewel high-grade movement (Grade 499).

• Comparable to Hamilton’s famous 4992B.

• Market: $600–$1,500+

Elgin Electronic / Electric (1957–1960s) Watches

 

Elgin Electronic / Electric (1957–1960s)

• Overview: One of the first American-made electric wristwatches.

• Features: Hybrid battery-powered mechanical movement.

• Significance: Part of the race to develop electric timekeeping before quartz technology emerged.

Vintage 1943 Elgin WWII Military Stainless Steel Field Watch

 

During World War II, Elgin National Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois, was one of the major suppliers of military watches for the U.S. Armed Forces. Production of civilian watches was largely halted between 1942 and 1945, as the factory was dedicated to war contracts—producing timepieces, chronometers, aircraft instruments, and precision timers for the U.S. Army and Navy.

By 1943, Elgin was producing a variety of field and navigation watches meeting military specifications such as ORD Dept. (Army Ordnance Department) and U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics (BUAER) requirements.

Vintage 1928 ELGIN USA Art Deco Mens Watch

7 Jewel Mechanical Elgin Movement 

The first Elgin quartz watches - “Quartz Revolution.”

 

The first Elgin quartz watches appeared in the early 1970s, during the “Quartz Revolution.”

Here’s a brief timeline:

• 1970–1972: Elgin National Watch Company (which had ceased U.S. watch production in 1968) began branding imported quartz movements from Japan and Switzerland under the Elgin name. These were among the first quartz models to carry the Elgin logo, though they were not made in the original Elgin, Illinois factory.

• 1973–1975: Elgin released several quartz wristwatches using early movements such as the ESA Swiss quartz calibers and Japanese movements from Seiko and Citizen.

• Late 1970s: Elgin expanded its quartz line with LED and LCD digital watches, keeping up with trends popularized by Pulsar and Seiko.

Essentially, the first Elgin quartz watches debuted around 1972–1973, marking the brand’s transition from American mechanical heritage to imported quartz technology.

Vintage Elgin “Skin Diver” (circa 1960s) Watch

 

Elgin “Skin Diver” (circa 1960s)

• One of the best-known Elgin diver-style watches.

• Typically housed in a 38mm stainless steel case with a black rotating bezel and luminous dial.

• Many were powered by Swiss automatic movements (such as ETA calibers), as Elgin had begun outsourcing movements after U.S. production declined in the late 1950s.

• Water resistance was usually around 100 to 200 meters, depending on the model.

• These watches carried the Elgin reliability but with a rugged, sporty aesthetic that appealed to adventure seekers.

Elgin Lord Elgin Direct Read / Jump Hour Watches (1950s–1960s)

 

Elgin Lord Elgin Direct Read / Jump Hour watches are some of the coolest and most collectible pieces Elgin ever made, thanks to their futuristic design and mechanical ingenuity. Here’s a deeper dive:

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Overview
The Elgin Direct Read (sometimes called “Jump Hour” or “Digital Mechanical”) was Elgin’s answer to the mid-century fascination with space-age design and technology. Instead of traditional hands, these watches display the time using rotating discs visible through small windows on the dial.

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History & Era

• Produced: Mid-to-late 1950s through the 1960s.

• Market Position: Part of the Lord Elgin line, which was Elgin’s premium collection with higher-grade movements and stylish cases.

• Design Influence: Postwar optimism, the space race, and the growing trend for “modernist” watch design — these were marketed as futuristic and innovative.

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 How It Works

• Hour Disc: Jumps forward every hour (hence “jump hour”) rather than sweeping continuously.

• Minute Disc: Rotates gradually, displaying minutes in a linear fashion.

• Seconds: Some versions include a third disc for seconds, while others omit it for a cleaner look.

• Movement: High-grade 21-jewel or 23-jewel Elgin manual-wind movements, adjusted for accuracy.

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Design & Variants

• Cases: Usually gold-filled or 14k solid gold; cushion, tonneau, or rectangular shapes were common.

• Dials: Minimalist, with windows for hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds.

• Straps: Typically leather, although some came with period-correct bracelets.

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Collectibility

• Rarity: Produced in relatively small numbers, and because many were worn daily, pristine examples are hard to find.

• Desirability: Collectors love them for their unique “retro-futuristic” look, making them conversation starters.

• Value: Prices have been climbing, especially for solid gold models or those in excellent cosmetic condition.

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Fun Fact:
These watches were part of a broader mid-century design trend — other brands like Hamilton (with the Ventura) and Bulova (with Accutron later on) also leaned into space-age styling, but Elgin’s Direct Read remains one of the most purely mechanical “digital” watches of the era.

Elgin’s early wristwatches- converted pocket watch movements

 Elgin’s first wristwatch was introduced around 1910–1912, during the early rise of wristwatches in the United States. Before that, Elgin had been almost entirely focused on pocket watches, which were the dominant style of personal timekeeping in the 19th century.

Elgin’s early wristwatches were essentially converted pocket watch movements (often ladies’ pendant watch movements) cased with wire lugs to be worn on the wrist. These early pieces were marketed primarily toward women—men still considered pocket watches more “proper” until World War I popularized the wristwatch for soldiers.

By the mid-1910s, Elgin began producing purpose-built wristwatches with smaller, round movements and enamel dials, often in silver or gold-filled cases. These set the stage for Elgin’s more refined wristwatch lines of the 1920s and 1930s, including their popular “Lord Elgin” dress watches and military-issued models.

James Dean’s Elgin watch was a pocket watch with an Illinois movement

 James Dean’s Elgin watch was a pocket watch with an Illinois movement (Elgin acquired Illinois Watch Company in the late 1920s) that he is said to have carried regularly. His association with Elgin added a cool, rebellious aura to the brand, aligning with Dean’s iconic image as a symbol of youthful independence.