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