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I Need Some Help With This Elgin Please.

  1. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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    Hello everyone. I am trying to find out some information about this Elgin (Lord Elgin?) watch. Here are some pictures. I am trying to get the back case off to look at the movement, but it looks like only the top of the case with the glass will come off. Does that mean I have to take the dial out to look at the movement? It also looks like there are marks on the inside of the glass casing. I took a picture of this as well, it should be about the fourth one down. Any help/information would be much appreciated.

    20200411_194821.jpg 20200411_194845.jpg 20200411_194859.jpg 20200411_195727.jpg 20200411_195739.jpg 20200411_195747.jpg
     
    Edited Apr 11, 2020
  2. OMEGuy Apr 11, 2020

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  3. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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  4. wagudc Apr 11, 2020

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  5. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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  6. wagudc Apr 11, 2020

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    No problem, glad I can share what little knowledge I have.
     
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  7. Canuck Apr 11, 2020

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    You are treading on thin ice trying to get the mechanism out of the case back. It should lift out. But there is a challenge. You do NOT want to be lifting on the edge of the dial to try to work the movement loose. The dial is held onto the the mechanism by two tiny copper feet. Lifting on the dial could break off one or both feet! Reaching in under the edge of the dial to the edge of the movement could result, in broken parts. Unless you are trying to wreck this watch, you might have an actual watch repair person do it for you. Do not take it to the watch repair counter of your local department store.

    The tiny logo beneath the Elgin name is the Elgin “Durapower” symbol for their special un breakable alloy mainspring. This usually an indication that the movement is an American made Elgin, and probably obsolete.
     
    Edited Apr 11, 2020
  8. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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    Fair enough. I will take it to the same place that is going to restore my Longines. Maybe they can do something with it. Thank you.
     
  9. coronado Apr 11, 2020

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    Your watch is a Lord Elgin Duncan from around 1955. It was priced at $100.00 when new.

    Probably has an 8/0-size 21-jewel grade 680 movement inside.

    The movement and dial are set into a retaining ring that is friction fit into the caseback. You can see the outer rim of the ring just outside the outer edge of the dial. You should be able to pry between the outer edge of the ring and the caseback to access the movement.
     
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  10. SportChief Apr 11, 2020

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    "Lord Elgin" was a name for an entire collection of Elgin watches used over several decades. The Lord Elgins were typically a premium line of watches with higher grade movements and better quality cases and dials. As coronado and others have pointed out, it most likely has a high-grade, American-made movement in it.
     
  11. coronado Apr 11, 2020

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    Here is the catalog illustration from 1955.

    duncan.png
     
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  12. Evitzee Apr 11, 2020

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    Once you have the movement serial number you can use this database and it will give you information on date of production, movement type, sometimes how many were made, etc. Lord Elgins were the top of the Elgin food chain with their best movements with 21 jewels.

    http://www.elginnumbers.com/

    All made in this factory when it went out of business in 1966. Razed for a strip shopping center, all that remains is the small depot that brought workers to the factory, and a historical sign. Sad ending to once a great US industry.
     
    Elgin_Factorya.jpg Depot.jpg 543db06c-f0dc-40d4-a6cf-1f2d3e07ff39.jpg
    Edited Apr 11, 2020
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  13. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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    Thank you @SportChief, @coronado, @Evitzee. I think you have answered all the questions that I had regarding this watch. I really appreciate it. Does anyone of you think this watch is worth getting restored/cleaned up? I hope all is well.
     
  14. Evitzee Apr 11, 2020

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    Watches like yours in excellent overhauled condition are worth about $200-$300. Here is a 1951 Lord Elgin with original dial I bought in 2013 in overhauled condition for $265. These are small watches (30mm or so) so not popular today as wearable items, I have about 20 of them from 1929 to 1956 that spans the Golden Age of American wristwatch manufacturing, I keep them in my display cabinet all lined up by date.
     
    lordelginjune3.jpg lordelginjune5.jpg
    Edited Apr 11, 2020
  15. TheNewOmegaMan Apr 11, 2020

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    @Evitzee About how much do you think it would cost to have mine cleaned up? Never had a watch restored/cleaned before. Is it expensive?
     
  16. TexOmega Apr 11, 2020

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    $150-$300 unless parts must be sourced
     
  17. Canuck Apr 11, 2020

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    A quick scan of the replies to your post to this point seems to have ignored the fact that the case on your watch is 10 karat solid gold alloy. Scrap value of the case alone exceeds the dollar figure stated as the value of your watch! Only you know whether there is value in having it serviced. Get a quote and decide if having it in good running order is worth it to you. I suggest value of the karat gold case should be factored into your decision. Your next question.....what would the scrap value of the case be? Have it weighed and get an offer.
     
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  18. Professor Apr 11, 2020

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    Long as we have an knowledge source of info on Elgins here what can you tell me about this one? elgin.jpg elgin 3.jpg I suspect the dial may be a service dial.
    Haven't been able to get the case apart to look at the movement.
    I'm thinking mid to late 60's farmed out to a German company.
     
  19. Canuck Apr 11, 2020

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    That could have a Durowe movement in it. I have a Tourneau branded watch this is almost a twin for yours, and it has a Durowe movement in it. I suspect this one is a product of the successors to Elgin. The Durowe movement I have in mind was very popular, plain, but reliable and serviceable. This movement is found behind countless dial names.

    536EAF88-152C-4079-A6FE-F39D22C97387.jpeg
     
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  20. Professor Apr 11, 2020

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    Can you tell me how the case is opened?
    The back plate is smaller in diameter than the dial and may be a permanent feature not intended to be opened. Perhaps a Monocoque (sp ?).
    My SONA has a very similar looking case and it opens both front and back but I can't find any seam on this Elgin to remove the bezel.

    Some have suggested the crystal be popped off by air pressure to pull the movement out the front.

    The watch runs but stalls often. It once ran over 19 hours without stalling and kept good time.
    It doesn't hand wind only self winds.