{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-ordnance-department-wrist-watch-by-elgin-fully-functional-1","title":"Original U.S. WWII Ordnance Department Wrist Watch by Elgin - Fully Functional","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a fully functional watch. Please note; all watches are wound and tested and recorded on video before shipment. \u003cstrong\u003eThere is no warranty for this watch and returns for a non-working watch will not be honored.\u003c\/strong\u003e We are not in the watch repair business. \u003cstrong\u003eALL SALES ARE FINAL.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWWII American Elgin US Army Ordnance Department Wrist Watch - Manufactured by Elgin National Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois, with a ruby-jeweled movement, functional, for officers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maker's name \"ELGIN\" appears below the twelve position, luminous black bordered hour and minute hands, each minute position marked with black rules, plus large, luminous Arabic numbers at each five minute position. The six position is substituted with an inset second hand clock with an ornate black second hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case is nickel-plated brass, the back of which is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eORD DEPT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOG-95553\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatch comes with a reeded ball finial stem. It measures 34.2 mm x 37.5 mm x 11.2 mm, with a reproduction khaki two-piece strap stitched to the case pins. Minor toning evident on the face, light contact on the body and glass from active use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatch Specifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrand: Elgin\u003cbr\u003eCase Size: 30mm\u003cbr\u003eLug Width: 16mm\u003cbr\u003eMovement: 16-jewel (Hand-winding)\u003cbr\u003eModel: Ordnance\u003cbr\u003eWatch Shape: Round\u003cbr\u003eSerial Number: OG- 95553\u003cbr\u003eCase Color: Silver\u003cbr\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1942-1945\u003cbr\u003eFace Color: White\u003cbr\u003eCountry of Manufacture: USA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Elgin National Watch Company, commonly known as Elgin Watch Company, was a major US watch maker from 1864 to 1968. The company sold watches under the names Elgin, Lord Elgin, and Lady Elgin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor nearly 100 years, the company's manufacturing complex in Elgin, Illinois, was the world's largest site dedicated to watchmaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company was first incorporated in August 1864 as the National Watch Company in Chicago, Illinois, by Philo Carpenter, Howard Z. Culver, Benjamin W. Raymond, George M. Wheeler, Thomas S. Dickerson and W. Robbins. In September of the same year, the founders visited the Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts and successfully convinced seven of Waltham's watchmakers to come to work for their new company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe growing young city of Elgin, Illinois, some 30 miles northwest of Chicago, was chosen as the factory site. Initially, as part of the deal, the city was asked to donate 35 acres (142,000 m2) of land for the construction of the factory. The city selected a derelict farm; however, the owners refused to sell the property unless the city purchased their entire 71 acres for $3,550. Four Elgin businessmen agreed to acquire the property and then donated the required 35 acres to the watch company. The company reorganized in April 1865 and completed the factory in 1866. The first movement, delivered in 1867, was named the B.W. Raymond in honor of Benjamin W. Raymond. The watch was an 18-size, full plate design. In 1869, the National Watch Company won \"Best Watches, Illinois Manufacture\" at the 17th Annual Illinois State Fair, for which it won a silver medal. The company officially changed its name to the Elgin National Watch Company in 1874, as the Elgin name had come into common usage for their watches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company built the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory in 1910 to maintain scientifically precise times in their watches. The company produced many of the self-winding wristwatch movements made in the United States, beginning with the 607 and 618 calibers (which were bumper wind) and the calibers 760 and 761 (30 and 27 jewels respectively).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring World War II, the company halted all civilian manufacturing. It moved into the defense industry, manufacturing military watches, chronometers, fuzes for artillery shells, altimeters, and other aircraft instruments and sapphire bearings used for aiming cannons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver time, the company operated several additional plants, mostly in Elgin. However, the company also located additional plants in Aurora, Illinois and Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1963, the company relocated most manufacturing operations to a new plant in Blaney, a town near Columbia, South Carolina, which renamed itself Elgin, South Carolina. The original, obsolete factory in Elgin closed in 1964 after having produced half of the total number of pocket watches manufactured in the United States (dollar-type not included). The plant was razed in 1966. The company maintained a leased building in Elgin that housed offices and casing, fitting, shipping, service, and trade material departments until about 1970.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company discontinued all US manufacturing in 1968 and sold the rights to the name \"Elgin\", which were subsequently resold multiple times over the years. The rights eventually were purchased by MZ Berger Inc., which manufactures its watches in China and distributes them outside traditional watch dealerships. Elgin-branded watches produced after 1968 have no connection to the Elgin Watch Company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe city of Elgin, North Dakota, derives its name from the watch brand. Likewise, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor was named after the Elgin National Watch Company.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40421175164997,"sku":"ONJR220M014","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONJR220M014__01.jpg?v=1668002264","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-ordnance-department-wrist-watch-by-elgin-fully-functional-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}