tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post3641041738136241025..comments2024-03-26T14:06:13.281-07:00Comments on GeneJockey's Elgin Watch Blog: Technological Marvel, or Lemon?GeneJockeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161884314264237342noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-79540905017814749822021-12-22T14:36:49.320-08:002021-12-22T14:36:49.320-08:00I've thought about it. Mostly what I find is ...I've thought about it. Mostly what I find is not completely detached, but wobbly. And mostly I've been able to find rotors with the hubs solidly attached. You know how it is with these - you have at least as many parts movements as working watches!<br /><br />Glad to hear it worked. As for how long? Well, I figure the advantage of having many watches is that each one gets relatively little wear, so their lives are greatly extended! GeneJockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161884314264237342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-81861967026339810872021-12-22T13:51:49.836-08:002021-12-22T13:51:49.836-08:00Have you had any luck re attaching the hub to the ...Have you had any luck re attaching the hub to the rotor? I recently picked up a 761 in which the rotor plate was rubbing and would not wind the works, I found the hub detached. After deciding I had nothing to lose, I took out the staking set and attempted to re peen it. It has seemed to work, but I wonder for how long. By the way, as a collector of dura balance Elgins myself, I am in your debt and cannot express adequately my appreciation for all the priceless information you have shared. Thank you. Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-2145124328040076472021-11-27T07:28:17.802-08:002021-11-27T07:28:17.802-08:00I haven't tried taking one apart. Not sure ho...I haven't tried taking one apart. Not sure how to get into them! I'm pretty sure Elgin didn't intend them to be taken apart and put back together. So yeah, if the assembly isn't complete, I don't know how they could be used.GeneJockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161884314264237342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-794435740329513402021-11-13T08:53:06.406-08:002021-11-13T08:53:06.406-08:00Have you ever ventured to take the rotor hub assem...Have you ever ventured to take the rotor hub assembly apart? (Just for fun, of course...) Everything I've read has lead me to believe that the rotor is not to be serviced, but some NOS rotors just popped up on Ebay WITHOUT the second "B" gear assembly! How would these have any value if they cannot be disassembled??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06956166966045307646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-70260863834607226512015-08-25T16:23:01.088-07:002015-08-25T16:23:01.088-07:00I've found a Elgin DeLux wristwatch presented ...I've found a Elgin DeLux wristwatch presented to a baseball broadcaster in 1938 by General Mills. Does this watch have any collector value?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-91322762153901789132015-08-25T16:19:25.258-07:002015-08-25T16:19:25.258-07:00Is this an active site?Is this an active site?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-74717150415214333612013-10-02T13:24:07.284-07:002013-10-02T13:24:07.284-07:00Will do. It is truly a cool watch and I want to k...Will do. It is truly a cool watch and I want to keep it running. As soon as I get another watch back, I'll send this one in.grumpyguyhttp://grumpyguyinc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-35558816998524656562013-10-02T00:01:30.674-07:002013-10-02T00:01:30.674-07:00You should absolutely have it serviced! If it won...You should absolutely have it serviced! If it won't wind manually, but you can set it and the rotor winds it, it's likely that the winding wheel on the rocker plate is missing teeth, and those teeth may be wandering loose in the movement somewhere. They may fall into places where they'll jam the works, including the autowind works, and ruin them.GeneJockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161884314264237342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-65655298044129599342013-09-30T18:31:25.642-07:002013-09-30T18:31:25.642-07:00Just picked one. It runs and can be wound via mot...Just picked one. It runs and can be wound via motion, but it won't wind at all. Should I have it serviced or just let the rotor do its magic?grumpyguyhttp://grumpyguyinc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-24561617740002004472013-01-04T16:51:45.489-08:002013-01-04T16:51:45.489-08:00i've thought a lot about the notion that elgin...i've thought a lot about the notion that elgin was the only US manufacturer to make an auto. more than i should have. and i've read the occasional claims by bulova afficiandoes that they made one as well. i've enver seen any proof that bulova made any here, but i'm not really sure what i would consider proof anyway. my problem with the bulova movements, and it's completely circumstantial, is that the calibers referenced look so much like other bulova calibers that were marked swiss made; like the 11ACAC. they're damn near identical. and given bulova's history of importing movements, i think my assumption has always been that they imported the parts. tis a mystery. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-67313589723675196612013-01-01T08:44:56.965-08:002013-01-01T08:44:56.965-08:00Hi Brian, glad you enjoyed it! It's kind of ...Hi Brian, glad you enjoyed it! It's kind of a labor of love with these beasts. I was struck by the article on Wayne Schlitt's old Elgin Database site, and started collecting these, and quickly ran into their several issues. I really like them, but they are problematic! <br /><br />The rotor issue is one I've encountered, too. I have one that hand-winds more easily than others, but doesn't store enough energy to stay running overnight. Winding by hand doesn't spin the rotor on this one, but it does on the others. I think that's also why the rocker plate winding wheel and the 2nd autowind wheel break so often - when hand winding, it's not just the force of the mainspring that's carried through the autowind train, it's the force necessary to spin the rotor! Any wobble in the rotor hub, or in the rotor post means you're also fighting the friction of the rotor dragging. Those teeth are the weak links!<br /><br />Regarding my statement about 'only', I have revised it to reflect reality. It's funny - I find there are a number of statements that are generally accepted as true by collectors of different brands that on further investigation are not so, like this one. Another is the question of which wristwatch was first approved for Railroad service. Elgin fans claim it was the BW Raymond, while Bulova fans claim it was the Accutron. Turns out both are wrong. Apparently a Ball wrist watch with a Swiss movement got there first!<br /><br />Ah, well. So much information to find! Makes it fun!!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />DougGeneJockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17161884314264237342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738648204942530086.post-68236956876281988712013-01-01T05:28:00.739-08:002013-01-01T05:28:00.739-08:00Gene,
Thanks for a very nice writeup on some of m...Gene,<br /><br />Thanks for a very nice writeup on some of my favorite automtic movements. I have experienced one other common problem with these - the jeweled clutches sometimes wind in only one direction. This is sometimes remedied by repeated ultrasonic cleaning of the offending assembly. <br /><br />Also, these movements are not the only American-designed and American-made ones out there. The oft-forgotten and looked-down-upon Timex automatc movements are also from this era (the model 29 was introduced in 1959, I believe). Also, the Bulova "23" watch "was created, designed, engineered, planned, and manufactured at Bulova Park", according to the "Watch Repair Digest", published by Bulova in 1957. 10BPAC and 10BOAC were two movements in these series, I believe.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />BrianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com