Elgin 4608

First founded in 1864 as the National Watch Company, Elgin watches were produced out of Elgin, Illinois at the world's largest dedicated watch production facility of the time. By 1910 - Elgin had built an observatory to help with the accuracy of their timepieces. Like most watch manufacturers, Elgin moved to defense production during the second World War and produced military issue watches such as the well known Elgin A-11. After the war, production of Elgin watches slowed and they transferred production to South Carolina. As the influx of Swiss watches came into the market, the Elgin brand sold its entities in 1968, and the name rights of the company were subsequently re-sold in the following years. Although the Elgin National Watch Company no longer exists, their impact on American watch making is seen through their large catalog of excellent vintage watches.