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Elgin National Watch Co.
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Elgin Gail Borden Pocket Watch
Gail Borden was an early investor in the National Watch company and enjoyed a prolific career as a land surveyor, publisher, and inventor. He is best known as the developer of condensed milk and opened the Elgin Milk Condensing Company in Elgin, Illinois.
The "Gail Borden" watch was manufactured by the National Watch Company from 1871-1884 as a Size-10 11-Jewel Gilt movement designed to be marketed to women. This grade was designated as "22" under the numbered scheme later implemented by the Elgin National Watch Company. The Gail Borden appeared in the Elgin Almanac from 1872-1876. A total of 31,700 Elgin movements were manufactured with the "Gail Borden" name.
Elgin Gail Borden Pocket Watch Grade List
| Est. Production Years: | 1871 - 1884 |
| Size: | 10 |
| Model: | 4 |
| Setting: | Key |
| Configuration: | Hunting |
| Movement Finish: | Gilt |
| Jewels: | 11 |
| Adjustments: | Unadjusted |
| Total Production: | 31,700 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: | 95.44 |
| Introduced: | September 8, 1871 |
| Grade Profile Code: | 10s-M4-11j-HGK-U-Gail Borden |
Serial numbers 361,001-361,700 are simply designated as "22" in the 1896 Elgin Material Catalog Serial List while all other runs are listed as "GB." Serial #361,336 has been confirmed to be an English export private label. The production metrics above only account for runs explicitly indicated as Gail Borden in the factory serial lists. Total production of Grade 22 movements is 32,400 with one run produced for export and not marked "Gail Borden."
| Grade Number | Est. Production Years | Size | Model | Setting | Configuration | Movement Finish | Jewels | Adjustments | Est. Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1871 - 1884 | 10 | 4 | Key | Hunting | Gilt | 11 | U | 31,700 |
| Est. Total Production: | 31,700 |
Further Reading and References:
1871 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1871
1872 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1872
1873 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1873
1874 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1874
1875 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1875
1876 Elgin Almanac, National Watch Company, 1876
1896 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1896
1904 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1904
1915 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1915
1927 Elgin Material Catalog, Elgin National Watch Company, 1927
c.1950 Elgin Material Catalog Supplements, Elgin National Watch Company, c.1950
The Complete History of Watch Making in America by Charles S. Crossman
The Watch Factories of America Past and Present: A complete history of Watch Making in America by Henry G. Abbott
Elgin National Watch Company, The Keystone, August 1890
NOTE: Production metrics are based on the Elgin Numbered Grade Classification System. Other variants, including "unnamed" movements and movements with different named grades may have recieved the same grade number. The data on these pages attempts to segment and isolate the targeted named grade within the number classification for analysis.