Pocket Watch Database
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Elgin National Watch Co.
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Elgin J.V. Farwell Pocket Watch
John Villiers Farwell was owner of John V. Farwell & Co. in Chicago, specializing in selling wholesale dry goods. He also served as President at Republic Insurance Company and Union National Bank.
The "J.V. Farwell" watch was manufactured by the National Watch Company from 1869-1871 as an 18-Size Gilt Keywind movement featuring a solid nickel balance wheel. This grade was grouped with the Fargo and Ogden as grade "12" under the numbered scheme introduced by the renamed Elgin National Watch Company around 1880. A total of 2,506 Elgin movements were manufactured with the "J.V. Farwell" name (2,400 11-Jewel and 106 7-Jewel). The Farwell movement only appeared in the 1871 Elgin Almanac (first issue).
Elgin W.H. Ferry Pocket Watch Grade List
| Est. Production Years: | 1869 - 1877 |
| Size: | 18 |
| Model: | 1 |
| Setting: | Key |
| Configuration: | Hunting |
| Movement Finish: | Gilt |
| Jewels: | 7-11 |
| Adjustments: | Unadjusted |
| Total Production: | 3,506 |
| PWDB Rarity Index: | 10.55 |
| Introduced: | August 31, 1869 - August 11, 1870 |
| Grade Profile Code: | 18s-M1-11j/7j-HGK-U-J.V. Farwell/Mixed |
| Grade Number | Est. Production Years | Size | Model | Setting | Configuration | Movement Finish | Jewels | Adjustments | Est. Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1869 - 1877 | 18 | 1 | Key | Hunting | Gilt | 7-11 | U | 3,506 |
| Est. Total Production: | 3,506 |
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.