Elgin National Watch Co.
Research & Media
Elgin M.D. Ogden Pocket Watch
Mahlon Dickerson Ogden was millionaire real estate developer and brother to William B. Ogden, the first mayor of Chicago and founder of the Galena and Chicago Railroad. Mahlon D. Ogden's mansion in Chicago was the only residence in the path of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to escape without damage.
The "M.D. Ogden" watch was manufactured by the National Watch Company from 1869-1874 as an 18-Size Gilt Keywind movement in both 7-Jewel and 11-Jewel variants. The Keywind Ogden 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 39,819 Elgin movements were manufactured with the "M.D. Ogden" name (37,902 Keywind and 1,917 Stemwind). The Ogden movement appeared in every issue of the Elgin Almanac (1871-1876).
Elgin W.H. Ferry Pocket Watch Grade List
| Est. Production Years: |
1869 - 1874 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
1 |
| Setting: |
Key |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
11 |
| Adjustments: |
Unadjusted |
| Total Production: |
37,902 |
Introduced: |
August 31, 1869 - August 11, 1870 |
| Profile Code: |
18s-M1-11j-HGK-U-M.D. Ogden |
Grade 8
| Est. Production Years: |
1873 - 1874 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
2 |
| Setting: |
Lever |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
11 |
| Adjustments: |
Unadjusted |
| Total Production: |
1,917 |
| Profile Code: |
18s-M2-11j-HGL-U-M.D. Ogden |
Grade 19
| Est. Production Years: |
1874 |
| Size: |
18 |
| Model: |
2 |
| Setting: |
Lever |
| Configuration: |
Hunting |
| Movement Finish: |
Gilt |
| Jewels: |
11 |
| Adjustments: |
Unadjusted |
| Total Production: |
400 |
| Profile Code: |
18s-M2-11j-HGL-U-M.D. Ogden |
| Grade Number |
Est. Production Years |
Size |
Model |
Setting |
Configuration |
Movement Finish |
Jewels |
Adjustments |
| 12 |
1869 - 1874 |
18 |
1 |
Key |
Hunting |
Gilt |
11 |
U |
| 8 |
1873 - 1874 |
18 |
2 |
Lever |
Hunting |
Gilt |
11 |
U |
| 19 |
1874 |
18 |
2 |
Lever |
Hunting |
Gilt |
11 |
U |
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
