American metal military watch with center seconds Circa 1943

Military deck chronometer
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A military pocket watch with center seconds, made by Elgin National Watch Co. in Chicago, United States of America, circa 1943. The numbered screwed case was crafted from metal and has a British military registration number on the back. The white enamel dial has center seconds, Arabic five minute- and hour numerals and blued steel hands. The numbered movement has an Elgin lever escapement in chronometer quality, type Raymond, 22 jewels, five adjustment, Geneva striping finish and is inscribed B.W. Raymond.
Case, dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 51,5 mm
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Signed: Elgin National Watch Co.
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This Elgin Deck Watch was used by the English Royal Navy. The engraving HS3 on the back is the British designation for a so called deck watch.
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Elgin
Elgin National Watch Co., initially called the National Watch Co., was founded in Chicago during the Civil War by a group of investors, including Benjamin Wright Raymond, a former Chicago mayor and John C. Adams, a watchmaker from Chicago. The company quickly became one of the world’s leading watch manufacturers. Other founders of this new company were Ira G. Blake and PS Bartlett, both of whom previously worked at the American Horology Company (later renamed Waltham ) in Massachusetts.

In 1867, the company began manufacturing clocks in its new purpose built factory in Elgin, west of Chicago. Their self developed 18 size movement was equipped with a full plate and was named after the company founder Benjamin W. Raymond. In the years leading up to 1870, Elgin produced around 25.000 clocks worth around $ 600.000. At that time, the workforce consisted of about 300 men and 200 women. Until 1870 the calibers H.Z. Culver, JT Rayerson, HH Taylor, GM Wheeler and Laflin were produced. In the years that followed, new movements called WH Ferry, MD Ogden, JV Farwell and Ch. Fargo appeared. The first remontoir pocket watches followed in 1873.

From 1874 the company was called the Elgin National Watch Co.. When TM Avery took over the company’s management in the early 1870’s, Elgin produced over 30.000 watches a year. Avery manages to increase the number of pieces to around 500.000 per year in a short time (by the late 1880’s). The company employs almost 2500 people at this time.