Has Anyone Heard of Elgin?

[Shannon]

I just (re)found an older Elgin pen in my drawer. I can't remember exactly where I picked it up, probably a garage/estate sale but I know I've had it for years.

 

It doesn't feel like a superior pen. It's a lever fill (is that the correct terminology?) and feels like it has a fine point nib. The nib says "warranted Wing Flow, USA." The body is black and the cap is silver-tone.

 

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of these pens?

 

Thanks.

--Shannon

[mafoofan]

Elgin was the name of a prominent American watchmaker that went out of business decades ago. I'm not sure if they have anything to do with your pen, however. Someone else have a clue?

[bobioden]

Isn't Elgin a suburb of Chicago?

 

Bob

[a11en]

Yes, Elgin is near Chicago, and I believe it was the home to the watch manufacturer. One of the machinists at a nearby University picked up a bunch of watch spring-steel from the company I believe.

 

It's interesting to think they may have dabbled in pens- I have no idea if they did or not, but it wouldn't be too surprising- perhaps it was a set, a watch and pen together?

 

But, you're right, Elgin was a major watch maker, as well as a suburb of Chicago.

 

Here's a snippet from Wikipedia from the Elgin, IL page:

 

"The dairy industry became less important with the arrival of the Elgin Watch Company. The watch factory employed three generations of Elginites from the late 19th to early 20th century, when it was the largest producer of fine watches in the United States. Today, the clocks at Chicago's Union Station still bear the Elgin name."

 

Good luck on your quest for info!

-Allen

[goodguy]

Shannon

 

Maybe if you post few pictures of the pen it could help us identefy the pen.

[MYU]

Elgin is an Illinois based (Elgin, IL) manufacturer of a street sweeper vehicle... I remember these things whizzing around the streets when I was a kid, picking up leaves and all other kinds of debris. The particular vehicle I saw was called the Pelican!

 

But I suspect this is a different company from the watch maker.

 

http://www.elginsweeper.com/flash/images/pelican_3.jpg

Edited January 21, 2007 by MYU

[Shannon]

My first try at uploading pics. Here goes:

 

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q55/sdlind/IM001905.jpg

 

I know you can't read it, but the clip says, "Elgin USA" and the lever is imprinted, "Made in U.S.A."

 

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q55/sdlind/IM001906.jpg

 

The nib is in perfect condition. The green smear you see is ink....

 

Thanks.

[TSS4LSU]

Resurrecting this thread as no one seemed to know much about Elgin pens. I have one too and would like to know more about it. What age? Name?

Nib has "veri smooth medium usa" on it. It works great. Sack is intact.

 

google doesnt have alot about elgin pens.

[TSS4LSU]

BUMP.....really hoping someone knows something about Elgin FPs.

[Sasha Royale]

I have a couple of these exact Elgin fountain pens, black/silver,

red/silver, and yellow silver. Elgin made modestly priced watches.

They were quite reliable. I have been told that Elgin contracted

the production of this pen, in various colors, in order to market

a Pen and Watch set.

 

All three of mine are lever fill, with medium nibs, and write well.

 

I have never come across the set.

[TSS4LSU]

Any idea of the dates of production? Not much on the web that i could find about them

[Shangas]

The Elgin National Watch Co. went bust in the...1950s or 60s I believe. So if they ARE related to the watchmaker, they wouldn't be much older than about mid-century.

[estie1948]

I have an Elgin, also. It is a black lever-filler and a chrome cap with a very smooth medium nib. I prefer extra fine or fine nibs, which is why this Elgin is not a regular in my rotation. It is a good writer and a good pen. However, I do not know anything about the company. Sorry.

 

-David.

[mcnoodle]

Elgin was a large watch manufacturer, as was already mentioned in this thread. I have never seen an Elgin fountain pen (but that doesn't mean much). Here is a 1920s Elgin pocket watch next to my Conway Stewart 58 (just to bring it back to pens ):

 

http://rudiphoto.net/img/s3/v43/p91049546.jpg

 

[playtime]

interesting:)

 

J

[Bo Bo Olson]

In the 1880's-1900 Elgin was as good a watch as you could buy, along with Waltham or Hampton.

In the '50's it still had a good reputation, like a Buliva.

My main memory of the brand is of the Lady Elgin watch of the '50-60's.

[bunnspecial]

In the 1880's-1900 Elgin was as good a watch as you could buy, along with Waltham or Hampton.

In the '50's it still had a good reputation, like a Buliva.

My main memory of the brand is of the Lady Elgin watch of the '50-60's.

 

Elgin made a good watch, but in the 1880s to 1900s they were still playing second fiddle to Waltham(or at least in my opinion). Some will argue that Elgin's 21j Convertible of the 1880s was better than Waltham's 21j "American Watch Company" of the same time, but I'd still have to give Waltham the edge on that one.

 

Move on to the 1950s, and Elgin's 571 BW Raymond was miles ahead of the contemporary Waltham Vanguard. Neither was as good, though, as Hamilton's 992B, which excelled both in overall quality in serviceability.

 

I'm also rather partial to Elgin's 18 size 3/4 plate watches, of which the 23j Veritas is probably the best. I still think that the Waltham 23j 1892 model Vanguard is a better watch though, although the difference between them is probably not worth quibbling over.

 

Out of all the Elgin's I'd had, though, my favorite remains my gr. 69 B.W. Raymond with a low 4-digit serial number made in the first year or production in 1867 Although it doesn't beat Waltham's contemporary best products, it's still a lot better than their 1857 model Appleton, Tracy and Company.

Edited February 28, 2012 by bunnspecial

[Bo Bo Olson]

bunnspecial

 

Some will argue that Elgin's 21j Convertible of the 1880s was better than Waltham's 21j "

 

And the rest of it.....you have been Co-opted.

You know about 1857 model Appleton, Tracy; when to me Appleton, Tracy are just names in a catalog of 'middle class' movements.

What a gold nugget rotten quartz gold vein of info you are.

 

Being some what ignorant....I couldn't find (for sure) for 1881 than the 'new' 17 jewel watch level. Up from the 15 Jewel level of a couple of years before.

So as not to have folks read and say that man is wrong...that amount of jewels (18-20-21) was not in use then...I played it safe and let 17 Jewels be 'king'.

(Humm that info could allow an upgrade of the villain's stolen watch.)

 

It's good to run into people that know what they are talking about.

 

 

 

I do have some mechanical wrist watches and some 18 German pocket watches and one Omega. Of which I know too little about the guts. I intend to take a course on watch cleaning. Being retired I can no longer afford to send them off for cleaning.

I will learn a lot about watches, once I start doing that.

 

 

I am writing a western, and much of my info on watches comes from the 1902 Sears and Roebucks catalog....and a watch part dictionary type book.

Sears got his start, or part of his start selling watches and the Sears catalog goes into very good detail. Gold filled is well explained also for cases.

 

My jeweler/watchmaker keeps telling me 17 jewels is all one needs.

My western takes place in 1881, so much of what I have is from a Montgomery Wards 1894-5 catalog for prices.(Of course Murphy is alive and kicking....it was just yesterday I stumbled on to the 1875 catalog.)

In gold money times there was little inflation.

1880 17 Jewels would be top of the pile....15 was considered good well into the 20th century (30's).

1895...18-20 jewels are in my catalog info.

 

 

B.W Raymond (Elgin made/or modified some, along with Wheeler and Taylor movements), Dueber New and or Special Railway railroad movements appear to be top US movements of the time.

 

I mentioned in another thread, a Train Conductor was Captain of the Train, (he got the first copy of the train order the 5 carbon copies went to the lesser; Engineer, fireman and two brakemen; with the Station Agent keeping the last copy. The conductor not just a ticket puncher; and had worked his way into the responsible high status, well paid position, from the yard and having been a brakeman.

 

When a train stopped, the Station Agent or Manager depending on how big the station was, would meet with the Conductor and the Engineer and do a time check first; before passing over the train orders...and the Agent sitting next to or on the Telegraph set his watch to the second to the time check sent over the wires.

The big three the Agent, Conductor and Engineer had the best watches available. And a RR face.

The next level, the fireman, brakemen, the yard workers had very good watches; second best on the RR was better than most well off 'civilian's'.

A Conductor, Station Agent nor Engineer, could have a 'second class' watch, they were expected to have Railway watches, (chronograph before chronograph...not knowing when chronograph came in), but watches that kept the best time in the world. Train wreck lives depended on it.

 

When a watch fell out of regulation, the RR would lend a replacement, send the offending watch off for repair and pay for it.

 

Raymond and Duber movements are in my book 'mirror' watches, one owned by the hero ( A Traveling Salesman who needs RR precision of his watch in order not to miss his train), the other stolen by the villain.

 

Watches have always been a status symbol. The hero is a time driven man, he has to be at point A to make the train or stagecoach connection, and got his nose in his watch (an unconscious habit that is a character trait for the book) ...when he's not showing it off .

Edited February 29, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[dickydotcom]

It's a small world.

I was born 5 miles from Elgin in Scotland.

Last year my father died and I have his old pocket watch.

Nothing on the watch face but it is an Elgin USA case.

 

Dick D

[Sasha Royale]

I have a couple of these exact Elgin fountain pens, black/silver,

red/silver, and yellow silver. Elgin made modestly priced watches.

They were quite reliable. I have been told that Elgin contracted

the production of this pen, in various colors, in order to market

a Pen and Watch set.

 

All three of mine are lever fill, with medium nibs, and write well.

 

I have never come across the set.

 

There is something neurotic about replying to my own entry, but, here goes.

I have acquired a TUCKERSHARPE fountain pen. They manufactured in the 1950's

into the 1970's. Their specialty appears to have been advertising and

promotional fountain pens. Everything I can see through 10X magification

is identical to my three ELGIN pens, except the block-letter name "ELGIN" on

the clip is replaced by the cursive name "Tuckersharpe".

 

I am satisfied that I have found the source of the ELGIN fountain pen.

 

Dad would be furious at this unproductive venture. Mom says, "Wow ! Big deal".

My "gold Parker rollerball" brother just ignores me.