Elgin reminiscences; making watches by machinery 1869; excerpts from 1873 Elgin almanac and other sources

The Elgin National Watch Company was not incorporated until May 12, 1874. Originally the firm was organized as the National Watch Co. of Chicago, Illinois. Consequently all of the reproduced data within this publication refers to the latter organization. The formation of this company with western capitalists in combination with eastern technologists and a few English dial workers, represents an extremely interesting story and industrial history . Most of the watch making talent came from personnel formerly associated with the American Watch Co. in Waltham , Massachusetts.