McCDig
Silver Member
- Jan 31, 2015
- 3,753
- 9,039
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Fisher F75
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
The Golden Lady is an Elgin
Eight days since I last hunted this park in Reisterstown and I had a "first ever" find ...an Octagonal-shaped Lady Elgin pocket watch. The case back is marked "Warranted to Assay 14K". I haven't tested it, but it came out of the ground looking like gold. I know that the case was manufactured by Brooklyn Watch Case Company. There are three sets of numbers engraved on case back and the watch works has a number as well. What I can tell you is that finding this type of watch at this site is entirely within the period and use of the grounds. In the same area as the watch, I also found a clasp piece with a scroll work design. Heading over to the tot lot area I found a handful of clad to complete this couple hour hunt after work. Thanks for checking out the pics and any help you can lend on dating the watch is appreciated; my date range guess is 1870 to 1920.
HH
UPDATE!
Broke down the watch by removing front and back of case, cleaned the broken crystal and rebuilt it from the four pieces, removed corrosion from the dial (which revealed most of the numerals and the 'N' in 'Elgin'), and then reassembled the parts to complete this amateur restoration.
View attachment 1177518
Eight days since I last hunted this park in Reisterstown and I had a "first ever" find ...an Octagonal-shaped Lady Elgin pocket watch. The case back is marked "Warranted to Assay 14K". I haven't tested it, but it came out of the ground looking like gold. I know that the case was manufactured by Brooklyn Watch Case Company. There are three sets of numbers engraved on case back and the watch works has a number as well. What I can tell you is that finding this type of watch at this site is entirely within the period and use of the grounds. In the same area as the watch, I also found a clasp piece with a scroll work design. Heading over to the tot lot area I found a handful of clad to complete this couple hour hunt after work. Thanks for checking out the pics and any help you can lend on dating the watch is appreciated; my date range guess is 1870 to 1920.
HH
UPDATE!
Broke down the watch by removing front and back of case, cleaned the broken crystal and rebuilt it from the four pieces, removed corrosion from the dial (which revealed most of the numerals and the 'N' in 'Elgin'), and then reassembled the parts to complete this amateur restoration.
View attachment 1177518
Last edited:
Upvote
14
