Hidden American History: Elgin Watch Company

The history of the famous American watch company. The Elgin National Watch Company, commonly known as Elgin Watch Company, was a major US watch maker from 1864 to 1968.

Elgin National Watch Company produced over sixty million watches in the span of one hundred years, dominated the watchmaking industry until World War Two, and left the city of Elgin with a permanent legacy — one that still serves the community today!

The company sold watches under the names Elgin, Lord Elgin, and Lady Elgin.

For nearly 100 years the company's manufacturing complex in Elgin, Illinois, was the largest site dedicated to watchmaking in the world.

In the early morning of October 3, 1966, a blast was heard throughout the city of Elgin, Illinois. In just a few seconds, the once proud symbol of the Elgin national Watch Company was gone, ending a one hundred year relationship between the company and the city that shares its name.

Build Your Own Mechanical Watch: https://bit.ly/3QxDU6d