The Big Issue

436,081 incorrectly identified movements

ENWCo introduced the new material cabinet in 1926, when implementing this, they renamed/renumbered all the named grades to number grades, based on the parts used within the movements. This was ideal for the material cabinets as it simplified the identification of parts for all grades.

What wasn't intended, was watch collectors would come along and base their identification tables on updated grade tables in the future. Since the first reference for identifying Elgin grades was released based on the 1950 material list, all other references are based on it as well, including the look up databases online.

This has had an unintentional result and that is, 436,081 movements are incorrectly identified.  The following table highlights the grades that affected and how many of each grade are incorrectly identified.

Missing grades and where they went

1896 Grade 1950 KW/KS Grade 1950 Non KW/KS Grade Class Quantity
B.W. Raymond 69 1 25,054
B.W. Raymond 70 1 3,988
H.Z. Culver 62 2 15,146
H.Z. Culver 61 2 3,300
J.T. Ryerson 55 4 42,584
J.T. Ryerson 57 3 2
G.M. Wheeler 57 4 70,314
G.M. Wheeler 57 3 30
G.M. Wheeler 63 4 8,263
Mat. Laflin 55 4 15,584
Mat. Laflin 68 4 510
H.H. Taylor 58 3 30,889
H.H. Taylor 58 4 15
H.H. Taylor 20 3 6,000
W.H. Ferry 55 4 11,773
W.H. Ferry 55 3 2
J. V. Farwell 12 5 2,506
M. D. Ogden 12 5 37,902
M. D. Ogden 8 5 1,917
Chas. Fargo 12 5 16,247
Chas. Fargo 55 5 100
Lady Elgin 29 47 35,200
Frances Rubie 23 46 2,000
Gail Borden 22 48 31,700
Dexter St 28 48 55,700
N W Co 70 1 12
Avery 59 17 19,343

 

To understand the real grades, you need to refer to the 1896 material list which you can find here.

Yes, NWCo never started at grade 69!