Elgin Grade 70

Manufacturer	Elgin
Grade Number	70
Railroad Grade?	Yes
Model	2
Size	18s
Jewel Count	15/17 jewels
Beat Rate / Frequency	18,000 bph / 2.5 Hz
Case Style	Hunter
Winding Type	Pendant (crown)
Setting Type	Lever set
Hairspring Type	Breguet
Adjusted?	Yes
Functions	Central hours; central minutes; small seconds at 6:00
Other Features	Safety pinion, patent regulator
Finishing	Gilt, gilded
Years of Production	1874~1895
Units Produced	~74,500
Country of Manufacture	Made in USA (Elgin, Illinois)
Known Models	Benjamin Wright Raymond aka B.W. Raymond aka B.W.R. (Add your watch to the comments below…)

The Elgin grade 70 pocket watch movement was produced between circa 1873 – 1896 in Elgin, Illinois.

Approximately 74,500 movements were produced. Earlier models were 15 jewels, later the movements were produced with 17 jewels.

This grade is found in the Elgin B.W. Raymond model of pocket watches, with the example shown being from circa 1890.

“The initials stand for Benjamin Wright Raymond. As the story goes, Benjamin Raymond was the former mayor of Chicago in the 1840s, but he was also a businessman. In 1864, he partnered with a group of entrepreneurs, including J.C. Adams from Waltham Watch Company and built Elgin National Watch Company in Elgin, Illinois. Four of the partners bought 35 acres of land and then donated it to the company where they built a facility which was completed in 1866. The new watch company convinced 7 Waltham watchmakers to resign from Waltham to start building Elgin watches. The first Elgin model was released in 1867 and was named after B.W. Raymond. Elgin produced watches until around 1968.” –Source

Similar Grades:

There is a similar Elgin grade 69 with the main difference being that the grade 70 is pendant-wind vs the grade 69 which is key-wound.

Additional Resources:

• Pocket watch size guide