The Elgin Watch Company went into business in 1864 and rose to fame as one of the finest American watchmakers in history. This Elgin Railroad Grade 252 Father Time, produced in 1901, stands as a stunning example of Elgin’s fine craftsmanship. This was a limited edition pocket watch, only 19,000 were ever produced, and finding one in excellent condition is a rare treat.

The configuration of this Elgin 252 Father Time features beautiful damaskeen on the nickel silver plates, and an uncommon Canadian dial feature the 24 hour time standard of the Canadian railways, and an uncommon yet highly popular Roman numeral font.

This 120-year-old veteran of the railroad is housed in a brilliant nickel silver swing-out case with a large deer design on the case back giving the watch an artistic flair. Because of the swing-out case, which provided unparalleled protection for the delicate movement housed inside, it’s easy to imagine this watch in the hands of a train engineer and summons the sights and sounds of what his day at work must have been like.

Although steam engines have become a rare treat at shows and museums, this watch remains a functioning timepiece and a way of carrying the great legacy of the early days of the railroads with you wherever you go.