I know it's a gun forum but I think that collectively all knowledge is contained here. I need an elgin pocket watch that was my Grandfather's repaired. Can anyone reccomend a good shop?

If you don't get a personal recommendation, go here and search.
Remember, you want a watchmaker, NOT a jewelry store.

American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute - Public

This guy knows his stuff: Repair and sell Hamilton, Ball, Waltham, Illinois, E. Howard, Hampden and South Bend Pocket Watches

Support The NAWCC

You might want to post your question here.

In St. Louis, Missouri, the Railway Exchange Building (about 7th and Olive streets??) had many watch makers and repairers, several specializing in repairing mechanical chronographs.

Decades ago, I used Swiss-born and trained Tulio V. Poli, located in the Railway Exchange Building, to repair my Jaeger-LeCoultre chrongraph. While I doubt he is still active, that might be a good place to query.

Hope this helps.

Someone beat me to it, but the NAWCC is a good place to start. They used to have a monthly journal with a section on watch and clock repair services. I have not been a member since over 20 years ago, so I don't know what they have now. I doubt that many ordinary jewelry stores do their own repairs these days, and there are probably not many capable mechanical watchsmiths around. Sort of like the shortage of Colt-capable gunsmiths.

my dad was a certified/degreed watchmaker who could repair/work on rail roaders' pocket watches, then after rail roaders were allowed to carry Bulova Accutrons, he went to school to learn how to service/repair them too.

Until the late 1980's or so, nearly every large town & small towns had a watch maker & jewelry shop or two.. then after the cheap electric wrist watches became prevalent, those fine shops died out. Now good jewelry shops are confined to mainly cities, small & large, and watch makers are a dying breed.

We collect Hamilton 992B pocket watches... but I have one fine old Elgin pocket watch that was owned by a friend's wife's grandfather... Sandy is only I her early 70's.. I have hope that either her only child or one of his two sons will change their mind & want it... it saddens me that they have no interest in it. Old Gus traded it in on another watch, back in the mid 1970's. I think on an Accutron.. shortly before he died. Dad's ticket showed he'd cleaned & oiled it... & some repair, as it only cost $2.50... I thin it was to replace the crystal..

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I had a key wound Elgin, built in 1867, repaired by a watch repairman in Hillsville, Virginia. The cost was $75. Another quote I received was $300, which is more than I paid for the watch to begin with!

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Illinois Watch Company | Repair, Service, and Sales of Fine Watches

These guys are good. They've done work for me before. My experience with them (on a family heirloom) was excellent.

Mark Sirianni: www.watchdoctor.biz

I've used him for years to fix my: Elgin's, Hamilton's, Gruen's, Buren's, Rolex and Omega's. He specializes in older and current mechanical watches.
Excellent work, reasonable pricing and good turn around. He is in PA.

Jeff

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For those unfamiliar, here is what he's talking about: Hamilton 992B Railroad Watch (1940-1969)

This has to be the best written & most informative article that I've ever seen written on the Hamilton 992B's. Thank you sir. I kept that one in my favorites now.

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Times Square, on Broadway in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Just finished 2 Hamiltons for me and services our Rolexes.

I use Rob Carter for all my PW work he is in Kingsport Tn and although his prices have raised a little in the past 10 years he is very professional He has fixed at least 20 railroad watches for me, his email address is [email protected] his web site is Pocket Watch Repair-Professional Repair Services for Vintage or Antique Pocket Watches he will not cheat you and will email you if he thinks something might need to be done. Jeff

Another vote for Illinois Watch company, as hitman77 mentioned in post 9. I can tell you that Craig is a trained watchmaker and did a fine job on my old Rolex a few years ago.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244