For any of you who’ve been reading my blog for a while you know I have an affinity for vintage watches.
My 1918 Blackjack Pershing trench watch means more to me than any watch I own for a few reasons. It's not the fanciest or the most valuable watch in my collection. But it is an extremely storied, tough, and purpose-built timepiece.
Soldiers in the trenches in World War One needed a way to time their advances from trench-to-trench. If their timing was off, even by a few seconds, it could mean subjecting themselves to deadly artillery fire. Before WWI most men carried pocket watches but trench warfare forced men to strap watches to their wrists.
I originally found this Elgin on eBay nearly ten years ago for a little over a hundred dollars and it was in very rough shape. I had the watch serviced shortly after I bought it and despite being nearly a century old it kept perfect time. I have a deep history with this Elgin. I wrote it into my novel, Alarm Clock Dawn. In the book, the protagonist Adam Harkin wore it so I couldn’t just throw it into a drawer and forget about it.
You can imagine my panic when I strapped this watch on my wrist recently, started to wind and set it, and the crown (the part you use to set and wind the watch) came off in my hand! Thankfully, around the turn of the last century, things were made to last and be repaired so I sent it to a friend of mine for a complete rehab.
Stan with LRF Antique Watches is one of the best resources in the world for these kinds of watches. He completely dismantled the movement, cleaned and oiled it, replaced the old crown with the original (and correct one), and then put it all back together and readjusted the timing.
This is the result of his work.
As Stan says, "Our Grandfathers knew how to make things that last." The Elgin looks and runs like a new watch.
My Elgin should last a least another century, possibly indefinitely, with the proper care. Living in a society that has become accustomed to throwing things away when they break it's hard to fathom the meaning and joy of owning something like this until you do. I can't even imagine all of the things future generations of my family will experience while having this 1918 Elgin strapped to their wrists. I'm merely a steward tasked with taking care of it and passing it down when the time comes.
Stan even included a custom made brass poppy lapel pin with the watch when he shipped it back. Poppies happen to have a very special significance as a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in World War One. To read more about this history Click Here
Many thanks to Stan for his incredible skills and his dedication to preserving our history.
With Gratitude,
~Eric Vance Walton~
*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.
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