FTP: Every Watch Tells a Story
This 1919 Elgin is a one-of-a-kind timepiece that celebrates the spirit of exploration. Get ready to embark on your own journey with this iconic piece of history on your wrist.
Elgin National Watch Company-
1864-1964 (Approx 60 million timpieces)
Great quality, striking good looks, and affordable, and it has symbolic history.
FTP is excited to offer our 'Explorer' line, rich with history and symbolism. Elgin tributed this movement over 100 years ago to a true explorer, George Wheeler. The famous Wheeler dedicated 3 years to exploring, surveying, and making maps of the physical traits of the western United States. Wheeler's results from this massive exploratory mission allowed for early development of the U.S. Incidentally, not only an important American explorer, Wheeler was also a founder of Elgin Watch Company.
This timepiece is resurrected for those who live life on the edge. Our Explorer line embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration. This Elgin is a testament to the resiliance and determination of true explorers who are never afraid to take risks and push boundaries. Whether you're scaling mountains, traversing deserts, or just navigating a busy city street, an Explorer is the perfect companion for any journey.
In case you're an archaeologist, genetic engineer, police detective, or study the earth's physical features through forestry and geology, this is the perfect companion for your adventurous spirit.
You are curious and work to find answers.
We have provided more of an explanation for Elgin's existence than an account of the brands' history.
Please read about Elgin's massive contribution to horology and how they met the demand for quality timepieces for the working man in North America.
1864: Elgin wasted no time in making waves in the watch industry. One month after opening August 1864, several of Elgin's company representatives made a visit to Waltham Watch Company to secretly convince watchmakers and machinists to leave Waltham and work at Elgin. The promise of $5000 a year salary with a $5000 bonus and one acre of land was the bait used to convince seven workers to jump ship.
The seven tradesmen were later known as the Seven Stars.
1866: The Elgin factory, completed on 35 acres of donated land, remained as Elgin's home for an impressive 104 years.
1966: The Elgin factory is demolished. During Elgin's 104 years in operation, the brand was able to manufacture 60 million timepieces, the bulk of which was designated for the individual who works for wages generally in manual labor. This line of Elgin, Fusion has aptly named 'Joe Doakes', and we dedicate this timepiece to the working man.
Please refer to our Joe Doakes Elgin to learn more.
Additional Historical Statistics of Elgin:
Elgin produced many exquitsite quality timepieces with historical names inscribed on their movements. Elgin dominated the large demand in the market for the average individual who depended on an accurate, robust timepiece.
Throughout the pocket watch era of the 1860s -1950s, Elgin prospered with many years of output exceeding one million.
The quantity produced by Elgin is evidence of the popularity of the brand.
Any Elgin timepiece is highly collectible and will still be operating today if properly cared for.
Currently, watches sold with the Elgin name and powered by a quartz movement have no connection to Elgin National Watch Company. Elgin went out of business prior to the introduction of quartz technology.
The following explains the contributions of George Montague Wheeler and why Fusion subsequently named this timepiece, 'Explorer'.
George Montague Wheeler (Oct.09, 1842 - May.03.1905), born in Hopkinton, Massachusettes, was to become an important explorer, cartographer and surveyor for the U.S Government. G.M Wheeler had experience leading exploratory missions between 1869-1871 in Western U.S., and in 1872, Wheeler was appointed to lead an ambitious exploratory mission to create topographic maps of the United States west of the 100th meridian. The exploratory survey was carried out between 1872-1879 and is considered one of the "Four Great Surveys" in United States history. Later, known as the Wheeler Survey, the determined expedition entailed making topographic maps of southwestern United States to a scale of 8 miles to an inch. The team documented all physical features of the region, selected sites for military operations, discovered the habits and numbers of Indian tribes, determined vegetation types, water sources, climate, mineral resources, agricultural potential, and lastly, calculated the postioning of rail lines and common roads. A great amibitous, early exploration facilitated by leader George Wheeler over a span of three years.
Wheeler's exploratory mission was a crucial event in American history, and this Elgin timepiece pays homage to that achievement.
 
For those connoisseurs searching for other fine Elgin timepiece options , please refer to our Joe Doakes line, catering to the average man-you likely are a hard working individual with skilled labor in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing or any skillful trades worker. Joe Doakes refers to the common man who was Elgin's main customer. The common man who built this country--the roads, buildings, and infrascrusture. The type of person who does the work but doesn't get the credit and recognition for their efforts. Joe Doake types, being skilled workers, don't work for the acknowledgment. They work because they can. They possess the skills required to progress the country and often are taking for granted. You know who you are based on the work that you do, the type of work that others don't know anything about. The common man is Joe Doakes, although ironically, you are the one who is doing the work that others can't.
We dedicate the Elgin Joe Doake to the highly skilled individual who is the true hero of this country.