The Watch Word magazine chronicled personal stories, photos, engineering successes, and company history for employees of the Elgin National Watch Company, a leading Elgin employer for over one hundred years. The first watch movement was created in 1867, and manufacturing continued until 1968. Watches produced after 1968 may bear the Elgin name, but have no connection to the Elgin, Illinois company.
Publication of the Watch Word begain in August 1921 and ceased in December 1956.
In a partnership between the Elgin Area Historical Society Museum and the Gail Borden Public Library, copies of the Watch Word are being scanned and made more easily available. Follow the links below to view specific issues of the magazine. Originals can be viewed at the Gail Borden Public Library & the Elgin History Museum.
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Issues currently available are:
1921 - August through December
1922 - the complete year
1923 - the complete year
1924 - the complete year
1925 - the complete year
1926 - January through April, June through December
1927 - the complete year
1928 - January through October, December
1929 - January through November
1930 - the complete year
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1931 - the complete year
1932 - January through June, September through December
1933 - May 1935 - Publication was suspended during the Great Depression.
1935 - June through December
1936 - January, February, April, May, August, November
1937 - March through December
1938 - January through March, May
1940 - March, July through December
1941 - January through May, August through October
1942 - January, February, April through December
1943 - January, February, April through November
1944 - the complete year
1945 - Special Anniversary issue - 80th Anniversary and War Production Issue, January through August, December
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1946 - January, February/March, April, June
1947 - Anniversary issue, June through December
1948 - January, March through December
1949 - January through May, July, August, October through December
1950 - the complete year
1951 - February through April, June through December
1952 - December
1953 - December
1954 - April, June, August through December
1955 - January through June
1956 - January through June, September through December
Publication ceased after the December 1956 issue.
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