ELGIN National Sidewinder pocket watch

Vintage Elgin National Watch Co. Sidewinder Pocket Watch. Here's some information about this type of watch: Sidewinder Design: This term refers to the unusual placement of the winding stem at the 3 o'clock position on the side of the watch case, instead of the more common 12 o'clock position found in open-face watches or the hunter-case watches for which these movements were originally designed. Origin: Many "sidewinder" Elgin pocket watches originally housed movements intended for hunter-case watches, but these movements were later placed into open-face cases, resulting in the distinctive side-winding configuration. Features: These watches typically feature mechanical (manual) movements, a separate sub-dial for the seconds hand (usually at the 6 o'clock position), and various case materials like silveroid or gold-filled. Collectibility: Elgin pocket watches, including sidewinders, are valued for their historical significance, craftsmanship, and intricate designs, especially those with jeweled movements and fine finishes. Age: Based on historical information, many Elgin sidewinder pocket watches date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with examples from the 1880s, 1890s, and early 1900s