Elgin 18-Size Balance Wheel Comparison: Model 5 vs. Model 8 (“Veritas Model”)
By When the new “Veritas Model” was introduced in 1901, the Elgin National Watch Company boasted about the “extra heavy balance wheel” driven by a mainspring one-third wider and fifty-percent longer than other watches of the same size.
So, how much heavier is the balance wheel of the “Veritas Model” compared to the balance wheel fitted on older 18-Size models offered by the company? A weight comparison between the Grade 166 (Model 5) and the Grade 239 (Model 8) reveals that the balance wheel from the Veritas Model is approximately 27.4% heavier than the Model 5 generation. The entirety of the balance, hairspring, staff, and roller weighs in at 0.79 grams.
While each balance is characterized by a slightly different weight, this comparison exhibits the significant difference, requiring a more powerful mainspring. The extra mass results in a balance that is less susceptible to the vibrations frequently encountered during railroad service.
