The Star Watch Case Company was a manufacturing firm in Ludington, Michigan, from around 1903–05 until it went out of business in 1982. The company designed and manufactured watch cases for Hamilton, Longines, Gruen, and Elgin watch companies among others who shipped their internal watch mechanisms to Star which would complete final assembly. The company began making cases for pocket watches, adding wristwatches later. Star also manufactured small mechanical parts for military equipment during World War II. The etching designs were done on engineered machines made at the company specifically manufactured for the purpose. Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan wore the Omega Speedmaster Professional watch on a mission to the moon; commonly referred to as the "Moonwatch", the Star Watch Case Company had made cases for it. The demise of the company started when Elgin Watch Company decided to acquire several other vendors for their watch cases. History The immediate predecessor of the Star Watch Case Company was the Illinois Watch Case Company in Elgin, Illinois, that was founded in 1898. by Otto A. Starke, Fred Hermann, and Alfred W. Church. Starke and Hermann were foremen at Illinois Watch before starting in business for themselves. Starke had the specialty of being an engraver and steel hub cutter, while Hermann specialized in the mechanics of the tools and machines for making watch cases. In 1902 or 1903 a large fire destroyed the Illinois manufacturing facility. The company was well insured, and it was able to recover. There were 27 employees in the business before the fire. The company changed its name sometime between 1903 and 1905 to the Star Watch Case Company and incorporated on February 7, 1905. Officers of the new Star Watch Case Company were Otto A. Starke, president; Fred Hermann, vice president; Warren Antoine Cartier, secretary; and Alfred W. Church, treasurer. In 1906 in Ludington, the company's key hand engrave was Fritz Baumgartner, assisted by hand engravers Emil Allemann and Otto Starke. Later in 1905 the company moved to Ludington, Michigan. By 1913 it had about 150 employees, which grew to 400 by 1925. The company's (sometimes referred to as Star Watchcase Company) employment reached its peak during World War II at 550 employees. The primary factory building was built on South Rath Avenue in 1905, and later expanded in 1910. North and south wings were added to the main building in 1920. In 1927, the company added still